Chapter 10

His hands around me loosened, and I took that chance to put a small distance between us, my hand stinging from the slap I had just given him. The raw emotions swirling inside me had driven me to strike out, unable to control myself, and now, I stood there, trembling, my breath uneven.

Conflicting emotions were like a storm, raging and chaotic inside my heart. How could he say he loved me when all he did was hurt me? I had spent years nursing the wounds he had inflicted, and now he claimed to love me? It didn’t make sense. This was just another one of his mind games.

But the vulnerability in his eyes and the emotions in his voice when he said those words made me feel torn because part of me hoped to believe him.

He was starting at space, and I could see the mark of my fingers on his reddening cheek.

“You think a few words can make up for everything you put me through?” I bit down on my trembling lip. I swallowed hard, my throat closing in. “I will never forgive you, Ryker."

He slowly s