---- Chapter 9 Noah stared at Ava, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes. He wasn't used to this tone from her. He was used to tears, to pleading, to apologies. This cold, calm woman was a stranger. "Ava, don't be ridiculous," he said, his voice losing some of its earlier confidence. "I'm not being ridiculous," she replied, her voice steady. "I'm telling you to leave." Scarlett scoffed. "Oh, please. She's just being dramatic. She'll get over it." Ava's gaze shifted to Scarlett. "No," she said simply. "| won't." She looked back at Noah. "For three years, | thought your love was something precious, something worth fighting for. But it's not love. It's a game to you. And I'm done playing." She took a deep breath. "You asked if | thought you loved her more than the watch. The truth is, | don't care anymore. | accept your bet. You win. You love her more. Congratulations." She nodded her head, a gesture of finality. "Now, please, leave." The love she had felt for him, the obsessive, all-consuming emotion that had defined her for years, was almost gone. All that was left was a hollowed-out space filled with the bitter dust of regret. ---- Noah looked genuinely stunned. He had expected a fight, tears, a scene. He had not expected... acceptance. He had not expected to be dismissed so calmly. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Ava didn't wait. She walked over to her desk, picked up her laptop, and walked back to the door, stepping out into the hallway. She didn't look back. She just pulled the door shut behind her, leaving Noah and Scarlett standing in the middle of her wrecked apartment. Noah stood there for a long moment, the click of the closing door echoing in the room. He couldn't believe it. She had just walked away. He had always been the one to leave, the one in control. He felt a disorienting sense of loss, a panic he couldn't quite name. He had always assumed she would be there, a constant, reliable source of devotion he could tap into whenever he wanted. The thought that she might actually be gone for good was... unsettling. He shook his head. She'd be back. She always came back. Ava didn't know where she was going. She just walked down the stairs and out of the building. She felt strangely light, as if a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders. As she stepped out onto the sidewalk, a car pulled up to the curb. It was Liam. He got out of the car, his face etched with concern. "| saw them go into your building. | was worried. Are you okay?" ---- Ava looked at him, and for the first time, she smiled. A small, watery, but genuine smile. "| am now." He saw the finality in her eyes, the absence of the haunted look she' d worn for so long. He understood. "Come on," he said gently, opening the passenger door for her. "Let's get you out of here." He drove her to his place, a quiet, minimalist house with large windows that looked out onto a peaceful garden. It was the complete opposite of Noah's cold, ostentatious penthouse. He made her tea, just as he had before, and let her talk. She told him everything. About the bets, the lies, the constant feeling of being second best. He listened patiently, his expression growing darker with every word she spoke. When she was finished, there was a long silence. Then, he reached across the table and took her hand. "He never deserved you, Ava," he said softly. She looked down at their joined hands. "I think I'm finally starting to believe that." He gently turned her hand over, his thumb stroking her palm. He leaned in slowly, his eyes searching hers, giving her every opportunity to pull away. She didn't. He pressed his lips to hers, a kiss that was gentle, tentative, and full of a quiet reverence that she had never experienced before. ---- When he pulled back, he looked at her, his dark eyes full of an emotion she couldn't quite decipher. "I've been in love with you for two years, Ava," he confessed, his voice barely a whisper. "Ever since | saw you give a presentation on procedural generation at a tech conference. You were so brilliant, so passionate. And I've had to stand by and watch him treat you like you were nothing." He shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry. | shouldn't have said that. It's too soon." "No," she said, her heart starting to beat a little faster, a nervous, hopeful rhythm. "It's not." She looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the kindness, the respect, the genuine admiration. "Why didn't you ever say anything?" "How could |?" he asked with a sad smile. "You were so in love with him." He squeezed her hand. "But you're not anymore. Are you?" The question hung in the air, a final test. She thought of Noah, of his cruelty, of his games. And she felt... nothing. Just a quiet emptiness where the love used to be. She looked at Liam, at his kind eyes and his patient smile, and felt the first stirrings of something new. Something hopeful. "No," she said, her voice clear and strong. "I'm not." 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.