Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Hello 398

Chapter 398

The familiar scent of him hit me, and so did that suffocating feeling.

I stood frozen for a moment, until his low voice cut through the tension. "Do you really care about him that much now?"

My fingers curled at my sides. There was a time when I cared this much about Jace, too. I used to text him just to let him know I was having dinner with Lena, even though he never really appreciated it.

And now, when my care was for someone else, he had the audacity to get upset and ask me this?

"Yeah, I do. Of course I care about him. He's my man. Why wouldn't I?" I locked eyes with him as I said it, letting it sting.

A direct hit, a trick I'd learned from him.

Even though Jace and I had been over for a while, it didn't erase the pain he'd left behind.

There were moments when those scars still burn.

So if I can throw a verbal punch and make him feel even a sliver of what I went through, why not?

Of course, that only would work if he still cared. Otherwise, my hit wouldn't land at all.

eyes narrowed, a coldness creeping in. A sure sign his anger was

told me everything I needed to

Interesting.

moving on with someone else, he'd still be hung

1. me. His ex.

wanted to, I could dig in, a small way to ease

now, I didn't have the energy for that. I

for that pool game because of me. And now, without a word, I'd run off... worse, with my ex. No matter how much Hayden loved

too well. It's not

ever make Hayden feel the

Jace grabbed my waist, pulling me back against his

I pushed against him, instinctively, but he

punishing me," he said. "I deserve it. I brought this on myself, and I accept

Wait, what?

25 1

Chapter 398

Punishing him?

I was with Hayden to punish

what I was

with the fact that we were over-that he'd accepted I was with Hayd and we'd both moved on. Never

a mocking laugh. "Is something