Then he goes still.
Completely still.
Like the world just snapped into sharp focus.
His eyes move to Isa.
Not angry.
Not soft.
Assessing.
“Is that true?”
His voice isn’t raised.
It doesn’t need to be.
Isa’s lips tremble.
“I—” she swallows, shaking her head, “It didn’t start like—okay maybe it did but it’s not like that anymore, Tristan, I swear?—”
He lifts a hand.
Not harsh.
But enough to stop her.
“Isa.”
Just her name.
Firm.
Grounding.
His jaw tightens.
“You don’t get to build something real on something that started… like that.”
That lands.
Hard.
Her face crumples slightly.
“But Ichoseyou,” she says, voice breaking. “After. I stayed because I wanted you.”
And that hits him.
You see it.
Because hefeelsthat.
But then?—
His gaze shifts.
