All Chapters of I Gave Up on Her, and Now She’s Afraid to Lose Me: Chapter 31 - Chapter 36

Jasmine used the wall to pull herself slowly to her feet. She didn’t look at Tristan again as she stumbled toward the stairs.“I’m tired. I want to sleep.”Her voice sounded so worn that it might break at any moment.Tristan watched her unsteady figure and wanted to help, but he couldn’t make himself move.He knew something between them had broke the moment his eyes shifted away from hers.The devoted man he worked so hard to portray could not withstand that one honest reaction.Jasmine went to the bedroom and locked the door.She left the lights off and collapsed onto the large bed.The room still seemed to smell of new furniture and paint.She closed her eyes, but all she could picture was the balcony of their small, cozy apartment, Jensen hanging out the laundry, and the faint scent of detergent in the air.She used to think he was dull. He buried himself in work and never did anything romantic.Only now did she understand how precious the security he gave her was.She grabbed a pil

Jasmine had sold the house. She poured everything she had into bringing Tristan down. It belonged to someone else now, and warm light glowed through its windows.She stood across the road in the rain and looked up at the familiar window for a long time.Then she turned and walked toward the cemetery outside the city.The rain grew heavier. Cold water soaked her hair and clothes, but she barely felt it.The cemetery was empty. Rain rustled through the trees.She found the grave of Jensen’s parents.She slowly knelt before the headstone and rested her forehead against it. At last, she broke into sobs.“I’m sorry... I’m sorry...”She repeated the words, but her apology came too late and vanished into the cold rain.“I was wrong... I know I was wrong...“Please come back... Please... I’ll never treat you that way again...”Only the endless rain and silence answered her.She cried until she had no voice left, only broken sobs.After what felt like an eternity, the rain began to ease.Jasmin

Naturally, Vera became my assistant at the firm.Getting to know her felt easier than I had expected.She was clever and independent, with a bright, direct way of speaking. She didn’t play games or expect me to guess what she was feeling.I felt at ease with her. We talked about how films were shot, complained about unreasonable clients, and sometimes sat quietly in a little restaurant after working late, each with a plate of pasta.I didn’t have to watch every word or worry about where I stood.I knew she liked me. Her glances and occasional hints weren’t hard to read.But I wasn’t in a hurry. I enjoyed getting to know her and growing closer little by little. For once, I wanted to give something good the time it needed.A few months later, we went hiking outside the city one weekend.The wind was strong at the summit. Vera pulled her coat tighter around herself, her nose pink from the cold. I handed her a thermos.She held it in both hands and looked at the autumn colors covering the