Chapter 16
Tears streamed down Bella’s face, unstoppable now. She covered her face with trembling hands and choked out a single word.
“Okay.”
Hearing that, Danny couldn’t contain the joy that flooded his eyes. For a moment, it all felt too surreal–was Bella really his girlfriend now? The realization hit him like a delayed wave of warmth. When it did, he wrapped her tightly in his arms, as though afraid she’d disappear.
He whispered in her ear, “I’ll treat you well. For the rest of my life.”
But Seth wasn’t one to give up so easily, not even after being rejected by Bella.
After everything he had done to her in the past, what did it matter now? He returned to the city, filed for a month–long leave, and then flew out again–traveling a long, winding road
to reach the remote fishing village.
When he finally arrived at Greendale Village, what he saw froze him in place.
In a shadowy corner against a cracked wall, Danny had one hand braced beside Bella’s head. She was pressed into his arms, the space between them almost nonexistent. The intimacy was unmistakable.
And just as Seth’s eyes widened in shock, Danny leaned in and kissed her.
Bella didn’t push him away.
She kissed him back, just as fervently.
Seth stood rooted to the spot. His eyes turned bloodshot, fists clenched so tightly his whole body began to tremble. Up until that moment, he had convinced himself that what he felt for Bella was just guilt, nothing more. Even when he heard they were together, his main
1/3
Chapter te
reaction had been anger.
But now? Now he knew what he felt was pure jealousy.
And if it were only guilt, why would he be jealous?
+25 Bonus
There was only one explanation: he had fallen for her. Far earlier than he ever admitted. Maybe even long before he realized it himself.
The problem was, Bella had always been there–quiet, constant, revolving around him. It made him arrogant. Made him believe she’d never really leave.
But she had.
She had left him for real.
And the man she’d chosen wasn’t him.
Rage surged through him. He wanted to rush over and tear them apart, pull her away from Danny. But he couldn’t–not anymore. He had no right.
If he went over now, he knew exactly what he’d get in return–her contempt, her distance.
So all he could do was stand there and watch her lean into another man’s chest with that
soft, tender look on her face.
And he was powerless.
In all his years, Seth had never known what it meant to love someone and not be able to
have them. The feeling was sharp and strange. So strange it felt like the edge of a cliff, and the next second, he might just fall.
He watched them until they finally walked away—Danny’s arm wrapped securely around
her waist.
Only then did Seth finally look away.
He turned, walked a few steps, then slammed his fist into the wooden wall.
2/3
+25 Bonus
Chapter 18
Blood smeared across the planks, skin torn and raw.
So this was how Bella had felt all those times she saw him with Faye.
It hit him all at once–how cruel, how merciless he had been to her.
He knew now. She would never forgive him.
And he understood that the moment he made her donate a kidney to the woman he once
loved, whatever they had was finished.
So this time, Seth didn’t fight.
He knew now–he wasn’t worthy of her anymore.
3
Eyes dull, he pulled out his phone and called the base.
“Cancel my leave,” he said. “I don’t need it anymore.”
There was nothing left for him here. And every extra day he stayed, it only tore him up
more inside.
As he turned to leave, a bitter smile curled at his lips.
He had lost Bella forever.
Support
