Chapter 1171: Chapter 1171

Chapter 1171:

Tonya had believed her bond with Ritchie was indestructible, but the truth had shattered that illusion. In love, change was the only constant.

Rising to her feet, Tonya began wandering through the park. The vast, star-speckled sky above seemed as cold and distant as the ache in her chest.

After some time, she settled on a patch of grass, pulling out a beer from her bag. One bottle after another vanished as she drank in silence.

A faint noise broke through her solitude.

Her instincts flared, a sense of unease creeping in.

Gripping an empty bottle tightly, she peered into the darkness.

“Drinking alone is no fun. Mind if we join?” Harlee’s voice came through.

Tonya froze, tears streaming anew as she dashed forward, throwing her arms around Harlee.

Her voice cracked as she clung to Harlee.

“I missed you so much.”

Harlee stroked Tonya’s hair with a gentle smile.

“Well, I’m here now.” Behind them, Robbie awkwardly lingered, unsure where to fit in.

“How about starting with a drink?” he offered, only to be met with matching glares. Quickly, he grabbed a beer and retreated to a nearby bench, giving the two their moment.

Harlee softly patted Tonya’s back and guided her to the grass, brushing away her tears with soft fingers.

“Since when did love turn you into a puddle of tears?” she teased lightly.

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“If I hadn’t shown up, would you have just stayed here all night, drinking yourself into a stupor?”

“How’d you even find me? And why are you in Neshela? Shouldn’t you be dealing with Waylon and Liliana? Can you and Robbie really afford to leave?” Tonya rattled off questions, sniffing as she tried to compose herself.

“Relax.

Everything’s handled back home. Right now, you’re what matters,” Harlee assured her.

Tonya rested her head on Harlee’s shoulder, sipping her drink with a bitter chuckle.

“You always understand me better than anyone. Without you, I feel like I’m falling apart.”

Harlee remained quiet, realizing just how deeply Tonya had been hurt by Ritchie’s sudden departure.

“Have you thought about letting go?” Harlee finally asked.

Tonya hesitated, her voice trembling.

“I didn’t before.

But when he said that if I kept holding on, he’d disappear forever, I started to consider it.”

Harlee offered no platitudes, only her truth.

“I used to believe in never giving up, but now? All I want is for Rhys to be safe. That’s enough.”

Tonya frowned, confused.

“What do you mean?”

“Sometimes love isn’t about clinging. It’s about wanting the other person to find happiness,” Harlee explained.

Tonya said nothing, her thoughts swirling.

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