Chapter 13
acasu i dhe perium he was desperately hoping for. It was Harper
Tears of letting har valta in and out of his life meant the staff never questioned Harper’s presence. She walked into his house like she owned it.
She spotted him in the stady immediately, ber for lighting up as she practically bounced over.
Mihi! Eve been waiting forever let you. Why are you still here?”||
She was talking about the bartending gig. After the disaster at Lumière, hed promised to work there to make her feel better–sud he’d start as soon as reopened Which was today!
1 him to get her out of his study, out of his space. But Harper had already zeroed in on the dhorce papers in his han
Her expression shifted in fake concern, though her eyes were practically sparkling with victory |
“Oh wow, Eliasa really wants to divorce you? That’s honesty pretty ungrateful You’re such an incredible husband–she has no idea how bucky she was
She fucked her hair behind her ear with practiced sympathy, playing the supportive friend perfectly.[]
Min wanted to tell her she was wrong that he’d been a shit husband who’d destroyed the best thing in his life. But looking at Harper’s glowing face, the words died in his throat
He didnt understand what the bell was wrong with him. He’d spent years dreaming of this moment when he’d be free in choose Harper. This should be everything he’d
Ball he could think about was that godda
goddanın scorecard and every single way he’d systematically broken Eliana’s heart.
Before he could process his emotions. Harper let out an exched gasp.
( my God, Milo‘ You kept everything!“”
He followed her gaze, suddenly seeing his study through new eyes–this pathetic shrine to their college relationship!
Love letters Harper had winen him, pressed flowers from their dates, ticket stubs from concerts, photos of them looking young and happy. He’d preserved it all like some lovesick teenager, even after marrying Ellans
Hed fantasized about this moment when Harper would see his devotion and realize they belonged together. But now that it was happening, he felt nothing but crushing
“Look
ok at this–you still have that cheesy poem I wrote you freshman year! And these roses from our month anniversary… God, we were so young and crazy in love.”
Harper ned through his collection with zero shame, squealing over each memory like they were priceless artifacts ||
but every exclamation fell like
Twisting in his gut
Because while Le’d been preserving Harper’s old love letters like religious rebes, he’d never written Elna a single romantic note. While he kept Harper’s whed dowers under glass, he’d never brought Chana flowers unless it was damage control after a tight
The realization hut him like a sledgehammer: hed ghen Flian nothing. No grand gestures, no romantic surprises, no evidence that she maltered beyond being
But she’d loved him anyway Completely, desperately, for three whole years while he treated her like a consolation price []
“And the photo from spring fatal–remember how we stuck onto the roof and you said you’d love me forever? Harper’s laugh was musical, delighted. “You were ach romante back then.”
With flana, romance had been an afterthought Aniversaries forgaten, barthdays missed, every special moment sacrificed for Harper’s drama or his own selitshness.
“Oh, and look: You kept the bracelet I gave you Harper held up a simple silver chan. “I wondered what happened to this.“||
Hled worn every day junior year, even after Harper dumped hum Meanwfule, Class wedding ring–the synded of her commitmes–had ended up lost while he was making soup for his ex-|
Each memory Harper resurrected wa nother reminder of how completely he’d falled as a hinband: How he’d lavished attention on the woman who’d abandoned hum while neglecting the one who’d stayed.||
“This is so sweet. Milo, I can’t believe you kept our whole love story.“]}
Love story. White Hipers affection had been conditional and Berting than had offered lun unconditional devotion–and he’d thrown away like garbage |
Harper was too buy basking in her victory to notice has expression crumbling. She d kawi he coulut get ever her. This room proved shed always been his prizesty. marriage be domined||
When ahead thoroughly examined every piece of evidence, Harper turned to him with a triumphant smide.|||
“Mile, I know I hurt you when I left. Breaking up was the stupidest thing I ever did. But now were both free–no complications, no messy obligations. What do you say? Ready to pave us another shot?“)
Harpers confidence was radiant. Why wouldn’t she be sure of his answer? Everyone knew Mile Blake’s heart belonged to Harper Lennox
In throat worked desperately, trying to form the “yes” that should come automatically
For years, he’d believed Harper was his soulmate, his destiny, his one true love
But the word wouldn’t come.
Because looking at Harper’s beautiful, expectant face, all he could see was Elana’s devastated expression when she’d realized the flowers weren’t for her. Eliana’s tears when he’d forgotten their anniversary. Eliana’s broken smile when she’d tried to pretend his coldness didn’t burt.
He’d had a woman who would have walked through fire for him, and he’d treated her like she was invisible.
Hed destroyed his own happiness with his bare hands, and now it was too fucking late.
