---- Chapter 19 Noah stood frozen on the sidewalk long after Liam's car had disappeared. He looked down at the ridiculously expensive ring in his hand. Ava's words echoed in his ears. You don't love me. You love the way | loved you. He had never considered the distinction before. He had taken her devotion for granted, like the air he breathed. Now that it was gone, he was suffocating. The thought that she knew him so well, knew that he hadn't even bothered to pick out her engagement ring himself, was anew, specific kind of humiliation. He finally snapped the box shut and shoved it back in his pocket. He felt like a fool. A desperate, pathetic fool. In the car, Ava was quiet. She leaned her head against the passenger window, watching the city go by. "Are you okay?" Liam asked, his voice soft. He reached over and took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. She turned to him and gave him a small smile. "I'm better than okay." She squeezed his hand. "Thank you for being there." "Always," he said. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "So. His grand romantic gesture was to propose with a ring his assistant probably bought on Amazon." Ava laughed, a real, genuine laugh. "Probably." She leaned ---- over and nestled into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. "Can we just go home? Your home, | mean." "Whatever you want," he said, changing course and heading back to his house. Once they were inside, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. "I'm so sorry," she mumbled into his shirt. He stroked her hair. "What are you sorry for?" "That you have to deal with him. With my past." He pulled back and tilted her chin up so she was looking at him. "Hey. None of that. It's not your past. It's our present. And we'll deal with it together." He kissed her forehead. "Besides, watching you shut him down like that was one of the most satisfying moments of my life." She giggled. "He just makes me feel... gross now," she admitted. "When | think about how | used to be, how | used to cater to his every whim, clean his apartment, basically be his unpaid assistant and therapist and cook... it makes my skin crawl." She shuddered. "With you, everything is so... easy. You take care of things. You take care of me. Everything is always handled." "As it should be," he said, his expression turning serious. He looked at her, a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "He's not going to give up, you know. He's going to keep trying to get to you." He took a deep breath. "Ava... do you still... do you have ---- any feelings for him left at all?" The question was quiet, tentative. He was scared of the answer. Ava looked him straight in the eye, her own expression clear and certain. "No," she said, her voice unwavering. She reached up and cupped his face in her hands. "Liam, look at me. | don't love him anymore. | promise." The relief that washed over his face was so profound it almost made her cry. He pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face in her hair. He had been so afraid, despite everything, that some small part of her still belonged to Noah. Her words were the final reassurance he needed. "| love you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "| love you, too," she whispered back, and as she said the words, she realized with a startling clarity that they were completely, utterly true. 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.