PROLOGUE

“Shane, please.” His voice was different.

Not the confident voice I knew.

Not the teasing one that used to make me smile.

It was broken.

Desperate.

I tightened my grip on the doorknob.

I shouldn't have stopped.

I should have walked away.

But hearing his voice break like that made me feel my chest ache.

So I turned around.

Luxxe was still standing in the middle of the room.

The man who used to look untouchable now looked completely ruined.

His hair was messy. His eyes were red. His breathing was uneven.

And all of it was because of me.

“Don't look at me like that,” I whispered.

“Then don't leave.”

My fingers tightened around the doorknob.

“I have to.”

“No.”

His voice cracked.

He crossed the room quickly, then stopped himself before he could get too close.

He knew better.

“You don't have to do this.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Shane, listen to me.”

“I listened to you for years.”

“You know that's not—”

“Don't.”

I shook my head.

“Don't explain it anymore.”

“I never wanted to hurt you.” His face twisted in pain.

“But you did.”

“I know.”

“You lied to me.”

“I know.”

“You used me.”

“I know.” His eyes closed.

“And you expect me to stay?”

“No.”

He opened his eyes.

“I want you to stay.”

That hurt more.

Because I knew he meant it.

I laughed bitterly.

“You don't get to want that anymore.”

“Then tell me what I have to do.”

“Nothing.”

“Anything.”

“There is nothing you can do.”

“I'll fix it.”

“You can't.”

“I'll spend the rest of my life trying.”

I stared at him.

“You don't understand.”

“Then make me understand.”

“You were supposed to destroy my family.”

He went silent.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“And somehow, you destroyed me instead.”

His face fell.

“Shane…”

“I loved you.”

His eyes glistened.

“I still love you.”

“Then don't leave.”

My heart cracked.

Just like that.

He took one step closer.

“Please.”

I looked away.

“Don't make me choose.”

“Choose me.”

I laughed through my tears.

“You're asking me to choose the man who lied to me?”

“The man who loves you.”

“The man who betrayed me.”

“The man who's sorry.”

“The man I can't trust anymore.”

He flinched.

That was the first time I saw him truly break.

Not when I shouted.

Not when I cried.

Not even when I told him I hated him.

It was when I said—

“I don't trust you.”

He looked down.

His hands were shaking.

“I'll earn it back.”

“You can't.”

“I can.”

“No.”

“I'll prove it.”

“Luxxe…”

“I'll wait.”

My breath caught.

He looked at me with tears in his eyes.

“I'll wait as long as you need.”

I shook my head.

“You don't understand.”

“I understand enough.”

“No.”

I wiped my tears.

“You're still thinking this is about forgiveness.”

He stared at me.

“This is about survival.”

He said nothing.

“I spent my whole life surviving my father. Surviving my family. Surviving every person who decided I wasn't allowed to choose for myself.”

My voice trembled.

“And when I met you, I thought…”

I stopped.

He waited.

“I thought I finally found someone who would never make me feel like a prisoner.”

His lips parted.

“You made me feel free.”

A tear slipped down my cheek.

“And that's why this hurts so much.”

He looked devastated.

“I would never want you to feel trapped.”

“But I am.”

“Then I'll let you go.”

I stared at him.

He swallowed hard.

“If letting you go is the only way you'll breathe again…”

His voice broke.

“Then I'll let you go.”

He was crying now.

Actually crying.

And somehow, that hurt worse than anger ever could.

I wanted to run back to him.

I wanted to hold him.

I wanted to pretend none of this happened.

But I couldn't.

Not anymore.

So I took a step toward the door.

“Shane.”

I stopped.

He looked at me for a long moment.

Then he whispered—

“Was I ever your home?”

My lips trembled.

“Yes.”

His eyes closed.

I continued.

“But home shouldn't hurt like this.”

He nodded slowly.

One tear fell down his cheek.

“I understand.”

I opened the door.

“Shane.”

I looked back.

He didn't move.

He only stared at me like he was trying to memorize my face.

“I love you.”

My chest tightened.

“I know.”

“That's not enough?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

He smiled sadly.

“I was afraid you'd say that.”

I walked out.

The door closed behind me.

And this time—

he didn't stop me.

He didn't chase me.

He didn't beg.

He simply let me go.

But what I didn't know was that the moment the door closed, Luxxe sank to the floor.

His hands covered his face.

And for the first time since he had entered my life with revenge in his heart—

he wished he had never succeeded.

Because he had wanted to destroy a Garcia.

He never expected to fall in love with one.

He never expected revenge to become meaningless.

He never expected the woman he was supposed to use to become the only person he couldn't live without.

And now—

he had lost her.

Not because he stopped loving her.

But because he had loved her too late.

Outside the room, I pressed my trembling hand against my chest.

I was crying.

Still crying.

Even though I knew leaving was the right thing to do.

Because sometimes, loving someone isn't enough.

Sometimes, love doesn't save you.

Sometimes, it becomes the very thing that breaks you.

And sometimes...

the person who promises to save you—

is the very person who came into your life to destroy you.

I walked away without looking back.

But if I had looked back that night...

I might have seen the man I loved breaking apart behind that door.

And maybe—

I would have stayed.

Maybe.

But I didn't.

Love him.

Trust him.

And when the truth comes out...

let him destroy you.