Chapter 136. Did I Make Myself Clear?

Ryder POV

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

“Let’s break up, bunny.”

The second they were out, I regretted it like a knife to the gut.

I watched her face crumble right in front of me. Shock hit her first — eyes widening, lips parting like she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Then fear. Then pain. A whole tsunami of emotions crashed across her expression, and every single one felt like a dagger twisting deeper into my chest.

Fuck.

I wanted to take it back. I wanted to pull her into my arms and tell her I was lying, that I was just worried. But I couldn’t. I forced my face to stay cold, jaw locked tight, eyes hard. If I showed even a crack, I’d break completely.

We couldn’t keep doing this.