Page 124 of Vicious Addictions

“That,” she says slowly, “is none of your concern.”

“Mina,” I press, loosening my grip while pinning her body against the sink, demanding her to answer the question. “Do you love him?”

Her lips part, but the truth never comes.

“Love is inconsequential,” she finally murmurs. “Jude Romano taught me that.”

Something sharp twists inside me—a wound, never fully healed, now ripped open again.

I did this to her.

Me.

I not only broke my own heart when I left, but I also eviscerated hers.

“I never meant to hurt you.” My voice is raw, barely above a whisper.

“You never meant a lot of things,” she quips back.

“Maybe not,” I admit. “But I meant one thing, even if I never had the courage to tell you. I did love you, Mina. More than life itself.”

Do.

I do love you.

But the misery of learning about her engagement prevents me from telling her the whole truth—my truth.

Unfortunately for me, the minute the words spill from my mouth, her expression turns to steel.

“Lies,” she breathes. “If that were true, you would’ve stayed.”

“I couldn’t. Life was too complicated back then.”

“Newsflash, Jude, it still is,” she says, pushing me away with all her might.

“Mina—”

“You should go now.”

I shake my head. “Mina, no. We need to talk about this. I need to explain—”

“Don’t you get it?” Her gaze hardens. “I don’t want to hear your justifications. The time that I yearned for them is long gone.”

“Mina—”

“Leave. Leave before we say or do something we’ll both regret.” I don’t move. Not at first. “I’m dead serious. Leave. Now, Jude!”

Reluctantly, I do as she says. I pick up my clothes and watch from the counter, my chest tight with everything I should’ve said years ago. And then I walk out, leaving Mina behind.

Again.

Chapter 21

Mina

As our driver takes us to the Romano home, tension coils tight inside my chest.

I force my expression into indifference to not alert the twins of my misgiving. Still, beneath the surface, I’m a total wreck.

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