A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 215

At that moment, Matilda saw a storm of emotions raging in Declan's eyes, emotions she had never before witnessed on his usually stoic face. He was a man accustomed to indifference, rarely showing any sign of inner turmoil.

But now, it was as if she could see a tempest tearing through his soul, his composure crumbling away like a decaying cliff face in a relentless sea.

Gone... She... She's really gone.

Declan staggered backward, his hand clutching at his shirt over his heart, as if trying desperately to anchor himself amid the pain.

His heart was in agony, a pain so sharp it felt as though it could wrench his bones from his body. Declan's face, ashen, lifted to meet Matilda's gaze. She smiled at him sarcastically, her eyes red with unshed tears, "She's paid her debt to you, Declan. No one will ever trouble you again. You were right, she was nothing but a stray dog. Dead is dead, nothing to mourn."

The very words he'd once used to scorn Chloe were now the weapon Matilda wielded to cut him deep.

Declan didn't remember how he left Matilda's office. He felt like he was in a daze, trapped in a nightmare he couldn't escape. He felt like he was suffocating. His mind was flooded with images of Chloe, always so eager to please, always by his side. She was like a roach that couldn't be killed, fighting so hard to stay alive, to be the person he needed the most.

Declan couldn't bear to imagine a life without her, not now.

...

Matilda watched Declan's retreating figure, pulling back her tears, when she turned to see Orson holding a cup of coffee. "You know Declan?"

His voice was flat, almost indifferent.

Subconsciously, Matilda wanted to deny any closeness, "Not really, he's a friend of a friend."

Orson looked at her for a long moment before responding with a noncommittal, "Oh."

Sometimes Matilda couldn't figure out what was going on in Orson's head, but then, designers were known to be free spirits, and she didn't care to pry.