He swallowed hard, forcing himself to steady his breathing, but the feeling wouldn't go away.
His heart thudded painfully in his chest, and he closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself to let it go. Don't be like this, he thought bitterly. She's happy. That's what matters, right?
But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself, the heavy knot in his chest refused to loosen. He stood there, frozen in his own thoughts, feeling stressed and hurt.
"Julian," Ruby's voice called out. He froze for a moment, startled that she had noticed him. Quickly, he adjusted his emotions, forcing a gentle smile onto his face before turning to her.
"Please don't be angry," he said, stepping forward and offering her the glass of water he had brought. "Have some water."
Ruby looked at him for a moment, her expression softening as she took the glass from his hand. "Thank you," she said simply, her voice carrying a hint of warmth.