Chapter 211

She shouldn’t be able to still stand on her feet. Still breathe. Shouldn’t be able to exist under so much pain. Part of her needed to pound on his chest, demand he fight along with her for not just who they were but who they could be.

But the other half? That half had perhaps seen this coming, and she protected herself. Wrapped herself in the remnants of pride she had left that she refused to sacrifice at his feet. He was kinda right anyway, but the fact that he'd thrown her past in her face this way…

Yes, she loved him, but she also loved herself and more importantly, she valued herself. She was done running after men… Done running after the wrong men. But boy had she been hoping that Nick would be it for her.

“I can’t make you believe me, and I can’t force you to accept a love I’d freely give you without any strings attached. But if there’s one thing that you, yourself, taught me, it’s that love is a gift. Loyalty is earned. My love for you is yours becaus