"Do you actually love me?" I asked. I knew it sounded a little ridiculous—even pathetic—but if I didn’t ask, I’d just keep muddling through in confusion.

"I don’t know," Edward said, his voice low. "I don’t know what it really means to love someone. But I do know that when I’m with you, I’m happy, I’m at ease. You’re interesting, full of life, and you bring out a passion for living in me."

"Edward, maybe this isn’t love. It’s just… liking someone. I like how mature you are, how easygoing, how tolerant," I let out a soft sigh.

"Why can’t liking someone be enough for us to stay together?" Edward pressed.

"I just don’t think anything in this world really lasts," I said, biting my lip, doubt flickering in my eyes.

"You still don’t believe in yourself. You’re like a kite with its string cut, just drifting wherever the wind takes you, never stopping to look back at what you’ve left behind. Victoria, don’t you realize you treat relationships like they’re just old clothes you can toss out whenever you feel like it?" Edward snapped, his tone full of frustration.

I was stunned for a second, feeling a rush of shame, anger, and resentment. "I don’t," I blurted out, denying it on instinct.

But Edward just gave a quiet, almost mocking chuckle. "When you were with Ryan, how many times did you actually make the first move?"

I felt a sharp pang in my chest and muttered, "How do you know so much about what happened between me and him? Did you have eyes on us every single time?"

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to know all that. My dad made me come back and keep tabs on you two, to make sure nothing happened between you," Edward apologized again.

"Edward, to people like you, with all your power and connections, do people like us even get to have any privacy?" I suddenly felt suffocated and uneasy, like an insect squirming under a magnifying glass.

Edward was silent for a few seconds, then said, "It’s different when you’re with me. You have your privacy."

"Edward, can we just calm down for a bit?" My mind was in chaos, and the fact that I wanted to escape him only proved one thing—Edward had gotten to me in ways the other two men never could.

Only when you’re standing at the edge of a cliff do you realize what fear really is.

"Am I really not enough for you?" Edward’s voice was tinged with exhaustion. "Victoria, do we really have to go our separate ways?"

I was breathing hard, unable to say anything for a moment.

"Alright, let’s take a few days to cool off. I’ll give you time to think," Edward said, then hung up.

The next morning, Jared showed up bright and early to pick us up. Yvonne was still half-asleep, curled up in my arms, catching a few more winks.

Jared sat across from me, looking a little uncomfortable—probably still embarrassed about kissing me last time.

"I’m sorry about what happened before. I was out of line," Jared suddenly apologized.

I kept my voice cool. "Just don’t let it happen again."

Jared gave a wry smile. "I’m usually the calm one. Honestly, I have no idea what got into me."

I glanced at him. "Don’t try to justify what you did."

Jared looked embarrassed and let the conversation drop.

I leaned back and slept for over an hour. At some point, Jared took Yvonne into his arms so I could rest easier.

When I woke up, I stared blankly out the window. Jared noticed my mood and asked, "What’s wrong? Did you and Edward get into a fight?"

I shook my head, staying silent.

Jared muttered to himself, "Guys like him? No one can ever really hold onto his heart."

"I never wanted to tie him down," I replied softly.

"I don’t buy it," Jared scoffed. "You want to keep him close, but you’re afraid of falling into the same old trap."