LOGINMark just froze, staring at me with those eyes.Then he grabbed my wrist, yanked me into a hug, and muttered, "I'm sorry. It was all my fault. I messed up. Jenna, you said you'd love me forever. Just one more chance? Please?"I gave him a tired smile. "Mark, I'm so done. I'm too tired to love you anymore."His face went ghost-white.Panic hit his eyes. "No... that's not possible. You can't just stop loving someone."I met his stare. "You know me. I can—and I did."Something in him snapped. He grabbed me, slammed me against the wall, and kissed me hard.I didn't kiss back. Didn't even flinch.I shoved him off. "Kissing someone I don't love? Makes me sick."His eyes went red. "So I'm disgusting now?"I didn't say a word.He got it. We weren't kids. Silence was enough.Yeah—I thought he was disgusting.Mark just stood there, empty-eyed, then walked away.He never came back. And I never wanted him to.While I was overseas, I dropped papers in top journals, picked up honors I
Jenna used to ask, 'If you hate me so much, why'd you marry me?'He'd grab her chin and growl, "You owe me."But the whole thing was a lie.She never owed him a damn thing.Back in college, when they were still in love, they used to dream about the future. He knew her biggest wish—just a happy home with someone she loved.After she left, he felt tossed aside, like she didn't care if he lived or died.That rage? It wrecked his head.He wanted to crush her dream himself.And because he still loved her, he kept bringing girls home, testing her, hurting her.But Jenna? She took it all like it didn't even touch her.So he pushed further.Made her serve those women, eyes locked on her like he was studying a stranger.And yeah, he knew Patrick was trash, but kept feeding his booze and gambling habit anyway.Just so Jenna would need him.Beg him.But even after her mom died, when she had nothing left—she still didn't come back.Mark's voice cracked. "I hated her for walking out
Mark stared at the email like it might vanish if he just kept looking.His chest clamped tight, breath caught somewhere between panic and denial.Even with the truth staring back at him, he couldn't believe it.Jenna—who once loved him like her whole world—had really walked away.He shot up, grabbed his coat, and bolted out the door.Pedal slammed to the floor, he sped straight to Mandy's bar.If Jenna wasn't at her dad's, this was the only place she'd go.Mandy had been her only real friend the whole time.***The bar was closed.Didn't matter. Mandy was inside, slouched behind the counter, drunk off her mind.When Mark barged in, she didn't miss a beat—launched her glass straight at the floor in front of him.It shattered, loud and sharp.She let out a cold laugh. "You're lucky this isn't the Wild West. Otherwise, that glass would've nailed your skull."Mark didn't flinch. "Where's Jenna?"Mandy squinted at him through the blur."My girl?" she said, voice thick. "She'
Renee wiped her tears and forced a shaky smile."It's okay. I know how this goes. Jenna throws a fit, you forgive her, and everything goes back to normal."Before Mark could respond, Ariana stepped up."Wait—did you say Renee saved you after the crash? I was on duty that night. Jenna carried you down that whole twisting road. She collapsed at the hospital doors. Got discharged after you."Mark whipped around to Renee, stunned.She looked anywhere but at him. "I—I just helped the nurse when I saw you both faint..."He stopped listening.Everything he believed? Dead wrong.He stood up fast, dialing Jenna over and over.Each call: No connection.Something clenched in his gut. Full-on panic hit.At that same moment, Jenna's plane landed in Amiraka.She met up with a friend, swapped in a new SIM card, and made a quiet promise to herself—no more family, no more love, none of it.She was done.Time to start over. Lighter. Freer. Brand new.Mark didn't stick around the mansion.
Mark stiffened. His whole vibe shifted in a snap.Renee let out a laugh, side-eyeing Ariana. "Hold up—you know Jenna or something? Is this just to mess with Mark? 'Cause if her mom really died, she would've bled him dry for funeral money. And Mark's been paying those hospital bills nonstop. So if she's been dead for months... how does that add up?"Mark gave a distracted nod, eyes still locked on the screen.That red exclamation mark wasn't going anywhere.A weird knot twisted in his chest.***Mark called. First thing out of his mouth? A demand."You're past the deadline. Where's your apology? Aren't you scared I'll actually divorce you?"I laughed. Cold.Seriously, Mark? Still that clueless?I stopped wanting you ages ago."The divorce papers are signed," I said. "My lawyer's got it from here. We're done."Before he could say another word, I yanked out the SIM card, snapped it in half, and dropped it in the trash.I was supposed to stick around another month, wait for th
Guess that struck a nerve. Her whole expression snapped."The one who's not loved? That's the side piece," she hissed. "Doesn't matter if your last name's Fletcher—you're just the extra."I was about to clap back.Then she glanced past me, grabbed my arm, and threw herself to the floor.Her glass shattered, slicing her hand deep. Blood everywhere.Mark burst in like some knight in shining armor. "Who hurt her?!"He scooped her up and turned on me with a death glare."Guess that'd be me," I said flat.Renee burst into tears, locking eyes with me. "It's... It's my fault. I fell for someone I shouldn't have. Jenna's right, I'm a homewrecker... She didn't do anything."Mark lost it. "Jenna Jensen, you've gone too far. You want a divorce but now you're attacking and humiliating my friend?"He held Renee like she'd break in his arms. Right before storming off, he hit me with one last ice-cold look. "Tomorrow's the final day for your mom's payments. If you don't want her thrown out







