---- Chapter 18 The pain in Noah' s chest was a constant, dull ache. He watched the lights in Liam's house go out, one by one, until only a soft glow remained from a downstairs room. It was an intimate, domestic scene, and he was the outsider, the ghost haunting a life that was no longer his. He finally started the car and drove away, the quiet suburban street feeling like a world away from his empty, sterile penthouse. The feeling of being lost, of being left behind, was overwhelming. A few days later, Ava was leaving Liam's house to head to her office. They had fallen into a comfortable routine. She'd spend the night with him, and he'd drive her to her co-working space in the morning. As she stepped out the front door, she was surprised to see Noah standing on the sidewalk. He looked terrible. His usually perfect hair was a mess, there were dark circles under his eyes, and he was wearing a wrinkled shirt. He looked like a man who hadn't been taking care of himself. When he saw her, his face lit up with a mixture of shock and desperate hope. "Ava." She stiffened. Liam, who was right behind her, put a protective hand on the small of her back. "Noah," she said, her voice cool and distant. "You shouldn't be ---- here." He took a step forward, his hands outstretched as if to plead with her. "| just want to talk. Please. Five minutes." "We have nothing to talk about," she said, her voice firm. She looked at him, at the man who had caused her so much pain, and she felt... nothing. Not anger, not pity, just a profound sense of detachment. She had moved on. "We should all just move on with our lives. Find our own happiness." "My happiness is you!" he blurted out, his voice cracking. "I was a fool, Ava. An idiot. | know that now. | love you. I've always loved you." The words that she had once longed to hear now sounded hollow and pathetic. "No, you don't," she said, her voice softening slightly, not with affection, but with a sad finality. "You don't love me. You love the way | loved you. There's a difference." She turned to leave, but he moved quickly, blocking her path. "Please, Ava. Come back to me. I'll change. I'll be better. I'll do anything." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He opened it. Inside was a diamond ring. "Marry me. Ava and Liam both stared at the ring, then at Noah's desperate face. The gesture was so grand, so theatrical, and so completely wrong. ---- Ava didn't even look at the ring. She looked at Noah's eyes. "Did you buy this yourself?" she asked, her voice quiet. Noah looked confused. "What? Yes, of course." "No, you didn't," she said, a sad certainty in her voice. "Your assistant bought it. You probably told them a budget and a style, but you didn't pick it out yourself. Just like you never picked out any of my birthday presents. Your assistant did. Because you never took the time to learn what | actually like." His face fell. She was right. He had just delegated it, like any other task. "It's over, Noah," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "It has been for a long time. | just didn't realize it." She stepped around him, Liam's hand still a warm, steady presence on her back. "Goodbye." He stood there, holding the open ring box, as they walked to Liam's car. He watched them get in, watched Liam lean over and kiss her before starting the engine. He watched them drive away, leaving him alone on the sidewalk with a useless diamond ring and the crushing weight of his own belated realization. He hadn't just lost her; he had given her away. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.