Chapter 9

Gabriella’s POV

Kayden took a hesitant step toward me, his arms half-raised before falling to his sides. “Remember how you used to follow me everywhere? How you said you’d stay by my side forever?”

“I was blind,” I admitted. “Too stupid to see what was right in front of me.”

“You were the only one who ever truly loved me,” he said. “I was just too preoccupied with our family situation to let myself see it.”

“But I get it now,” he continued. “I love you too. I want us to be together, for real this time.”

When he tried to embrace me, I pushed him away forcefully. His eyes were desperate. “God, seeing you with another guy just now… it killed me. I’m terrified of losing you. If I pushed you into someone else’s arms, I couldn’t live with myself.”

“Thank God you turned him down,” I said. “I know you still love me—you can’t just switch off feelings that deep.”

“Letting you go was the biggest mistake of my life,” he confessed. “I won’t make that mistake again. Come home with me, Gabby. I promise I’ll make everything right this time.”

He reached for me again. I stepped back. Seeing my continued distance, his shoulders slumped.

“Are you done?” I asked quietly.

He looked up hopefully, but my eyes were cold, my voice flat. “You’ll always be my guardian, Kayden. Nothing more.”

“This thing you’re imagining between us? It’s never happening. I don’t love you. I never will again.”

“You’re harassing me now,” I warned. “One more time, and I’m calling the police.”

“This isn’t your turf anymore,” I continued. “You can’t throw money at problems here. Unless you want to get arrested and deported, back off.”

Before walking away, I turned back one last time. “I just want to live my life in peace. Leave me alone.”

I heard his broken sob behind me. “Is this really it? If I leave now, I won’t come back!”

I kept walking, never looking back. I knew Kayden. His ego wouldn’t let him come crawling back after this. I had my research, my future ahead of me. This time around, I was writing my own story.