?Chapter 1431:


    Morse froze, unsure how to answer. He slowly let go of her hand, the warmth fading between them.


    “It was nothing important,” he lied gently, looking away to hide his expression. “I just didn’t want you to cry.”


    For a moment, Morse had honestly thought he was dreaming. In dreams, he could say anything, tell Chloe everything he felt without worrying about the fallout.


    But reality didn’t work that way. Their worlds were miles apart, and he had too much to lose.


    Chloe was sweet and pure, untouched by the messiness of life, while he had learned the hard way that feelings could destroy more than they fixed.


    “Oh.” Chloe’s voice dipped, her lips pushing into a tiny pout as her cheeks puffed up. The disappointment on her face was almost childlike.


    She went quiet for a heartbeat, then that familiar spark returned to her eyes. Looking down, hershes fluttered as a shy smile curved her lips. “Isn’t there… anything else you want to tell me?”


    Morse knew exactly what she was fishing for. His hands balled into fists before he could stop himself.


    He hated the idea of hurting her, but he couldn’t lie either.


    After a long, heavy pause, he did what he always did best—yed dumb. Maybe if he pretended not to get it, she wouldn’t have to feel embarrassed for asking.


    “You must be tired after staying up all night. Go get some rest, okay?” Every word tasted bitter, but it was better than saying what he really felt.


    Chloe blinked, startled. “That’s it? That’s all you wanted to say? I told you I—”


    Before she could finish, Morse cut her off. “Chloe, you’re my friend,” he said quickly. “Of course I care about you.”


    A sharp ache twisted in Chloe’s chest as reality settled in—Morse truly saw her as nothing more than a friend. All her hopes, it seemed, were just dreams she’d spun alone.


    Thinking back to her own impulsive confession, shame and regret burned in her cheeks.


    The hospital room felt suffocating, a heavy awkwardness thick in the air. Was Morse simply letting her down gently, saying that she was just a friend?


    Her thoughts raced in circles, fingers knotting together as nerves took over.


    She’d always despised half-answers. If she was going to be rejected, she wanted him to say it outright.


    Forcing herself to breathe, Chloe tried to smile, her lips trembling as she struggled to form the words.


    The question sat on her tongue, rehearsed a hundred times, but voicing it now felt impossible.


    sping her hands tightly and drawing in a shaky breath, Chloe finally found the nerve to say, “I love you, Morse. Do you feel the same way about me?”


    The weight of that question had haunted her for so long, always lingering at the back of her mind. Facing death had made her realize she couldn’t let the moment slip away.


    This time, she refused to skirt around the truth—she wanted an answer as honest as her own heart.


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