Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 186

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I didn't catch anything Jace said after that. What I'd just found out hit me like a truck.

All the questions I'd had were finally answered, but I never saw this coming.

Desmond had been someone I knew pretty well-thin, always smiling, the kind of guy who'd look out for everyone. I never imagined his death was because he couldn't deal with his wife hooking up with Jace. No wonder Jace was a total wreck after Desmond died... because it was his fault.

Suddenly, everything made sense-why Desmond's parents treated Tanya like dirt, why they didn't want anything to do with the baby she was carrying. They probably didn't even think it was Desmond's kid. I wasn't even that mad at Jace for cheating on me before, but now, standing here, I realized just how low he'd really gone. He was the reason his so-called best friend was dead.

Lena must've seen the change in my face, because she pulled me aside.

Once we were in her break room, I just sank into a chair, totally silent for what felt like forever.

I hadn't been super close to Desmond, but thinking about how desperate he must've been in those last moments made my skin crawl. It was like I could feel the weight of everything crushing him. "Jace is... unforgivable," Lena spat, her voice tight with anger. "And now Tanya's got him wrapped around her little finger. Even if he doesn't want her, he probably feels like he owes her.

"And honestly? He deserves it. And Tanya... blaming Jace now, like she didn't send him signals? Please. If she hadn't led him on, none of this would've happened,

the worst part? She's ready to throw Desmond's

filled with rage, but I just sat there, picking at my fingernails, barely hearing her. Finally, in a quiet voice, I murmured, "Lena, try to save

do, but this wasn't about her anymore. This

squeeze. "I get it, but even if we stop her now, she could still

marrying Jace. As long as that's her plan, she's not keeping the baby. And honestly? Even if she did, what kind of life would that kid have, caught up in all this? A

had

Desmond's legacy. If it was gone, Desmond would be completely

and sorrow hit

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Chapter 186

than when I first found out about

shred of conscience left, he won't let her go through with it," Lena said, fully understanding how much the

exhaling slowly. "Let's hope

sat there in Lena's break room, trying to make sense of everything, my phone buzzed. Jace's name flashed across the screen. I answered, and before

hold off on the procedure? Don't let Tanya go

once, he actually sounded