Page 63 of One Lovely Lie

I reach out and encircle his wrist. “Magnus, no…”

“Let go of me, Daniel.”

“Magnus, please don’t do this. Don’t leave me.”

I think my tears might persuade him. I think my begging might make him remember he loves me. I think my pleas and my hopes and my heartbreak will erase the poisonous words he spoke.

But they don’t.

And he walks away, leaving me feeling everything and nothing at all.

Chapter 21

Daniel

As he walks away from me, I realize that I can’t breathe. A part of me thinks this is all just a sick dream, that he’ll come back, that he’ll apologize, and that he’ll realize he can’t live without me. Just this morning we were cuddling in bed—happy, content, in love—planning our future.

I silently scream at him to stop. To turn around. To come running back to me because I’ll forgive him. I will. If he stops, I’ll forget all about this because I want him that much.

But he doesn’t stop. He doesn’t even turn around. All I’m left with is the fading sight of his soft, brown hair that I’ve run my fingers through, and the shoulders and back that I’ve left marks on while making love.

Why would he do this to us? He chose money over me. I was willing to give everything up for him. I was willing to give up my legacy and my future. I was willing to abandon my parents and ruin the company.

All for him.

But he broke me the only way he knew how.

I was such an idiot for thinking that I could change him. I was a fool for thinking my dream could come true, that my childish fantasies could become a reality.

I don’t know what’s left of me without him. I don’t know what options I have. I don’t know what to do.

He broke me.

Magnus

I had to do it. No one can blame me for what I did. As I walk away from him, it feels like someone is ripping my heart out of my chest. The truth of the matter is, I was never going to be good enough for him. The company has always been what Daniel wants, and I would have screwed that up for him like I screw everything else up.

I thought I was strong enough to walk away from the money, but I’m not. I thought I was strong enough to walk away with him, but I’m a coward.

I lied to him. I love him so much I’d die for him, but I wouldn’t want him to die alongside me.

This is for the best. He’ll make it work with Florence, one way or another. He’ll get the company he’s always wanted. He’ll live a nice life. He won’t have me there to fuck it all up with my problems. Eventually, he’ll meet somebody else and he’ll fall in love all over again. He’ll forget about me. He’ll become wildly successful while I just…fade away.

But I will never forget about him. I’ll never forget the way he made my heart sing and my pulse race. I’ll never forget our sweet kisses or the way his stupid headband mussed up his curls. I’ll never forget how amazing it was to be with him, if even for such a short amount of time.

He’s better off without me.

I had to do it. No one can blame me.

Right?

Chapter 22

Magnus

Life doesn’t particularly feel worth living.

It’s spring break and I’ve found myself back at home. Originally, I just wanted to wallow in my own sadness for the entire break, away from the family that made me do what I did, away from anybody else, but that wasn’t an option.

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