Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Aaron’s POV

I just stared down at her, momentarily speechless. I was deeply pressed by her resilience.

Despite having such strong, obvious feelings for me–feelings that had just led her to our current position, she was able to withstand the pressure and draw a firm line.

It made my heart do that strange, complicated beat it reserved only for her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears tracking shiny paths down her temples and into her hair.

My brow furrowed immediately. “You’re sorry? For what, Jess?”

She didn’t answer, she just sobbed, a sound so small and broken it instantly cracked something inside my thumb gently sweeping away the salty moisture. me.

I reached forward,

“Don’t apologize for turning me down, Jess. That’s the right thing to do, and I’m not mad at you. Not at all.” I told her the truth, letting my voice be as sincere and steady as I could manage.

If anything, it made me respect her more.

She looked at me through her long, wet lashes–her blue eyes swimming with doubt and deep sadness.

A thick silence dominated the room. Unable to bear the heavy intimacy, I slowly lifted my hand off her cheek and offered it to her.

She hesitated for a moment, then tentatively took it.

I led her out onto the private balcony. The night air was cool and clean. We stood side by side, leaning against the railing, gazing up at the impossibly brilliant tapestry of twinkling stars.

Faint laughter from the other side of the mansion, mixed with the chirp of crickets and the soft whisper of the summer breeze rustling the leaves below filled the vast silence.

It was peaceful out here.

She broke the quiet first, her voice soft, almost fragile. “Can I ask a favor, Aaron?”

I didn’t respond verbally, I just nodded slightly, letting her know I was listening.

“While we are on this game,” she continued, emphasizing the word with a painful clarity, “can you… not say stuff like what you said earlier?”

I tilted my head so I could look at her, my brow instantly arching. “What do you mean, Jess?”

The silence that followed was deafening. I didn’t know what to say–how to respond without making it worse. All I knew was a sharp, sickening sadness.

We climbed onto the bed. She immediately put a generous, heartbreaking distance between us, turning her back to me.

I couldn’t help but just stare at the dark silhouette of her.

I stretched my hand forward, wanting to pull her back against my body, wanting to offer some silent comfort, but each time I failed. My hand slumped back beside me, heavy and useless.

I was about to turn away when she rolled onto her back, facing me. The darkness made it impossible to see her precise expression, but her glossy blue eyes seemed to glow faintly, catching the ambient light.

I had studied Jessica enough over the years to know the topography of her face, to paint an image of her raw expression even now.

“Why did you choose me, Aaron?” Her voice cut through the silence, no longer a whisper, but a plea.

“There are plenty of models, actresses–women who could have played the role perfectly. Why me?”

My lips tugged into a subtle smile, one she probably couldn’t see. I reached out, my fingers tracing the soft curve of her cheek, my thumb leaving light strokes there.

“Are you sure you want the answer to that, flower?”