CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVEN FALLING APART

DAPHNE'S POV I slipped out of the room, heart pounding with a mix of relief and dread. The sight of Javion kneeling there, in the middle of the rogues had been almost unbearable. I hoped, prayed even, that he was gone. If he was, maybe I could finally breathe without the ache of his presence tugging at me. I walked cautiously through the grounds, my eyes scanning the area, looking for any sign of him. The place was eerily quiet, and I couldn’t see Javion anywhere. A wave of mixed emotions crashed over me. Part of me was relieved. If he had left, maybe I wouldn’t have to confront the pain of seeing him suffer anymore. Maybe I could go back to some semblance of normalcy in this hellhole. But another part of me felt a deep, gnawing sadness. How could he just leave? Was it really possible that he wouldn’t stay and fight for me? I was caught between anger and longing, and it was almost too much to bear. I needed to get away, to find a place where I could be alone with my thoughts,