CHAPTER 184: DISAPPOINTMENT

Juliet's breath caught in her throat as she felt the warmth of Caleb's hand against her chest. She knew he was right, that a part of her still longed for him despite her efforts to deny it. But she couldn't ignore the reality of their situation, the complications that threatened to tear them apart. "I can't do this, Caleb," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the noise of the crowd. "Not like this." Caleb's expression softened, his eyes filled with understanding. "I know it's difficult, Juliet," he said gently, his thumb caressing her hand. "But we can't ignore what we feel for each other. It's real, undeniable." Juliet's resolve wavered as she looked into Caleb's eyes, seeing the depth of his love reflected back at her. Despite the chaos surrounding them, she couldn't deny the truth of his words, the pull she felt towards him. Caleb felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest, the words slicing through him like a knife. He struggled to process Juliet's rejection,