Andre's POV
I remained frozen outside the bathroom door for several moments, listening to the deafening silence that cut deeper than any scream could have. Meryl had locked herself away from me, and no amount of pleading or explanation would draw her out now. She was finished with my words, finished with my excuses. The quiet between us felt heavier than her tears had been, and the knowledge that I had caused this devastation made my chest tighten with rage.
My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack. I spun on my heel and stormed out of the hotel room.
The elevator couldn't move fast enough. I needed to get to the parking garage, needed to end this nightmare once and for all. My hands gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles went white as I started the engine. Every second that passed was another second Meryl spent believing the worst about me, another moment she suffered because of the lies surrounding us. This ended tonight.
