Rejected

Dhalia POV

I know I need to apologise to them. After last night—after Keeley, Rose, and everything they said—I built a wall around myself and buried all my emotions deep inside, hiding behind a facade. It wasn’t until I saw Jax’s face, the worry etched in every line, that I realised how cold I’d been toward them. The fear in his eyes that he had somehow hurt me made me see just how far I’d pulled away.

Part of me doesn’t even want to go to the launch tonight. I want to hide away and disappear into the shadows. Every time I try to feel a shred of happiness, Rose’s words come back to haunt me, ripping apart any sense of worth I have left. I glance through my bags, trying to focus on something—anything—else. I choose the smallest one. It fits my new phone, but that’s it.

Honestly, I shouldn’t even need my old phone. I won’t need any of the numbers on it, won’t need access to my bank. The new phone, with only their numbers in it, feels like a lifeline I’m clinging to. Even though I’m terr