Tears streamed down Nova’s face. “Get away from me! I don’t want to see you!”Â
To Kael, her struggle felt like nothing but a cover up.Â
He suddenly grit his teeth, a bitter laugh escaping him as he tightened his grip on her arm and slammed her against the wall. His body pressed against hers. trapping her in place.Â
“Ah…!” Nova’s face paled instantly from the pain, her heart turning icy cold.Â
Suddenly, she stopped fighting, only stared at him dully. “Kael, don’t make me hate you…”Â
In that moment, he saw an overwhelming sense of disappointment in her eyes.Â
Kael’s breath hitched–for a split second.Â
But the feeling vanished as quickly as it came, swallowed up by a tidal wave of anger.Â
He’d cherished her like a treasure, treated her as the apple of his eye… and she’d gone behind his back to see another man.Â
Kael grabbed her chin, his fingers squeezing tighter. His gaze held a mix of hurt and dark suspicion. “You’re too scared to say it, aren’t you? No wonder you’ve been pushing me away these days, lying about your period to keep me from touching you! You just didn’t want me near you! Who were you meeting in that thi: coat? Who were you trying to-”Â
sleep with?Â
Before he could finish, a sharp slap landed on his cheek.Â
‘Kael Voss! Get the hell out!” Nova’s voice cracked with humiliation, her eyes blazing red as her body trembled uncontrollably.Â
The slap had been hard enough to jolt Kael’s head to the side–and snap him back to his senses.Â
The sound of her stifled sobs rang in his ears.Â
Only then did Kael realize what he’d done, what vile things he’d said.Â
This was the girl he’d loved and protected for nine years… how could he have hurt her like this?Â
Cael squeezed his eyes shut, then brought his hand down hard across his own face.Â
Nova’s tears soaked her cheeks. She turned to yank open the door and leave–but Kael was quick to wrap his arms around her, holding her so tightly it felt like le was trying to merge her into his own body.Â
Let go of me!” Nova struggled to break free, her voice cold as steel.Â
I’m sorry… I lost control. I’m so sorry.” Kael clung to her like a drowning man, his chin resting on her thin shoulder.Â
fis voice was raw, hoarse beyond recognition. “You know how I am–I can’t stand even a hint of betrayal. I was jealous… seeing you with someone else made ne crazy with envy,”Â
de didn’t mention Corin’s name, afraid it would only make her angrier. “Baby, I was wrong. I was an idiot, a monster for hurting you. Hit me back, please? Do whatever it takes to make you feel better.”Â
He grabbed her wrist, guiding her hand toward his face–only to freeze when he saw the purple bruises his fingers had left on her skin. Guilt washed over himÂ
ike a flood.Â
‘Yell at me, hit me…Â
just don’t stay mad forever.”Â
Nova stared at him, her eyes red and empty.Â
23:25Â
Chapter 41 Leaving–Kael Lost His MindÂ
In his mind, all those humiliating words, all that rough treatment… It all boiled down to “Jealousy“?Â
Kael had been jealous before. He’d gotten into fights with boys who’d hit on her back in the day–young, Impulsive, passionate love. But now? Now he took all that rage out on her.Â
It was just a man’s ugly instinct–even if he didn’t want his toy anymore, no one else could touch it.Â
Something had broken between them a long time ago.Â
Nova’s chest ached so badly she could barely breathe.Â
For a wild second, she wanted to scream the truth at him–You can cheat? You can sleep around, but I can’t even talk to another man? Even if I had something with Corin, you’d have no right to judge me!Â
But she just squeezed her burning eyes shut, wiggling out of his arms. She headed for the door again. “We need to take a break.”Â
A break? Kael’s blood ran cold.Â
le darted in front of the door, blocking her path. “Don’t go.”Â
Jova stepped around him without a word, walking to the bed to pack her things–her phone, her jacket.Â
is Kael saw she was dead serious, panic finally set in. He rushed over, snatching her things from her hands, and said, his voice tight with desperation. “It’s toc ate to go out now–you won’t be safe. I’ll leave. You stay here; your injuries aren’t healed yet.”Â
Jova said nothing, didn’t even look at him. She stood there like a small, spiky hedgehog, her coldness pushing him away.Â
Cael didn’t dare say another word, afraid of making her angrier. Before he left, he mumbled another apology. His shoulders slouched as he walked out, his ba eavy with loneliness.Â
he door clicked shut behind him.Â
lova’s tears finally spilled over.Â
he sank to the floor, hugging her knees as silent sobs wracked her body.Â
low had things come to this?Â
le’d once promised to love and protect her forever. Now those promises had turned into knives, stabbing her in the heart. The hands that had once shielded er were now the ones hurting her.Â
ael… didn’t you say you’ll love me forever?Â
Didn’t you?” she whispered, curling into herself like a child abandoned by the world.Â
ler cries echoed in the empty room.Â
Cael had just left the hospital when his phone rang. It was his childhood friend, Trent Lyons.Â
rent’s New York accent was loud and brash. “Where you at, man? Come out for drinks–everyone’s here!”Â
Cael’s face was gaunt, a storm of frustration and guilt swirling inside him. “Send me the address.”Â
Whoa–no ‘I gotta tuck Nova in first tonight?” Trent teased.Â
Kael didn’t have the energy to joke, and he hung up directly.Â
The cold night wind slapped his face, seeping into his open collar, but he didn’t care. He got in his car and floored the gas pedal, driving like a man with a deathÂ
wish.Â
He’d lost control tonight–he’d hit Nova, said things that could never be unsaid. Back then, he’d rather have cut off his own hand than hurt her.Â
23:25Â
He Cried at My Funeral Laughed at His GalaÂ
25.2Â
Chapter 41 Leaving–Kael Lost Ilis MindÂ
A name flashed in his mind–Corin.Â
It’s all his fault. He’s the one poisoning my relationship with Nova.Â
Kael’s eyes turned deep. He thought about tomorrow, about the Royal Fencing Club…Â
A 30–minute drive took him 10 minutes.Â
When he walked into the bar, Trent and their friends cleared a spot for him. They saw the look on his face and exchanged knowing smirks. “Trouble with Nova?”Â
tael was known in their circle for being calm and collected. In all these years, only Nova had ever been able to rattle him like this.Â
ne guy, drunk and stupid, joked, “Women are just toys–if one breaks, get a new one.”Â
efore he could finish, an empty beer bottle smashed into his forehead, splitting the skin open.Â
Cael’s face was terrifyingly cold as he kicked the man to the ground. “Get the hell out!”Â
rent realized things were serious. He told the bartender to drag the injured guy out.Â
liot–doesn’t he know Nova’s Kael’s soft spot? Just looking at her the wrong way is enough to make Kael snap.Â
fter the chaos died down, Kael collapsed onto a leather couch. He chugged drink after drink, until he was stumbling drunk. He grabbed his phone, slurringÂ
oice notes to Nova.Â
3aby… don’t ignore me…Â
“‘m sorry… I was wrong…Â
Don’t leave me… please don’t go…Â
stay… just stay…Â
he tough, untouchable Kael was crying–like a lost kid.Â
inally, Trent pried the bottle out of his hand, afraid he’d drink himself to death. “What the hell happened to you tonight?”Â
rent sighed, hauling Kael toward the hotel rooms upstairs.Â
hen, the door to the private room swung open-Â
23:25Â