A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Chapter 213

Yvan had no idea how he managed to leave Matilda’s place that day. Her final words had left him shattered, his armor discarded, his defenses torn asunder. He fled, tearing away from her home as if chased by demons. His sports car roared down the highway, the windows rolled down, the biting wind funneling straight into his soul.

His whole body trembled uncontrollably, spasms of pain gripping his chest.

Stumbling into his house like a wounded soldier, he collapsed onto the couch, his spirit in tatters.

Gradually, he curled up, fetal–like, as helpless as a newborn, clutching the fabric over his heart as if to hold himself together.

He felt like a defeated generat, his consciousness in disarray, his breaths shaky and painful. It seemed even breathing was a stab of agony.

Tears, cold and unbidden, fought to escape the corners of Yvan’s eyes. After a long silence, he let out a guttural growl, choked by sobs.

He had thought it wouldn’t matter, that he could face this easily. But Matilda’s piercing gaze and the venom in her words had flayed him alive. He felt dissected, pain throbbing through every part of him.

He had never paid her any mind, and had loathed her, so why did her indifference wound him so deeply?

Was it just a man’s petty possessiveness that caused such agony?

His fingers clenched tightly, but not enough to stop their trembling: He felt as if

he had been stricken by a terrible illness, his own insults to her now reflected

back upon him.

say

he couldn’t. And yet, why was the pain so profound?

stretched on, each second an eternity, torturing Yvan’s

of losing Matilda seemed, unfathomably, to exceed even

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Chapter 213

caused Matilda to be

for attendance and yawned as she

sight, you being late,” Hala twirled her pen nearby. “Thought

another latecomer, Orson, shuffled in, his face the very image of sleep deprivation. “Morning,

Orson, you’re late again,” Hala quipped.

lifted his lids, slumped at his desk, and promptly fell into a nap.

fingers flew over her keyboard. “Impressive, he’s totally

bonuses than his base

jacket swishing. “Looks like our goddess could use a pick–me–up. How about a

but chuckle, accepting the coffee he was handing out to everyone. She then booted up her computer, ready

she didn’t expect Declan to show

instinct was to turn and walk away. But then Declan called out to her, and she had no choice

looking for me. I didn’t expect it to be you,” Matilda said without even sitting down,