I moved to shut the door on instinct—didn’t want to deal with him.
Cedric caught it, frowning. “You avoiding me? Why?”
He leaned in, scanning my face. “You mad? Is it about Elyna?”
I shook my head fast. “Nope. I’m happy for you. You two finally made it happen.”
He didn’t buy it. His eyes shifted, cold and sharp.
“That’s really how you feel? Or just acting?” He let out a dry, mocking laugh. “Reine, don’t tell me you’re still clinging to me. You think I didn’t notice that kiss on your eighteenth birthday? That fake drunk bit?”
He sneered. “All those love letters you wrote—I read every single one. Thought you were being slick, but the way you looked at me? Obvious. Everyone in this house knew.”
He leaned back, smug. “Not saying it out loud was the smartest move you ever made. Cause if you had? I would’ve laughed in your face. Laughed at you for ever thinking you stood a chance.”
His laugh echoed as he shoved past me and went straight for the desk. He yanked open the bottom drawer, pulled out a thick stack of letters, and threw them across the floor.
Then he stepped on them.
“I raised you since you were seven. And this whole time, you had feelings like that?”
He looked disgusted.
“You knew my heart was with Elyna. And you still wrote that crap? You honestly make me sick.”
He got in my face, voice dropping.
“Yesterday, when I was drugged—I saw your eyes. You wanted to be my cure, didn’t you? Good thing you didn’t. If you had, I’d never stop feeling disgusted. You’re not even worthy of touching me.”
A sharp stab hit my chest.
I didn’t love him anymore—not in this life—but still, those words cut deep.
Cedric threw one last warning my way: stay out of his orbit so Elyna wouldn’t get the wrong idea.
Then he slammed the door on his way out.
Fine by me. I didn’t want to be anywhere near them anyway.
I had bigger things to handle—like getting my paperwork sorted for moving abroad.
Threw a few essentials in a bag and left the mansion.
