Chapter 205

She knew Austin wasn’t someone who usually lost control. He was calm, patient, and grounded. But now… he was breaking. Years of love, waiting, and rejection had finally caught up with him. He had proposed to her so many times, and each time, she had turned him down gently, but firmly. And yet… he never stopped loving her. Elyana understood that kind of pain all too well. She had lived through it five years ago when Daimon walked away, shattering her heart. But even so, she knew she couldn’t give Austin the love he wanted not now, and not ever. As she moved back, a flicker of something darker passed through Austin’s eyes. But he didn’t push. He still knew his boundaries. “Austin…” Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. “I’m sorry. I really am. I know how much you love me. And I do understand more than you think.” Austin scoffed, a cold laugh escaping his lips. “No, Iris. You don’t understand anything,” he said sharply, giving her a look filled with pain and disappointment. Elyana felt a