Chapter 178

• Refusing to accept the implied loss, Tristan hastily typed a response, expressing his willingness to maintain their friendship. Pressing the send button before he had a chance to overanalyze his message, he anxiously awaited Roth's reply.
• Within minutes, an email from Roth arrived. It contained a simple yet painful rejection: "I'm sorry, but I can't be friends with you, Tristan."
• Tears welled up in Tristan's eyes as he absorbed the words. He understood the anguish underlying Roth's statement, for he had experienced that same pain just a few months earlier. Regrettably, he found himself powerless to alleviate that suffering.