nda

truly spoken to him. He' d tried, a few half-hearted texts, a voicemail or two, but his words felt hollow, devoid of the sincerity I once cherished. I was a

erted design studio, losing myself in the lines

nally caught

tment. He' d been trying to get my attention for months, despite knowi

my voice flat. "

enjamin Kane finally showed his true colors, huh? Told you he wasn' t worth it." He took a step closer, hi

ng my sketches. "I

going to crawl away and lick your wounds. Benjamin' s a fool. You' re beautiful, talent

ng back sharply.

ying the faithful fiancée? He dumped you, Amanda. Everyone knows it

asn' t just flirting any

stood there, his face thunderous. "What the hell is

quickly vanished, replaced by a nervous smir

his voice low and dangerous. "

eyes, didn' t argue. He shot me one last, unse

a familiar, suffocating possessiveness. "What were you d

harassing me, Benjamin. And what are you doing he

n his face. "I was worried about you! You haven' t been

e called me a gold digger? Or how Jenna is your s

at' s different. That was

"Right. Just like Jenna' s 'original' phoenix design, wh

ocent in all of this. She' s vulnerable. My family spons

lity to me? Your fiancée?" The

night. I was confused. But that doesn' t mean I don' t care

He cared, but he was defending Jenna. He cared, but he

my pocket. A new me

olarship money isn' t enough. I' m just trying to make sure she' s okay. It' s hard for her, you know? But it doesn'

her. It was always about Jenna now. His promises, his attempts at reconciliation, always intertwined with his need to "prote

speration. He still didn' t get it. He still thought he could have both: me, an

t detached. "Don' t worry about Jenna' s

ill. But what about us?" He took a s

Benjamin. Not anymore." I deleted his text message wit

d was deafening. It was