Lily's POV

"Lillianna, it's been ages!" Gabriella's hands cup my cheeks before she pulls me into a bone-crushing hug, her perfume engulfing me with its sharp floral scent.

"Aunt Gab," I manage, breathless, trying to wriggle free. She's always been like this—over-the-top, suffocatingly affectionate.

Mum's best friend, Gabriella, is a powerhouse—a cardiac surgeon who works in the same hospital as Mum. She's the only person who insists on calling me by my full name, and no matter how many times I've begged her not to, she never relents.

"Easy, Gabby," Mum's voice rings with laughter as she shakes her head. "Any tighter and you'll actually need to use your medical skills on her."

Gabriella releases me, still beaming like she's won some grand prize. "Oh, hush, you two! Lillianna, it's so good to see you! How have you been?" Her eyes flicker over me, assessing.

"I've been... good," I lie, forcing a smile that feels like it cracks at the edges. I latch onto Mum's arm, hoping she doesn't see through me just yet. "Just missed my mum, that's all. Thought she could use a little pick-me-up." I hand over the plastic bag filled with pastries to Mum, leaning my head on her shoulder for comfort.

Mum's eyes soften as she takes the bag from me, but I catch the slight furrow of her brow. "Thanks, darling. You always know how to make a girl feel special." She turns to one of the nurses at the front desk. "Could you set this up in the break room for everyone? Lily brought treats."

The nurse's grateful smile is met with one of my own, though it feels a bit weak. The weight of everything I haven't said yet presses down on me. Gabriella smiles at me one last time, but a loud pager interrupts the moment, buzzing sharply against the quiet murmur of the hospital.

"Duty calls," Gabriella says with a wink. "Lovely seeing you again, Lillianna. Don't be a stranger."

"Of course," I reply, though the words feel hollow.

As Gabriella disappears down the hall, Mum turns to me, eyes searching, her smile fading into something more serious. "Now, are you going to tell me what's really going on, or do I have to pry it out of you?"

The dam I've been holding back bursts open at the sound of her voice—gentle but knowing. The tears sting, and I blink rapidly to hold them in. "Mum..." My voice cracks, and I hate how weak it sounds. "Finn and I broke up. Everything's a mess."

Mum's eyes widen in shock. "Finn? Wait, the same boy who came over for Christmas?" She asks it slowly, like she's trying to make sure she heard right.

I nod, biting my lip to keep the flood of emotions at bay.

"I thought you were still with Nate?" she adds, confusion deepening the lines on her face.

A weak laugh escapes me, more from exhaustion than humor. "Yeah... it's been a while since we talked."

Mum pulls me into a hug, her arms tightening around me in that way only a mother can. "Oh, sweetheart... I'm so sorry. You should have called me sooner. I would've been here."

I bury my face in her shoulder, my voice muffled. "I didn't want to worry you."

She pulls back, her eyes locking onto mine with a firm yet gentle stare. "Worrying about you is part of the job. Come on, let's get out of here. You look like you need more than just a hug."

We leave the hospital, and the air outside feels cool against my skin, a relief from the stuffy corridors. We walk to the nearby park in silence, but it's not uncomfortable. Once seated on a bench, she throws an arm around me, and I rest my head against her shoulder.

"Tell me everything, Lily," she whispers, her voice soft but urging.

I take a deep breath, letting the words pour out—how Finn and I met, how things felt so right at first, the way Rachel slithered back into his life, and the lies. Each word feels heavier than the last, and when I finally stop, my heart feels like it's been wrung dry.

"Why did he lie to me, Mum?" I ask, wiping away another tear. "If he loved me, why did he feel the need to hide things?"

Mum's thumb strokes my arm gently. "Sweetheart, people lie for all sorts of reasons. Fear, insecurity, shame... it doesn't make it right, but it helps to know where it's coming from."

I shake my head, frustrated. "But if he loved me, wouldn't he have just told the truth? Isn't that what love is supposed to be about?"

Mum turns toward me, her expression soft but serious. "Love isn't perfect, Lily. Your dad and I had plenty of moments where things weren't easy. But we worked through it. Finn made a mistake, but the real question is, do you think he's willing to fix it? Is he the kind of person who can grow from this?"

I look at her, really absorbing her words for the first time. "I... I don't know. Maybe I'm expecting something unrealistic. I just want what you and Dad had."

Mum laughs softly, shaking her head. "Oh, darling, what your dad and I had was far from perfect. You've only ever heard the stories that I chose to share—the good bits. We had our fights, our hard times. Love doesn't come in a perfect package. It's messy, it's complicated, but it's worth fighting for if both people are committed."

I nod, my chest tightening. "So, what if... what if I can't trust him again?"

Her hand squeezes mine, warm and reassuring. "That's something only you can decide. Trust takes time to rebuild, but it's possible. The real question is, do you think Finn deserves that chance?"

Before I can respond, her pager buzzes, slicing through the moment. She glances down, her face pulling into a slight frown. "Duty calls, again."

I force a smile. "I'll be fine, Mum."

She hugs me tightly one more time. "I love you, honey. And remember, you're stronger than you think."

As she rushes off, the weight of her words lingers in the air, settling deep inside me. I pull out my phone and stare at Finn's contact, my thumb hovering over the screen. A surge of frustration rises in my chest, but it isn't just anger. It's hurt, confusion... love. The kind of love that refuses to fade even when you want it to, even when you feel like it should.

I sigh, thumb still trembling over his name. The truth is, I love him. More than this stupid argument, more than the lies. That's the part that's tearing me apart. Because no matter how much my head tells me I should be done with him, my heart just won't let go.

I drop my hand, clutching the phone against my chest. Why is love so complicated? I wish it was easy—black and white, clear lines drawn between right and wrong. But Finn... Finn blurs everything. He makes me feel safe and loved, and at the same time, he makes me question everything. And despite the mess of it all, I still want him.

But it's not just about wanting him. It's about the trust.

I feel the sting of tears again, frustration boiling over. I hate that this stupid fight, this one lie, has so much power over us. Over me. Because deep down, I know this isn't worth losing him over. I know I love him more than this. More than the anger. More than the betrayal. But it's still there, lodged in my chest like a thorn that refuses to budge.

With a heavy breath, I shove my phone back into my bag and start walking home, the weight of the conversation with Finn looming over me. Each step feels heavier than the last, but underneath it all, that small, undeniable truth keeps echoing in my mind: I love him more than this.

But is love enough?

******

The walk home passes in a haze, my mind swirling with every possible way this conversation could go. Each step feels heavier, dragging me closer to something I'm not sure I'm ready to face. The sun has already dipped below the horizon, leaving a soft, amber glow across the street, but it does nothing to soothe the tension twisting inside me.

As I approach the front door, I stop dead in my tracks. Finn's there—pacing nervously, gripping a bouquet of flowers so tightly that some of the petals are crushed between his fingers. When he looks up, our eyes meet, and the desperation etched on his face makes my heart clench

"Butterfly." he murmurs.