Chapter 73. Photo Scandal (2)

Andre’s POV

I stood outside the door, my hand clenched so tightly that my knuckles hurt.

Her voice came through, sharper than any slap I’d ever gotten.

“I don’t love him, Matt.”

“He did propose, but I rejected him.”

It felt like being punched in the stomach. Slow, deep, painful. I didn’t move. I didn’t barge in. I just stood there.

I used to think the worst thing that could happen was her saying no to me.

But no—this was worse.

Hearing her say it out loud to someone else. So final. Like she’d practiced this a hundred times.

No love. Not even close.

I had opened myself up completely to her. Given her the vulnerable parts of me no one else had seen.

I didn’t hide anything. Not the dark parts. Not the guilt. Not the obsession. I even let her see the parts of myself I hated—because I thought she might still choose me. I believed that if I loved her hard enough, fiercely enough, she’d change her mind.