Those words hurt more than he expected.

“Ava… don’t say that.”

“I’m not breaking up with you,” she replied evenly. “I’m just being honest. I care about you, but I need routine. Clarity. Structure. And today, you shattered all of that. And it’s not the first time.”

Gabriel gripped the steering wheel tightly, the silence between them stretching for several seconds.

“I know,” he finally said. “And I’ll try to be better. But you also have to understand that life doesn’t always go according to plan. We’re still figuring things out—learning how to fit. I’ll make mistakes, love, and so will you, no matter how perfect you try to be. Our differences brought us together, Ava. Don’t give up on us yet, okay? Let me make it up to you—let me hold you tonight, sing to you, spoil you a little.”

On the other end, there was a long pause before her calm, final response came.

“Not tonight, Gabriel. Goodnight. Sleep well.”

And she hung up.

He stayed there, the phone still in his hand, listening to the sil