Chapter 340
“No,” I answer immediately. “I didn’t p>
“Not even a suspicion?” he presses.
“No,” I repeat, frustration rising. “Why would I lie about that p>
“I want to believe you, but p>
“But what?” I insist. “Why can’t you accept it as it is? A messed up, terrible coincidence p>
“Because from where I am standing, this looks really bad,” he says, running his hand through his hair. “And I don’t believe in such precise coincidences p>
Every word from his mouth feels like a dagger to my chest. Adrian might as well take out my heart and stab it with a kitchen knife, because this feels like I’m being gutted from the inside.
“And all those times you talked about him…” he continues slowly, “you never once said his name p>
“Because I didn’t want to talk about him!” I snap, tears still streaming down my face “Because every time I did, it reminded me of how he treated me p>
My voice cracks on the last word, the weight of it finally breaking through whatever fragile composure I had left. I drag in a shaky breath, but it does nothing to steady me.
Adrian’s jaw tightens, his gaze searching my face like he’s trying to peel back layers. Trying to find something hidden beneath my skin.
“I don’t know what’s real right now,” he says finally, his voice low and strained and that breaks something in me.
“It’s all real,” I whisper desperately, shaking my head. “Everything between us is real. None of this was planned, Adrian. None of it p>
He lets out a breath, looking away for a second before dragging a hand through his hair.
“You expect me to just… accept this?” he asks, his voice rising slightly. “That out of everyone in the world, you ended up with me? That you just happened to walk into my clinic, just happened to let me in, and just happened to give me a chance without knowing who I was connected to p>
“Yes!” I cry, my voice cracking. “Because that’s exactly what happened p>
He laughs but there’s no humor in it.
“Do you even hear how that sounds?” he asks.
“I don’t care how it sounds,” I shoot back, my chest heaving. “It’s the truth p>
“I trusted you,” he says after a moment, quieter now but somehow that hurts more. “I let you in. I gave you everything, Sierra p>
“And I didn’t lie to you!” I fire back. “I never once lied to you p>
“You didn’t tell me,” he counters.
“Because I didn’t know!” I shout, my voice breaking completely now. “How many times do I have to say that before you believe me p>
He doesn’t answer and that silence is louder than anything he could have said. My heart sinks because I see it in his eyes. I see the doubt and the hesitation to believe me.
“No…” I whisper, shaking my head and taking a step toward him. “Don’t do this… please don’t do this p>
He takes a step back like my closeness burns him and that crashes me in a way I never thought I’d feel again.
“I can’t stay here,” he says, his voice tight, controlled. “I need to be away from you p>
My chest tightens painfully. “Adrian p>
“I can’t do this right now, Sierra,” he cuts me off, not even looking at me anymore. “I can’t look at you without thinking that you were out to use me just to get back at Noah p>
Tears spill faster down my cheeks as panic sets in. The pain coursing inside me, wreaks havoc, hurting me in a way I never imagined it would
“Please don’t leave,” I beg, my voice trembling. “Please… just—just listen to me. Believe me p>
He closes his eyes for a second, like my words are hitting him but not enough to stop him.
“I want to,” he admits quietly, sparking hope in my chest, then it dies just as quickly when he finishes the sentence.
“But I don’t know if I can p>
The words hit like a punch to the gut and for a moment, I can’t breathe.
“No,” I whisper, my voice breaking completely now. “Don’t walk away from me. Not like this. Please p>
My pleas fall on deaf ears, because he’s already turning wat
“Adrian!” I rush forward, grabbing his arm. “If you walk out that door… if you walk away, that’s it. It’s the end of us. I won’t give you another chance p>
He pauses and for a second, his hand resting on the doorknob. For a moment he hesitates and I hold my breath, thinking, hoping that he will stop. That he will turn back and hug me and tell me he believes me… but he doesn’t do any of that. Instead, he gently pulls his arm from my grip.
“I can’t do this,” he repeats, not looking back, then he opens the door and walks out.
The door closes behind him with a soft click and somehow that sound is deafening. My knees give out beneath me as I collapse onto the floor, sobs ripping through my chest as everything finally crashes down.
“Adrian…” I whisper brokenly, but he’s already gone.