< Chapter 22
Chapter 22
If the same thing happened to Clay, he couldn’t handle it either.
No matter how deep his love was, one day it was gonna run out.
How could he think a few apologies would make me return? It was incredibly ironic. No amount of pain he endured could compensate for what I’d suffered, physically and emotionally.
“Don’t worry, Ethan, from now on, you’re the only one for me.”
I hugged Ethan, like I was comforting him–or maybe just trying to comfort myself.
Ethan hugged me back.“Yeah, we’ll always be together!”
The bodyguards cleaned up all that tacky mess outside, put everything back the way it was.
Ethan took me home.
The next morning, Clay reappeared outside our villa. He knelt in the rain, waiting stubbornly, refusing to leave.
He’d covered in bruises, looking like he just lost a fight with a moving truck.
“Maya, I’m sorry! I was wrong…
He repeated this, his voice hoarse, yet relentless.
The rain was coming down hard, soaking him to the bone, his old injuries flaring up, face turning pale as a ghost.
He was swaying like he’s about to pass out.
I felt no pity, just watching coldly, as if observing an unrelated play.
“What a joke. Pulling the pity card now? Does he really think I’m gonna feel bad for him?”
“His body is his own. Even if he dies, it’s none of my business.”
I turned away, went see what Ethan’s cooking, even helped him out in the kitchen. We were. laughing, joking, hugging–faces lit up with big, happy smiles.
At dinner, we lovingly served each other.
Clay watched, his heart aching, as if submerged in acid.
We were so sweet.
This kind of intimacy was something he and I had never shared. We were friends, colleagues, but never lovers.
Clay finally understood: Ethan and he were completely different to me. I’d truly moved on, maybe even starting to fall for Ethan.
How could this be?
15.47
וח
with a stick.
But he wouldn’t give up. Maybe seeing this would make me feel something?
His hope was dashed.
Even when he finally passed out, I never showed up. I was curled up in Ethan’s arms, getting loser and closer, and we ended up sharing a kiss.
When Clay woke up in a hospital, his eyes were vacant.
never felt a shred of pity for him. Excruciating leg pain throbbed, making even the slightest novement difficult.
He felt like he was back five years ago, at his lowest point..
But it was different now–back then, he had nothing but me. Now, he had everything except me.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional agony.
Clay closed his eyes, silently grieving.
Zane entered, shaking his head and sighing.
‘Man, if you knew it’d end up like this, why’d you do it in the first place? You had a million chances to cut your losses, but you never listened to me.”
‘Now you want her forgiveness? Come on, you know as well as I do–Maya’s never gonna love. you again. Keep this up, and all you’ll get is her disgust.”
