She opened her mouth to say something else, to persuade, him, and closed it again, because he was right.
Hale Castle was his home.
But it wasn’t yet hers. Even though the folk here loved her, even though Cora and Derek had taken her in and given her a life — she didn’t yet have a home. A place that was hers alone — family that was hers. And out of nowhere, out of the worst experience of her life, had come this possibility of family.
Summer took a step back from Isaac, and another step, hands clasped together to still their trembling. “I — Isaac … I — “
He’d lost his family, his home, all when he was too young to barely remember most of it, and now, just when the pieces in his life were slowly starting to fit together again, something had to come along and strike it all down. Whether it was fate or coincidence, he didn’t know, but what he did know was that Summer was more than likely going to leave, whether or not he was leaving with her or not.
“S-Summer…Summer, please…” He breathed out hoarsely, eyes widening with the impending horror of whatever her final decision would be, begging and pleading for her to choose him whilst hating himself all the while for doing so. She deserved her family.
Unable to bear the look on his face, she turned and fled. Blindly, she ran through the castle, through the town. All she wanted was some way to forget, someone to make the choice for her. The burden was too much. Breathless and aching in body as well as mind, she collapsed in a miserable heap by the river.