Chapter 42: Assurance
The way she said it, the way she pleaded, it made something in his chest tighten against his will. He sighed sharply and turned to face her.
But when their eyes met... she had no words.
Her lips parted, but nothing came out. She couldn't explain it.
Lucas's gaze darkened. "You still love him, don't you?" His voice was dangerously quiet. "Deep down, you know you still want him."
Ava's breath caught. "What? Lucas... no. No! How can you even think that?"
Lucas let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "I don't know, Ava. Maybe because you find it incapable to love someone else?"
Her mouth opened then shut.
Her argument was weak, and she knew it.
Lucas exhaled sharply. "There's your answer."
Ava's entire body trembled before she suddenly snapped.
"I am afraid, god fucking damn it!" she cried, voice raw. "I'm just afraid...afraid of how much it will hurt, afraid to confront the fact that, from the beginning, all I wanted was to use you to get revenge. And it kills me to admit that I could be so selfish toward you." Her breath shuddered. "It... I don't... I cannot fail at loving you, Lucas. Because if I do, I will be broken beyond repair."