?Chapter 356:

He crossed his arms, his stance rigid. “If you’re about to justify what you did—”

“I’m not,” I cut him off, standing from the small bench in the corner. “I’m not here to justify anything. I’m here to apologize.”

That caught him off guard. His eyes narrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Apologize?” he repeated, skepticismcing his tone.

I nodded, taking a hesitant step forward. The chains around my wrists clinked softly, a harsh reminder of where I stood and why.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think,” I began, my voice softer now. “And I realize that I let my bitterness consume me. I wanted to hurt you, Ryder. I wanted to make you feel the pain I felt, to make you understand what you took from me. And in doing that, I dragged Jasmine into something she didn’t deserve.”

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t interrupt.

“I owe her an apology,” I continued, my voice trembling slightly. “I let my hatred for you blind me, and I didn’t stop to think about the coteral damage. Jasmine… she’s innocent in all of this. She didn’t deserve what I did to her. And for that, I’m sorry.”

Ryder’s expression didn’t soften, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something I couldn’t quite name.

“Why now?” he asked, his voice low. “Why apologize now, after everything you’ve done?”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Because I’ve been sitting in this cell, thinking about the choices I made, the things I said, the person I’ve be. And I realized that this isn’t who I want to be. I don’t want to be the viin in someone else’s story. Especially not in Jasmine’s.”

The silence between us was tense, the atmosphere calm and quiet like a ticking time bomb.

“I know I can’t undo what I’ve done,” I said quietly. “I can’t take back the pain I caused. But I want to try to make it right. Even if it’s just a small step. Even if it’s just an apology.”

Ryder stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than before.

“Do you really mean it?”

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I nodded, the sincerity in my voice undeniable. “Yes. I mean it. I’m sorry, Ryder. For everything. For hurting Jasmine, for trying to hurt you. I just… I don’t want to carry this bitterness anymore.”

His shoulders seemed to rx slightly, the tension in his frame easing just a fraction.

“I don’t know if Jasmine will forgive you,” he said finally. “But I’ll tell her what you said.”

It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.fn63c3 Official source is findnovel/fn63c3

He nodded once, turning to leave. But just before he stepped through the door, he paused, ncing back at me.

“For what it’s worth,” he said, his tone softer now, “I hope you find peace, Isabelle.”

And with that, he was gone, the heavy iron door closing behind him.

I sank back onto the bench, my heart heavy but lighter than it had been in a long time.

And maybe, just maybe, it was enough.

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