Chapter 29

‎Upon hearing his words, she feel sad, however small it was. After everything she had done, after all the time she had spent trying to get close to him, was there even the slightest chance that her feelings weren’t one-sided?

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‎"Don’t you like me at all?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, sadness coating every syllable. Her heart was heavy, but deep down, she knew—if he truly didn’t return her feelings, she would have no choice but to let him go and try to move on.

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‎“I see you as a sister. I don’t love you. I won’t ever love you,” he said firmly, locking eyes with her. There was no hesitation in his tone, no kindness in the words,just cold, clear truth. He believed it was better to be direct now than give her false hope only to destroy it later.

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‎She winced. The pain was sharp and immediate, but something inside her needed to know more. "Is there something you don’t like about me?" she asked, unable to stop the question from slipping out. Emotion surged within her, confusion, hurt, rejection, all crashing over her at once.

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‎“There’s nothing wrong with you,” he replied calmly, his expression unreadable. “But I just don’t like you that way.” His bluntness stung, but she knew he wasn’t the type to sugarcoat things. He never had been.

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‎Still, a new thought crept into her mind. She had never seen him with another woman. Could there be someone else?

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‎“Do you love someone?” she asked carefully, watching him closely, trying to read any flicker of emotion in his face.

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‎“Yes. I do,” he answered after a moment, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The image of Claire floated in his mind. He wasn’t entirely sure what he felt for her yet, it was complicated, but saying this now would help distance Caroline. He didn’t want her wasting her time on someone who could never give her what she deserved. As his thoughts drifted to his friend Sebastian, he sighed inwardly, feeling the weight of the situation press down on him.

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‎“Really?” she asked, stunned. Her breath hitched as she stared at the soft smile lingering on his face. That smile—he had never smiled like that when he was with her. The realization hit her like a punch to the chest. Her heart shattered, tears slipping silently down her cheeks.

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‎“Yes,” he said again, this time softening his tone. Seeing her tears shook something in him, but he knew it was for the best. The sooner she let go, the sooner she could begin to heal.

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‎“Okay,” she said quietly, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. Then, without another word, she turned and stormed out of his office. Her footsteps echoed down the hallway as she entered the elevator, fists clenched and heart aching. She descended to the ground floor, made her way to her car, and drove straight to the bar, seeking solace, or perhaps just numbness, in a drink.

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‎When Caroline reached the bar, she walked straight to the counter and ordered a drink.

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‎"Waiter, please give me whiskey," she said, her voice low and weary.

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‎She settled into a booth at the far end of the room, away from the chatter of the crowd. Her shoulders were slouched, and her eyes looked clouded with emotions she couldn't hide. She wanted, to drown her sorrow.

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‎After the waiter placed a bottle of whiskey and a glass on the table, she poured herself a drink and downed it quickly. Then another. And another. The burn in her throat was nothing compared to the fire in her chest.

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‎Across the street, Jackson sat in his car, casually glancing around when a familiar figure caught his attention. His eyes narrowed as he recognized who it was.

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‎“Is that…?” he muttered, reaching for his phone.

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‎He tapped a contact and brought the phone to his ear.

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‎"Hey, bro," Jackson said, still staring through the windshield at the bar across the street.

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‎"What's up?" came Sebastian's voice—calm, low, and unmistakably cold.

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‎Jackson smirked. "Guess who just walked into the bar? Your crush. And she looks... rough, man. Like something's really bothering her."

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‎Sebastian was quiet for a moment on the other end. Jackson could practically hear the tension spike.

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‎"You’re serious?" Sebastian asked, voice sharper now.

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‎"Dead serious. I wouldn't joke about this." Jackson leaned back in his seat. "She looks downcast, bro. Like she's carrying the whole world on her shoulders."

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‎Both Jackson and their mutual friend Edward knew how Sebastian felt about Caroline. Even though he didn't tell them, they could tell from how he always treated her. But because Caroline had always been chasing Edward blindly, hopelessly Sebastian never made a move.

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‎"Where is she? Send me the location," Sebastian said, his voice now filled with urgency.

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‎"I’m on it." Jackson ended the call, forwarded the location, then stepped out of his car. He shut the door behind him and headed straight for the bar.

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‎When he walked in, the dim lighting and soft music did little to hide the fact that Caroline was sitting alone, glass in hand, eyes distant.

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‎He walked up to her table.

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‎"Miss Jones," he said smoothly, sliding into the seat across from her, "Isn't it a little early to be drinking?"

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‎She looked up, a faint glare in her whiskey-hazed eyes. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and there was a tremble in her lips that gave her away.

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‎"And what does that have to do with you?" she snapped, her voice slurred just a little—enough for Jackson to know she’d had more than a couple of shots before he walked in.

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‎He leaned back, arms crossed, and studied her face. "Did you have an argument with Edward?"

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‎She froze, and her eyes darkened. She didn't respond, but the shift in her expression was all the confirmation he needed. Jackson knew her well enough by now only Edward had the power to hurt her like this.

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‎He let out a soft breath and gave a small, knowing smile. "Thought so."