Troy’s jaw clenched, his fists trembling at his sides.li
Chapter 16:
Troy’s voice cut through the warm spring air like a blade. “Do you know Thalia is my wife?“!!
I froze. For a moment, my chest ached–not from affection, but from the sting of old wounds being forced open again.
“Really?” Xander tilted his head, amused, glancing at me as if seeking confirmation. “That’s strange. I heard you and Thalia were already divorced ”
Before I could speak, Xander lowered his head and pressed a kiss to the top of my hair. It was gentle, warm, the kind of affection I used to dream of when I sat alone in that empty house Troy left me in.
He chuckled, his voice laced with mockery. “Baby, your ex–husband’s here to bring you back. What should we
do?”
I smiled faintly, my gaze flickering to Troy, who stood stiff, as if slapped. “He’s just my ex-husband,” I said softly, letting the words sink in “Why would I care?”
Troy stepped forward, faster than I expected, and grabbed my wrist with that familiar grip. 1 never agreed to the divorce,” he said, voice low and unrelenting. “Come home, Thalia. It compensate for everything. Everything I failed to give you before.”
I yanked my hand back, disgust tightening my throat. “Compensate?” I repeated, my voice sharp. “Is that what you think this is about? Money? Grand apologies? A bouquet and a sorry and we rewind years of indifference?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Once upon a time, maybe I would’ve melted for that. Maybe I would’ve begged for it,
I stepped closer to Xander and slid my arm through his. The contrast of his warmth beside me only made Troy feel colder. “But not anymore,” I whispered. “I don’t love you anymore, Troy, Go back to Bianca, Haven’t you wanted her since
Troy’s expression twisted. “She’s not part of my life anymore. I ended it. We’re done. That part of me is done
I blinked slowly. “And that means what exactly? That I’m supposed to run back to you? That your damage gets reset because you said right words too late? I’m with Xander now” I said, voice calm and clear. I’m happy”
Troy’s jaw moved slightly. “Xander he muttered, as if the name itself tasted like ash on his tongue S
Before I could speak again, I heard footsteps behind us, slow and deliberatel
“Well, this looks fun.”
the
I turned and saw my older brother, Nathan, striding toward us with two bottles of red wine swinging casually from his hands. But when his eyes met Troy’s, the amusement vanished.
His brows furrowed. “What the hell are you doing here?“}
Troy didn’t flinch. “I came to take your sister home.”
Nathan scoffed and glanced at Xander, who still held my hand. “Yeah? That’s awkward, considering I just introduced her to Xander not long ago.” I
Troy’s facade cracked. “You’re just her brother Nathan. Couldn’t wait to shove her into someone else’s arms?“!
Nathan smirked, but his tone darkened. “You once told me. The best way to forget someone is to love someone new I listened.”
Troy looked at me again. “I was wrong” he said. “I was wrong about everything.”
He stepped forward, his tone tuming softer, more desperate. “Thalia come back with me.”
I studied him for a long second, then smiled–not kindly..
“Why, Troy?” I asked. “Is it because you love me?”
He hesitated.
“I don’t know,” he finally said. “But I’m not used to you being gone. The house is tod quiet.”
A laugh escaped my lips–cold, disbelieving. “So I’m what? A habit? A decoration? I’m not a lamp to light up your house when Bianca turns off the switch.
I leaned into Xander and said lightly, “You hear that, baby? Apparently I’m missed.”}
Xander chuckled, but said nothing. He didn’t have to
Troy’s eyes narrowed. “You loved me for years, Thalia. Six years. And now you expect me to believe you’ve just stopped?”
I met his gaze, unflinching. “Yes. I stopped.”
“You expect me to believe you’re really in love with him? Just like that?”
Behind us, Nathan opened the door to the house, ignoring Tray. “Let’s go inside. It’s getting hot out here.”
We moved into the living room, and just as I sat on the couch, Xander picked up a strawberry and held it near my lips.
“Here,” he said playfully “Be good. Have a taste.“X
I bit down on it with a smile, then fed him a grape in return. We both laughed–real laughter, Warmth I hadn’t known in years.
Then Xander kissed me. And I kissed him back. I didn’t do it for show. I did it because I wanted to.
Troy stormed forward, rage crackling in his voice. “What the hell is this? Will you die If you don’t kiss for a day?!
Nathan leaned against the doorframe and said with a grin, “Actually, I think I might. Forgot to mention–Xander moved in. And they’re in the honeymoon phase”
Troy’s breathing was uneven, his eyes burning into me. He grabbed my wrist again. “Don’t be like this. Come back. Please
I tore fice L
“I thought I made myself clear.” I said, voice sharper now. “The divorce was real. Falling in love again is real. I won’t go back with you.
9:32 AM
That’s real, too.”%
His composure snapped. “You loved me for six years! You don’t just stop loving someone!“!!
“Do you think I believe this happy act of yours?”
I looked at him–really looked. The sunlight pouring through the tall windows made his shadow long and fractured
on the floor.
And I said, voice steady and unshaken: “Troy, you’ve always been so sure of yourself. But let me tell you something you clearly don’t understand…my love for you…it’s not forever.”
