Chapter 234

Jack asked, "You… What did you say to him? Did you agree?" Bella nodded lightly. "Yeah, I said yes." Jack's heart clenched violently. So, Joshua's news was right. Bella had gotten back together with Andres. This felt like a punch to Jack's gut. The hope that had been quietly growing inside him was crushed in an instant, replaced by a heavy, suffocating weight. His face darkened, his usual calm cracking under the blow. He tried to force a smile, to pretend this didn't affect him, but it came out so stiff and forced that it looked worse than if he had just remained expressionless. For the first time in a long time, he felt his heartache in a way he hadn't thought possible. When had she become this important to him? He had always prided himself on being rational, on keeping his emotions in check. But at this moment, none of that mattered. The pain cut through him too deeply. And now, had she come all this way just to tell him this, rub it in his face, and ensure he