Chapter 195
I caught the worry in her voice. “Are you actually concerned about me?”
She stepped back fast, composing herself. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’d worry about a stray dog in your condition.
“Ouch. I couldn’t hide the hurt.
“Well, congrats on finally learning the truth,” she said flatly. “Now we can both move on. You saved me from that falling billboard, and now you know I didn’t drug you. We’re even. Have a nice life.”
“Even?” I stared at her in disbelief. “After everything I put you through, you’re just gonna let it go? Just that easy?”
Aria looked away. “What do you want from me, Blake? You want me to hate you forever? Plot some elaborate revenge? That stuff destroys you. The damage is done. I’m trying to move on.”
“With Matthew.” I couldn’t keep the disgust out of my voice.
“Yes, with Matthew.” She glared at me. “He doesn’t treat me like trash.”
“And I did.” It wasn’t a question.
‘Yeah. You did.”
Her bluntness hit me harder than a physical blow. Every word was deserved.
“Please,” I said, my voice cracking. “Don’t marry him. Give me another chance.”
“Another chance?” She laughed, harsh and cold. “I gave you a thousand chances, Blake. Every single day for years.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I wasted them all.”
“Yeah. You did.” She turned to leave again. “Go find some other woman to torment.”
“I don’t want your damn permission to move on!” I shouted, making her jump. ‘I don’t want your forgiveness or your pity!”
“Then what the hell do you want?” she demanded.
“I want you to hate me!” The words exploded out of me. “Scream at me! Hit me! Make me suffer for what I did to you! Your forgiveness is worse than any punishment!”
Aria stepped back, clearly shocked by my outburst. My breathing came in ragged gasps as I fought with the wheelchair, trying to stand.
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14:27 Mon, Jun 15
Chapter 195
“Sir, don’t- My driver warned.
(
Ignoring him, I pushed myself up, gritting my teeth against the excruciating pain shooting through my spine before collapsing to my
knees in front of Aria.
“Jesus, Blake! Get back in the chair!” Aria moved toward me instinctively, then stopped herself. “We can’t do this, Blake.”
“Why not?” I demanded.
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“Because!” She whirled back, eyes shining with tears she refused to shed. “We’re not even! We’ll never be even! Every humiliation, every cold look, every time you believed someone else over me-it’s all still here.” She slammed her hand against her chest. ‘It still hurts! How am I supposed to face myself if I go back to you? Six years ago I was on my knees begging you to believe me, and you wouldn’t even look
at me.”
Each word gutted me. I wanted to reach for her but couldn’t bring myself to touch her. My hands trembled.
“You’re right,” I admitted, voice breaking. “I failed you completely. Everything was my fault.”
She gave me a smile that broke my heart. “Yeah, it was. You trusted that backstabbing witch more than your own wife. If something similar happened tomorrow, how do I know you wouldn’t do the exact same thing?”
“I wouldn’t, I promised desperately. “Aria, please. Just give me time to prove it. Don’t marry him.”
Her silence said everything.
I’ve waited thirteen years for you, Blake,” she finally said. “I’m done waiting. And I’m not gonna string Matthew along while you figure
yourself out.”
Something inside me died. She was really going through with it. There was nothing I could do.
“Will he make you happy?” I asked quietly.
Aria hesitated. ‘I don’t know. But I’m damn sure it can’t be worse than what we had.”
That hurt worse than my spinal injury, but I deserved every bit of it.
“Let me come to the wedding,’ I said suddenly.
She frowned. “That’s seriously inappropriate.”
‘Please. I just want to see you. I want to spend what little time I have left seeing you as much as possible.”
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