A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER Chapter 35: CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

KYLE

There are a lot of things I’ve come to realize in the past twenty-four hours.

One, I have to win Ashley back—no matter the cost.

Two, for the first time in years, I can actually have a priority that isn’t business (my therapist would be proud).

And three, if I have any chance at fulfilling number one, I need to get through to Violet first.

Which is why I’m at Ryan's place today hoping to talk to Violet.

When I first brought it up, he had looked at me like I was insane. And maybe I was. But after a long sigh and a warning look, he finally relented—begrudgingly.

“I’ll let you talk to her,” he had said, rubbing the back of his neck like he already regretted it. “But don’t mention I had anything to do with this.”

I had raised a brow. “You think she’d be mad at you?”

Ryan had snorted. “She already hates you for what you did to Violet, Kyle. And trust me, she’d hate me too if she thought I gave you an opening.”

Fair enough.

Ryan had also made one thing clear—he thought I was wasting my time.

“Violet’s the last person who’d want to see Ashley back with you,” he had said bluntly. “If you think you can get her on your side, you’re delusional.”

Maybe he was right. But I wasn’t going to walk away without trying.

Now, standing in his living room, I watched as Violet walked in, her expression shifting the moment she spotted me.

"Hi, Kyle," she greeted, taking a seat opposite me.

"Violet," I said, clearing my throat, suddenly unsure of how to begin.

She didn’t waste time. "Ryan said you needed to talk to me."

Straight to the point. Of course.

"Yeah," I exhaled. "I wanted to talk to you about Ashley."

Her expression changed mmediately, but I didn’t give her the chance to interrupt.

"I know you have every reason to hate me. She has every reason to hate me. And maybe you’ll think I’m out of my mind for saying this, but… I want her back."

Violet’s glare was sharp enough to cut through steel, her arms crossing tightly over her chest.

“You want her back?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. “After everything?”

I exhaled, bracing myself. Here we go.

“She loved you, Kyle,” she continued, leaning forward, her tone growing colder. “She trusted you. And you fucking cheated on her.”

I flinched, but she wasn’t done.

“You broke her,” Violet snapped, shaking her head. “Do you even know what she went through? What it did to her? The sleepless nights, the crying, the self-doubt? She kept asking herself what she did wrong, when the real problem was you.”

I clenched my jaw, keeping my expression steady.

“I know,” I said quietly.

“No, you don’t know,” she fired back. “Because if you did, you wouldn’t be sitting here asking for another chance like you deserve one.”

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. “Violet, I get it. I was a piece of shit. I hurt her in ways I can’t ever take back. But I—”

“But what?” Kyle, you made your choice. You don’t just get to show up and decide you want her back like it’s that easy.”

“It’s not easy,” I said firmly. “I don’t expect it to be. I just…I love her, Violet. I never stopped.”

“You cheated on her, Kyle. That’s not love.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, her words cutting deep.

“I know,” I admitted. “And I hate myself for it every damn day. But I want to make it right. I need to make it right.”

Violet stared at me for a long moment, her gaze searching—looking for something, anything, that would convince her I wasn’t just full of shit.

Then she exhaled, leaning back.

“No,” she said simply.

I frowned. “No?”

“No,” she repeated. “You don’t get to make it right. She’s moved on, Kyle. She’s healing. She doesn’t need you reopening wounds she’s barely managed to close. “Ashley’s my best friend. My sister. And I’ll be damned if I let you waltz back into her life just to hurt her again.”

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay calm. “Violet, please—”

“No.”

Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

I had expected resistance. But this—this was a wall made of iron, unyielding and immovable.

Maybe Ryan was right. Maybe I was wasting my time.

But something in me refused to accept that.

Because I wasn’t just fighting for myself.

I was fighting for Ashley.

And I wasn’t going to stop.

I ran a hand down my face, exhaling sharply. “Look, Violet, I know I messed up. I know I hurt her more than I can ever make up for. And if I could go back and undo it, I would. But I can’t.”

Violet’s expression remained guarded, but I caught the slight twitch in her jaw, the hesitation in her eyes.

I leaned forward, my voice softer now. “You can deny it all you want, but you know I truly love her.” I swallowed hard, letting the words settle. “Maybe I didn’t always show it the right way. Maybe I was selfish, reckless. But I never stopped loving her. And I never will.”

Something flickered in Violet’s gaze—hesitation, uncertainty. Her lips parted slightly like she wanted to argue, but instead, she sighed.

“I can’t promise you anything,” she finally said, her voice quieter than before. “I can maybe tell her to forgive you, but that’s it. I can’t make her take you back—that’s her choice.”

I nodded, understanding that was the best I was going to get.

“But trust me,” Violet continued, her tone firm. “If she ever asks me whether she should get back with you, I won’t promise you that I won’t tell her not to.”

I let out a dry chuckle. “That’s fair.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re damn right it is.”

Silence stretched between us for a moment before she sighed again, rubbing her temples. “I’ll talk to her. But don’t get your hopes up, Kyle.”

“I won’t,” I lied.

Because I already had.