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

Chapter 187

Steve's smile instantly froze. He looked at me, thrown off. "Why are you asking about that?"

"I just want to visit," I said.

He studied me for a moment, a mix of confusion and concern in his eyes.

was sure Steve had

I didn't explain further or mention that Jace had been involved in Desmond's death. I was no idea if he did, he would've cut Jace off a long time ago. "Did something happen?" Steve asked, his voice tinged with worry.

I didn't answer directly. "Just take me there."

Seeing that I wasn't going to explain more, Steve sighed and nodded. He agreed to take me to Desmond's grave, though I could tell he was still wary.

When we got to the cemetery, we saw Desmond's parents standing by his grave. Even from a distance, we could hear his mom's heart-wrenching sobs, mixed with angry curses.

I couldn't make out who she was cursing, but I could guess-Tanya.

didn't feel right to approach them, so Steve

Desmond's dad had his arm

still crying softly, her sobs hitting me like a punch to the

even notice us-like their whole world had crumbled, and all that was left was their grief over

them go and sighed. "Desmond left

and I couldn't hold back. "Don't blame

to go through this? He hadn't chosen to die-he'd been crushed by the betrayal, by the weight of it all. That's what led to

didn't explain. Instead, I gripped the flowers in my hand

had-bright, carefree, the kind of smile that lit up everything

that smile had been a pain no one should have to carry. The kind of betrayal that shatters a person. I could almost picture the moment when everything he thought he knew came crashing down. "Desmond,

right

he

+25 BONUS

Chapter 187

Jace's wedding. Well, no need to

at Desmond's grave, feeling the

I kept looking, something weird happened. The bright smile in Desmond's photo seemed to shift-first into sadness, then anger. A deep, burning anger that felt almost