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

Chapter 495

Why else would he spend all those years helping everyone, scraping by just to pay for his own sister's heart transplant?

And with Jace... if I hadn't given him blood, it would've been like watching him die right there in front of

1. me.

I couldn't figure out what was going on in Hayden's head, and I was done pretending I didn't notice. So, I opened my eyes, catching him off guard, making it impossible for him to hide that tenderness in his gaze. His hand, which had been gently tracing my cheek, froze. The warmth in his eyes flickered-too late to hide it.

After a moment, he pulled his hand back, but I was faster. I grabbed it, holding tight. "Hayden, what are you doing? You clearly care, so why are you putting me through this?" Tears spilled over. I swear, I was one of those people who cried way too easily.

I always told myself to stay strong, but my tears never got the memo. Fine-let them fall. If he was gonna see me cry, at least he'd know how much I cared, how much I loved him. Maybe, just maybe, he'd finally get how much he meant to me.

But he just stood there, silent, not even acknowledging my tears.

A minute ago, he was so careful, brushing them away while I slept. Now that I was awake, crying right in front of him? Nothing.

The way he just stood there, saying nothing-it was killing me.

"Hayden, what do you want? Say something! How can you say you love me and still push me away?" My voice cracked, totally giving me away.

he

"I don't buy it. You're not the type to misunderstand

pretend this isn't

of that v

"

non

dragging Ron into all-night work

faint whiff of smoke on him, something he only

slightly. "You're right-I do love you. So yeah, this

He was hurting too?

my own pain flare, the sting of betrayal even sharper. "Then

"I love you, Keira, but not enough to watch you risk your life for another

told you-that doesn't mean I

Chapter 495

+25 BONUS

off. "Even if you don't love him, it's still not okay. When you're with me, your life should be mine. If you can give it up

it has to be with your whole heart. I feel the same. Do you get that?" He interrupted again,

completely. But the truth was,

time with Jace. He'd said he loved me, but he'd always chosen Tanya, leaving me behind again and

never treat someone the way Jace had treated me. Yet here I was, hurting Hayden in the