Chapter 311
I walk out of the room, still seething.
Seriously, what the hell did he expect? That this would somehow move me? That I’d suddenly forgive him? That years of humiliation, pain, and anger would just dissolve because he finally discovered the truth?
I can’t even begin to understand why he thought telling me this would change anything.
Maybe it would have back in high school… it would have meant everything. Hell, even in university it might have mattered. But now? Now it’s more than a decade too late. It means nothing because damage has already been done.
“Wait.” His hand wraps around my wrist and once again, I wrench it free.
“What the hell do you want?” I snap, spinning around to face him.
For a second he just stands there, looking like he’s struggling to breathe.
“I just—” He stops, dragging a hand through his hair as if he doesn’t know what to say.
“You had so much to say back then,” I tell him. “How come you’re quiet now p>
“That’s not p>
I cut in sharply. “It’s what, Noah? Because from where I’m standing, this conversation is pointless p>
He opens his mouth again, but nothing comes out and for the first time in my life, Noah Woods looks completely lost.
“I’m sorry,” he finally says. “I just want to say I’m sorry for how I treated you p>
A hollow, humorless laugh escapes me.
“You’re sorry p>
“Yes,” he says softly, his grey eyes pleading with me to believe him.
“And how exactly is that supposed to matter, Noah?” I ask through gritted teeth. “How is that supposed to fix years of damage? How is that supposed to heal the scars you left on my heart p>
My voice rises despite my effort to keep it steady. “What exactly is your stupid sorry supposed to fix p>
The last words come out almost as a shout because I’m so furious it’s taking every ounce of restraint not to punch him square in the face.
His shoulders sag slightly.
“Nothing,” he admits, his voice low and broken.
“Exactly!” I snap. “Do you have any idea what it felt like watching you with Chloe? Do you know how it cut me to pieces knowing you chose my friend, of all people p>
My chest tightens painfully as the memories flood back, making it hard to breathe properly.
“I felt like I was dying, Noah… Seeing you and Chloe together felt like I was slowly dying… and neither of you cared one bit because you were both selfish, entitled assholes p>
I try to breathe, but the air catches painfully in my lungs.
“I know,” he whispers.
“No, you don’t,” I lash out, striking him in the chest. “You don’t know what it feels like to be hated by the man you love while he cherishes your friend and treats you like you’re nothing p>
I can’t hold it in anymore. My fists slam into his chest, again and again, years of buried frustration, pain, and anger finally spill out, each blow carrying everything I’ve held inside for far too long.
Noah doesn’t stop me. He doesn’t grab my wrists. He doesn’t step back. He doesn’t even try to defend himself. He just stands there and takes it.
For years I swallowed the pain. For years I forced it down even when it felt like it was slowly poisoning me from the inside out. For years I pretended I was fine, pretended I was strong, even when seeing them together felt like something inside me was breaking beyond repair.
“You trampled on my love and left me bleeding on the side,” I yell. “You chose her, married her and had kids with her, Noah! And I love Nova and Nolan, but do you have any idea how that felt p>
My fists finally stop moving, but my chest is heaving like I’ve just run a marathon.