Chapter Seven: The Heartbreak

The weeks of silence from Mia had weighed heavily on Alex. Each day felt like an endless struggle, his heart aching with the uncertainty and the unanswered questions. He had tried to move on, to focus on his work, but everything reminded him of Mia—the places they had visited, the conversations they had shared, the memories they had created. Despite Mr. Jacob's advice to be patient and understanding, the pain of her absence was overwhelming.

One evening, as Alex sat on the balcony staring at the setting sun, he heard a familiar soft knock on the door. His heart leapt into his throat. He turned to see Mia standing there, her face pale and her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and determination.

"Mia," Alex breathed, standing up and taking a hesitant step towards her.

"Can we talk?" Mia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alex nodded, his heart pounding. He followed her down the stairs and out into the yard, where they could talk privately. The air was cool, and the sound of the river in the distance added a somber tone to the atmosphere.

They stood facing each other, the tension between them palpable. Alex searched Mia's eyes for some sign of what she was feeling, but all he saw was a deep sadness.

"Alex, I'm sorry," Mia began, her voice trembling. "I know I've hurt you, and I owe you an explanation."

"Why, Mia?" Alex asked, his voice breaking. "Why did you pull away like that? What happened?"

Mia took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "When we first met, I promised myself that I wouldn't get into a relationship. I wanted to focus on taking care of my father and honoring my mother's memory. But then I met you, and everything changed. I got swept up in our feelings, and I forgot that promise."

Alex felt a lump forming in his throat. "But why didn't you just talk to me? We could have figured something out together."

Mia shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I was scared, Alex. I was scared that if I let myself love you, I would lose sight of my responsibilities. And I realized that I can't do that. I can't let myself get distracted from taking care of my father. He needs me."

Alex's heart shattered as her words sank in. He felt a surge of anger and hurt. "So, you're saying that all this time, you were planning to push me away? Why did you let it go this far, Mia? Why did you make me believe that we had a future together?"

Mia looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Alex. I care about you so much, but I can't let myself be in a relationship right now. I'm sorry."

The anger and heartbreak boiled over inside Alex. "Sorry? You're sorry? That's all you have to say after everything?" His voice rose, and he took a step closer to her, his fists clenched. "You played with my feelings, Mia. You made me fall in love with you, and now you're telling me it was all a mistake?"

Mia's eyes widened in fear and pain. "Alex, please, try to understand. I never meant to hurt you. I thought I could handle it, but I can't."

Alex's vision blurred with tears. He raised his hand, his anger pushing him to the edge. But just as he was about to lash out, he saw the fear in Mia's eyes. His hand trembled, and he stopped himself, lowering it slowly.

"I can't believe this," Alex said, his voice breaking. "I thought we had something real. I thought you loved me."

Mia sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "I do love you, Alex. But I have to put my father first. I'm so sorry."

Unable to bear the pain any longer, Alex turned away, his heart breaking into a million pieces. "I can't do this, Mia. I can't keep getting hurt like this."

Without another word, he walked away, his vision blurred by tears. He could hear Mia crying behind him, but he didn't look back. He made his way back to Mr. Jacob's house, feeling like his world had crumbled around him.

When he reached his room, he collapsed onto his bed, the full weight of his heartbreak crashing down on him. He buried his face in his pillow, the tears flowing freely. The anger, the hurt, and the betrayal all mixed together, leaving him feeling shattered and lost.

For hours, Alex lay there, his mind replaying the painful conversation over and over. He thought about the moments they had shared, the dreams they had talked about, and the love he had felt. It all seemed so cruelly distant now.

As the night wore on, the exhaustion of his emotions finally took over, and he drifted into a restless sleep. But even in his dreams, the pain of Mia's betrayal haunted him, a constant reminder of the love he had lost.