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

yet, why was the

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

pain of losing Matilda seemed, unfathomably, to exceed even the loss

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Chapter 213

Matilda to be late for work the

for attendance and yawned as she settled back into her

Hala twirled her

spoken than another latecomer, Orson, shuffled in, his face the

Orson, you’re late again,”

at his desk, and promptly fell into a

keyboard. “Impressive, he’s

makes more in bonuses than his base

could use a pick–me–up. How about

handing out to everyone. She then booted up her computer, ready to

didn’t expect Declan to show up

saw him in the reception area, her first instinct was to turn and walk away. But then Declan called out to her, and she had no choice but to

said without