Brooke stopped mid-way between the marble fountain and the Erikson's mansion. It was a cold crispy night. The wind was giving her goosebumps and the thought of confronting Chuck made her stomach flinch.

"Chuck, I don't even know how to ask you this. Or even if it's the right thing to do. But is there something going on that I should know?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you still have feelings for her?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Chuck, you know perfectly well what I'm trying to say. You don't have to tell me everything, but please…just don't lie to me."

He stared at the fountain as the water carelessly dripped on the rose petals.

"Do you...love me?"

"This is crazy. You know I do."

"Well then, do you love her more than me?"

"Who?"

"Blair!"

"How did you..."

"That doesn't matter. Just answer my question. Do you still love her?"

Brooke stared at Chuck desperately waiting for an answer. This time, he was looking straight into her eyes. He heavily sighed as the word "yes" slipped out of his mouth. Both of her hands rose to her face as she tried to hide the pain of his answer. She blinked numerously to stop the tears from flowing down her face. But none of this helped. Nothing ever would. It wasn't like this answer just blew out of nowhere. She knew it was coming. She knew that she had to face the truth sooner or later.

"Chuck, I can't… I can't do this anymore."

"No. Yes, you can. I love you just as much as I love Blair. I really do. But everything's changed. She's moved on."

"Yeah, but you haven't! Chuck can you honestly tell me that you don't have any thoughts about still being with her? …Yeah, I thought so. You know, maybe it's just one of those things. You still love her, and only her. Maybe not. Or maybe, she's just irreplaceable."

"B, I need you."

"No. What you need is to find out what you truly want. Chuck, you know I love you. And I always will…

"Then what's the problem here? Blair and I are over. We have been."

"Do you know how much it hurts knowing that the person you love, loves someone else?"

Brooke shook her head and continued.

"But I guess there's a point in life where that doesn't matter anymore. When you love someone, you have to think about them before yourself."

"B, I'm sorry. I really am. I never meant to.."

"I know. It's okay. If we were meant to be, then everything will find its way in the end. But if we weren't, then just know that I wouldn't have done it any other way. You have already done enough for me. You seriously don't owe me anything. You've shown me so much. The time spent with you was one of the best years of my life. But I just know that I have to stop trying, and you know there's no denying. Clearly, we weren't happy together."

"Brooke, I love you. And just so know you, you were never a replacement."

Brooke forced a smile across her face. She bent down to kiss Chuck on the forehead. Then, she whispered into his ear, "Don't worry about me. Just follow your heart." With that, she finally decided to let go of his hand. She stood up confidently and walked down the street. It was her way of proving to him that she was totally fine without him. Which by the way, was totally untrue. Brooke felt relieved and proud of herself. She knew that it was time to stop fooling herself and the world. But this doesn't mean that she didn't love him. She didn't dare to look back because if she did, she knew that the misery would continue. Everything she said back there were lies. All of it. She wasn't okay. She still loved him. Brooke couldn't stand the thought of Chuck with another girl. She didn't want to leave him. Except, she knew she had to. It was time for her to give up. She was too tired and restless. As she walked toward the limo, she smiled to herself. Like her mother always said, "It's not about the clothes you wear or the life you've led; it's the face you show the world." Brooke was falling apart but she didn't dare show it. Brooke took one last look at Chuck as she slid into the limo. Chuck still sat on the edge of the fountain where she last left him. His head was buried in his hands. She could see a figure approaching him. Even though she was trembling, she knew that she did the right thing. It was the best for her, and for Chuck. She was leaving behind a glamorous life that she'd always wanted, an unfinished chapter of her serial fairytale, and the love of her life. Brooke told herself to stop crying just because it ended, and that she should be smiling because it happened. Because like the place in Chuck's heart, none of this was rightfully hers.