The pain churning inside me nearly made me black out. I forced myself toward the balcony, each step a small war.
"Chloe Harding, how much longer are you going to cling to Mason? Have you no dignity? No shame?"
Rebecca's voice cut through the noise. I'd barely turned when she shoved me—hard.
"As long as you're alive, I'll never be Mrs. Blackwell."
My foot slipped. Instinct took over—I grabbed for her, and we both tumbled over the railing.
My hands caught the guardrail. I held on.
A scream tore through the night. Mason appeared moments later, a scarf clutched in his hand.
Rebecca twisted to look at me, a mocking smile curling her lips.
"Chloe. Who do you think he'll save first?"
I watched Mason stride toward her without a heartbeat's hesitation.
Good, I thought. The relief that washed through me was almost sweet. He doesn't love me anymore.
Rebecca turned wide, wounded eyes up at him. "Mason, please—save me and our baby."
Her voice trembled. "I don't know what I did to offend her. She just... she tried to push me off."
Mason grabbed Rebecca's hand instantly, but his gaze stayed locked on me.
"Chloe. You're just as vicious as your mother."
The words sank into my chest like a blade.
Within seconds, Rebecca was safe on solid ground. She moved to throw herself into his arms—but he pushed her aside and stretched his hand toward me.
"Chloe. Give me your hand."
"You don't get to die without my permission."
I stared at that hand. At those long, elegant fingers I'd once memorized.
I laughed.
And then the tears came, sliding down my cheeks even as I kept laughing.
When I didn't reach for him, something flickered in Mason's eyes—panic, raw and real. His voice turned urgent.
"Chloe. Give me your hand. Don't make me say it again."
But I just looked at him. Quietly. Calmly.
"Mason. You said my family owes you a debt we could never repay in this lifetime."
I smiled.
"Then take my life. Consider it settled."
His pupils dilated. Horror flooded his face.
"And in the next life," I whispered, "I pray we never meet."
I let go.
The wind rushed past me. In that single suspended moment, I raised my hand and waved at him.
Mason. The knot between us—it's finally undone.
