I answered.
“Lia?” she said.
“I resigned,” I told her.
A pause.
Then: “Are you devastated?”
“No,” I said honestly. “I’m … relieved.”
She exhaled softly. “Daniel left this morning.”
My stomach tightened. “What happened?”
“I realized I liked the idea of him more than the reality,” she said. “And I don’t want to repeat my own patterns.”
A faint smile touched my mouth.
“Neither do I,” I said.
There was silence on the line—comfortable this time.
“Are you sure about him?” she asked gently.
I looked at Cassian, standing there in his quiet power, not demanding, not hovering, just present.
“Yes,” I said.
“I’m glad,” she replied.
When we hung up, I felt something settle.
Alignment.
Cassian stepped closer, brushing his fingers along my jaw.
“You chose,” he said.
“Yes.”
“For yourself.”
“Yes.”
“And me,” he added softly.
I smiled faintly. “And you.”
He leaned in, pressing his forehead to mine.
“No more shrinking,” he murmured.
“No more hiding,” I agreed.
Outside, Charleston moved on.
Inside, I felt something shift permanently.
