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

Chapter 480

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Hayden never held back. He always said exactly what he felt, and now his words cut deep-he honestly thought I still had feelings for Jace.

Since we got together, I'd kept my distance from Jace, worried our past might mess things up with Hayden. But clearly, I'd slipped up. I'd made him feel like he didn't have all of me.

This wasn't just about me giving Jace blood. Hayden had been carrying this around for a while, something he'd been feeling long before now.

"All this time, you've thought I didn't love you enough? let out a bitter laugh. "If that's true, then maybe 1 don't even know how to love anymore.

"If you really loved me, you wouldn't have been so quick to suggest breaking up," he said, his voice low.

my eyes, frustration boiling over. "I told you that was just me talking out of anger.

I gave a tired smile and added, "It was a heat-of-the-moment thing, but you jumped at the chance to agree. So, Hayden, should I start thinking you never really wanted me in the first place?" That old saying, "when you want to blame someone, any excuse will do," had never felt more true. When

you're determined to find fault, even the tiniest thing gets blown up.

Hayden's eyes narrowed slightly. "If that's how you feel, maybe breaking up is the right choice."

wave of hurt and anger that slammed into me was almost too much. I'd tried so hard to explain, but it felt like nothing I

breaking up is the right

throat bobbed as he swallowed, but before he could answer, I laughed bitterly. "I get it. You're

me isn't good enough

to be Jace's fiancée, and being with me would just make people

kind of baseless suspicion? I

yet, here I was, falling right into

think?" Hayden's

I've explained everything, and you're still clinging to it. You obviously just want to end things, so what am I supposed to believe?" I felt myself unraveling, turning into the kind of person I swore I wouldn't be-emotional, irrational. "Fine. If that's what you think, then so be it," he replied, his tone slicing through

at him, my lips trembling, but the words

in my chest was unbearable, like something hot and sharp was lodged in my throat. After what felt like forever, I finally whispered, "So

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.Yes

so simple and final, pierced right through me. I

dug into my palms as I clenched my

Loave

back, hanging on to

mess over Jace, I could've kept trying to explain. But if he thought