Repulsed, Mitchel made his way to a sink, cupping water to rinse his face.
Raegan trailed after him, calling out, âIâm not giving up.
Iâll be here waiting until youâre ready to talk to me.
â
Mitchel remained silent.
Raeganâs spirits rose as she made her way out.
The confusion lingered, but so did the undeniable sense that their love remained unblemished.
Their history was rich and filled with joy, partings, losses, and reunions, mirroring the full spectrum of life.
Countless were the moments when Mitchel had put everything on the line for her, even at the risk of his own life.
The depth of their connection, Raegan was convinced, wasnât something that could be simply switched off.
Reacting impulsively to his seemingly indifference and abandoning him would be the real act of unkindness.
Thus, her willingness to stand and fight for their love was ironclad.
No matter what lay ahead, Raegan was determined to honor their former love and hold onto a life without regrets; that, to her, was paramount.
Descending the stairs, Raegan unsurprisingly encountered Katie, who had been on the lookout for her.
Katie had not known a momentâs peace since Mitchelâs reappearance.
She had watched Raegan get up and leave, and soon after, Mitchel had excused himself under the pretense of visiting the restroom.
The nagging anxiety tempted her to follow them at once, yet she hesitated to take that step.
Since his return, Mitchel had softened toward her, offering promises.
Though it should have been welcome news, a shadow of unease crept in, worried that this perfect illusion would soon fracture.
After a torturous five minutes, Katieâs patience snapped, and she ascended to find them.
Witnessing Raeganâs descent ignited her fury to new heights.
Surely, this woman must have lured Mitchel away!
âRaegan.
â Katie approached with feigned serenity, closing the distance between them.
âMitchel and I are back together.
Itâs about time you showed some self-respect and let go of him.
â
âBack together?â Raegan laid bare the truth.
âHad you ever truly been together?â
âIâ¦â Words failed Katie amidst her seething.
âIsnât it clear?â
Katie implied that their joint appearances should leave no doubt they were a couple.
Yet, Raegan countered with a chill, âItâs not evident to me.
You know, standing next to you, Mitchel seems more like heâs performing an act of charity.
â
To ensure no misunderstanding, Raegan spelled it out.
âAs if heâs aiding a pregnant woman across the street.
â
âWhat? What are you implying?â Katie, livid to the point of losing her words, contemplated confronting Mitchel.
She decided not to squander her breath on Raegan and hissed a warning, âWatch it.
Donât even think about chasing after him!â
Raegan stood firm.
âKatie, ever wondered why youâre so uneasy?â
The certainty in Raeganâs gaze gave Katie a moment of unease.
Before Katie could retort, Raegan replied, âItâs because what youâre holding on to isnât really yours.
â
âYou! Ridiculous!â Katie seethed, convinced that her offer of the seafood stew had somehow tipped the scales in her favor.
Still, Raeganâs presence was enough to make her see red, her irritation escaping in a sharp exhale.