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"I'm so sorry," I whispered. I could see the devastation on his face. It ruined me. Disgust and self-loathing filled every inch of my body.

"Last chance," he bit out, eyes locked on mine. "Comewithme."

Inside I was screaming, begging him not to leave me, to give me some more time. I needed time. I wasn’t going back on my word. I wanted to be with him. Only him.

I felt my heart shatter into a million unrepairable pieces as I said, "I'm not leaving him."

"Then I'm out." With that, Hunter Casarazzi turned around and walked away from me.

My eyes followed his every move as he climbed into his truck and cranked the engine.

The sound of his car roaring to life filled the silence and I flinched.

The sound of tires screeching filled my ears.

And then he was gone, tearing off down the street, never looking back.

I watched him leave.

I watched him leave my life.

Why was I watchingmy lifeleave me?

This waswrong.

This was all wrong.

He was leaving.

And I wasstaying.

Whywas I staying?

Because you love him!

Numb to the bone, I watched him leave me.

Only when his truck was out of sight did I turn around and walk back inside.

I wasn’t surprised to find Jordan standing in the hallway, waiting for me.

I'd known he would be watching.

"He's gone," I stated numbly. "Happy now?"

"You did the right thing, Hope," he replied.

I wiped my tear stained cheeks with the back of my hands before giving him my full attention.

"I want you to know some things," I said, looking into his green eyes. "I want you to know that I will never forgive you for this." I heard him suck in a ragged breath, but I didn’t care, and I didn’t stop. "I want you to know that regardless of how much time passes, or how badly you want it to happen, I willneverbe yours." Sniffling, I fought to reign in my raging emotions before delivering my final truth. "And most of all, I want you to know that even though I've lost count of all the ways you've hurt and lied to me, betrayed, abandoned, and broken my heart, I have never hated you. Until today."

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Chapter Nineteen

Lucky

"You doing okay, man?" Noah asked, joining me on the front porch of his house.

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