"Star," he said quietly. "I won''t agree to it."


    Ste didn''t look surprised.


    "Then we''re done," she stated tly.


    A dangerous, predatory gleam shed through Joshua''s eyes, quickly masked before it could fully surface.


    He gentled his tone. "Star, your music therapy can still..."


    She cut him off before he could finish.


    "Stop lying to me." Heartbreak bled into her gaze as she looked at him. "I''ve trusted


    you too many times, Joshua. You can''t keep dying the inevitable."


    She took a steadying breath. "I''m moving out tomorrow."


    With that, she turned on her heel to walk away.


    Suddenly, powerful arms wrapped tightly around her from behind.


    His hoarse, desperate voice ghosted over her ear.


    "Star, do you really not want to be with me anymore?"


    A sharp ache pierced her chest.


    But she forced herself to stay grounded.


    She couldn''t afford to be weak anymore.


    She squeezed her eyes shut, and when they fluttered open, they were filled with upromising resolve.


    "Joshua, I refuse to be with someone who is extreme, emotionally unstable, and constantly deceives me.


    You know how much I despise liars, yet you''ve yed me for a fool time and time again.


    Honestly, I didn''t fullyprehend the severity of the Gardner family illness before. I thought the rumors were exaggerated.


    Up until now, I truly wanted a future with you.


    But your condition isn''t just dragging me down-it''s endangering everyone around


    me.


    I''m sorry, Joshua. I can''t ept you like this."


    Joshua''s breathing hitched, growing increasingly ragged with every word she spoke.


    His hold on her tightened instinctively, his grip firm enough to bruise.


    He fought a violent battle to rein in his fractured emotions, terrified of scaring her away.


    He hated wearing masks around the woman he loved, but he knew she adored the bright, warm version of him.


    For her, he would dly strap that mask back on and be exactly what she needed.


    He pressed his handsome face


    against her cheek. "Star, you


    promised you''d never leave me


    Soud stay by my side You


    can''t break your promise."


    Ste''s tone was deadpan. "When love fades, Joshua, promises are just empty words. Vows are the easiest things to break."


    Slowly, his arms fell away from her.


    He stepped around to face her, his gaze locking onto hers with intense scrutiny.


    "So, your love for me... is it gone?"


    His clear eyes shone like dark, polished onyx-strikingly pure and devastatingly vulnerable.


    Under the weight of that look, a huge lump formed in Ste''s throat, making it impossible to voice the lie she had prepared.


    Her voice came out as a fragile whisper, barely a breath.


    "Joshua, the only reason I agreed date you, to marry you... was because you helped me so much. I had no other way to repay my debt to you, so l..."


    He cut her off before she could finish the crushing sentence.


    "You''re lying."


    Joshua leaned in, his gaze burning into hers. "Star, you love me. Your eyes can''t lie."


    Ste''s breath caught in her throat.


    She had foolishly forgotten how impossible it was to deceive a man who read her so effortlessly.


    "Star, I remember every promise


    you''v


    ever made me," he


    And since you gave me


    your word, you will keep it. You have no other choice.


    Even if you truly don''t love me anymore, you are not leaving.