The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 468

"Do you want to know why Julian went to your wedding? And why he gave you that necklace?"

Jocelyn's long eyelashes fluttered, casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.

Those shadows seemed to weigh down on her very heart.

In truth, even if Sarah didn't say another word, Jocelyn already knew the answer.

No, she had guessed it a long time ago. She had just refused to believe it, seeking validation over and over again.

"Because he loves you. From the moment he found out you were Storm, he's been in love with you. He has done so much for you in the shadows, so many things even he probably can't keep track of anymore. All he knows is how to relentlessly protect and watch over you."

"He wanted to confess his feelings, but you fell for Adrian. He thought he had missed his chance, so he forced himself to let you go."

"He attended your wedding just to catch a glimpse of you. He wanted to see what you looked like in a wedding dress. He wanted to witness the happiness on your face as you married the man you loved."

"He never expected that three years later, you would get divorced and your paths would cross again."

"Since you reunited, he's done nothing but protect and spoil you. Whenever you need something, whenever you're in trouble, he's there immediately. If anyone ever threatened your life, he would eliminate them at any cost."

"How do you think Eleanor's cosmetic hospital got shut down?"

"Why do you think Caleb Preston was taken down so swiftly?"

"He orchestrated all of it from behind the scenes, just to avenge you and keep you safe."

"Heh." Sarah took a long, shaky breath. "I guarantee you, if anything ever happened to you, he would trade his own life to protect yours. In his heart, your life is worth more than anything else in this world."

"Jo, and you had absolutely no idea..."

Jocelyn dug her nails into her palms, swallowing hard against the thick lump in her throat.

It hurt. Was it her heart? Why did it ache so much?

Sarah's voice seemed to drift in and out, floating far away before crashing back in. Everything around her—what she was seeing, what she was hearing—felt entirely surreal.

"No! It's more than just love."

When a man was willing to trade his life to protect yours, could it really be diminished to just love?

"I tried so hard to suppress my feelings, but he's there every single day. I see him all the time, and I..."

Her words poured out as a confession, but it sounded more like she was purging an agonizing poison. Releasing this long-held secret felt freeing. Sarah felt a crushing weight slowly lift from her chest.

Yet, she remained painfully unsure of what would happen next. Now that Jocelyn knew the whole truth, was their friendship over?

Regardless, Sarah didn't regret laying it all out. She was completely done with hiding.

"I'm sorry."

Jocelyn smiled, though it was a strained, fragile expression.

"Why are you apologizing?"