Page 102 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

He kept seeing Blake in his mind.

I know the truth.

But it wasn't the Blake he wanted to remember.

I can't...I can't...

Pain forced Thornton into an abrupt halt just as he was about to cross the street.God.He squeezed his eyes shut.God.But he could still see her tear-stained face and hear her sobs.God.

She doesn't love you, Blackwood. So just fucking let her go.

The mere thought hurt, but he knew it was the only thing to do. Keeping her in his life would only have her always feeling guilty, and she'd never be truly happy.

So just let her go.

He slowly dragged oxygen into his lungs.

So be it.

But when he opened his eyes, it was to find God playing a cruel joke on him, with Blake standing across the street, right outside the gates of his place. She was wet and shivering, but even this far he knew it wasn't just rain that was tracking down her cheeks.

She was crying.

Again.

Because of him.

BLAKE COULD FEEL HERbody shaking harder and harder when Thornton finally started to move. She watched him slowly cross the street, and her heart thumped harder and faster against her chest.Please God. Please. Please.

And when he finally stood in front of her...

Please,she wanted to cry out to the heavens.Please.

She slowly lifted her gaze to his. "W-Where have you been?"

"Why do you even ask?"

Because I care,she wanted to say. But the shuttered expression on Thornton's beautiful face terrified her, and she could feel her courage wilting with every second that passed.Blue was wrong, she couldn't help thinking brokenly. This man wasn't in love with her. She had to be a fool to imagine someone like Thornton Blackwood could ever be in love with someone like her.

Thornton couldn't help feeling bitter when he saw Blake's expression change. There it fucking was again. That look that told him she wished she had never met him...

"Damn you."

Blake flinched.

"Why don't you just fucking leave and be done with it?"

"B-Because..."I love you.But how could she say that, knowing he could never love her back?

"Because what?" he roared. "Because you pity me?"

The words were so unexpected that it drew Blake out of her despair.What was he talking about?

"You chose him," he bit out. "He won. I lost."

Her confusion grew. "Thorn—-"

"I get it, okay? So just fucking go and I'll figure out a way to live without you."

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