Chapter 8
“Why did you leave me without a word?”
“Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?”
“And this man, who is he?”
Kael’s eyes were bloodshot, his gaze searing into Jace, suspicion dripping from every word.
I calmly pushed his hand away, my voice steady despite the weight of his words. “Kael, we’re done. Please, don’t make this harder than it already is.”
He stared at me, his face blank for a moment before his lips twisted into a bitter, self–deprecating laugh. His eyes reddened as if he couldn’t hold back the hurt any longer.
“I didn’t realize we had broken up,” he said, the words cutting through the air like a knife.
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Chapter 8
“Six years, Skylar, and you think it’s just that easy for you to walk away?”
“Was it all a joke to you? Did you ever really care about me?”
His voice cracked through the tension, loud enough for the nearby crowd to start gathering, their curiosity piqued by the drama unfolding before them.
I didn’t want to make a scene, but Kael, his anger burning, refused to let me move.
“Explain yourself! You said anyone who betrays true love deserves to suffer a thousand silver needles!”
His words hung in the air, and I couldn‘ t help but let out a bitter laugh, the sound cold and sharp.
“Kael, you can talk to me about sincerity, but you‘ re the last person who should lecture me.”
“You and I both know the real reason you were with me all these years.”
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“In the end, I was just a placeholder for Kaia. Now that she’s back, why cling to a
substitute?”
“Stop pretending to care. Seeing you act this way only makes me sick!”
Kael was taken aback, his face a mix of confusion and deep pain.
“A substitute? What are you talking about?”
He looked at me, disbelief written all over his face like he couldn’t process what I was saying.
“You thought you were just a stand–in for Kaia?”
“Skylar, you‘ re wrong-”
His tone softened, and he reached out to grab my hand, but I jerked it away.
It used to be that this act of remorse and his soft words could melt me, but now, it only fueled my disgust.
During those six years with Kael, I had
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been an easy mark, quick to forgive, even quicker to forget. A little sweetness after a stick, and I would cave. It always worked.
But that was before I realized the truth, before the love I thought we shared. crumbled into dust. Back when I believed
we were a perfect match, and the bumps in the road were just that, bumps in a long, beautiful journey ahead.
Now, it was all over.
“Kael, whether I was just a stand–in or not, you and Kaia can finally be together without anyone in your way.”
“So please, don‘ t disturb me or my fiancé anymore.”
The words left my lips as cold as ice. As I looked back at all the humiliation I‘ d
endured, it all felt like nothing more than self–inflicted wounds.
My sister had been right. I should‘ ve walked away the moment something didn’t feel right.
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I pulled Jace away from the scene, leading him to a quieter spot. Once we were far enough from the crowd, I let go of his hand and apologized, my voice quieter now.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that. He’s my ex.”
“We’ve broken up, so don’t worry.”
Jace chuckled softly, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from my brow. His face held no trace of annoyance; instead, his smile deepened with kindness.
“It’s okay. I know.”
I blinked at him in surprise. He knew?
“Skylar, I’ve been keeping an eye on you all these years. Didn’t you notice?”
Only then did it hit me.
What I had once chalked up to luck wasn‘ t luck at all. Someone had been pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Every smooth step in my career.
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Every timely rescue in thy moments of
need
54, this was the truth
