Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Daphne’s POV

“Daph…” Jessica reached out, her hand light on my arm.

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I didn’t let her finish. I dropped the plate of grilled fish onto the deck, the wood clattering against the teak, and I ran.

I didn’t care about the attention. I could hear the whispers of the guests as I pushed past them, the muffled questions trailing behind me like a shroud.

I didn’t stop until I reached our room; the room that still smelled like his sandalwood cologne and the lingering scent of us.

I burst into tears the moment the door closed behind me.

The sobs came loud and raw, shaking my whole body until it felt like my bones might crack from the force of it.

Why did it hurt so much? Why was I so devastated by the sight of David with another woman?

There was only one answer, and it hit me with the force of a wrecking ball.

I had fallen in love with him.

The realization made my stomach twist so hard I nearly threw up. I pressed a hand to my mouth and sank onto the edge of the bed, crying harder.

All the promises he had made that night, the way he had kissed me like I was the only thing that mattered-it had all felt real.

Now it sounded like nothing more than words spoken in the heat of the moment.

When the initial wave of sobbing finally ebbed into a dull, shaking ache, I became irrational.

I couldn’t stay here. The thought of facing him, of pretending everything was fine while my heart was breaking, was unbearable.

I stood up, wiped my face with the back of my hand, and dragged my suitcase out of the closet.

Clothes, shoes, toiletries-I started throwing everything inside without folding, moving on pure impulse.

I didn’t care if I had to jump into the sea and swim to shore. I just needed to escape.

David could never really be with someone like me anyway, no matter what he had said.

A knock sounded on the door.

I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. Please don’t be him. Please.

10:38 Fri, Apr 17

Chapter 212

I stood there, clutching a handful of sweaters, my face tear-streaked and puffy.

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I didn’t answer, but the person on the other side cracked the door open and peeked inside. I realized too late that I hadn’t locked it. At this point, I didn’t care.

“Daphne?”

I looked up to see Jessica. Her expression was heavy with sympathy, her eyes soft as she took in the scene of my half-packed suitcase and my red-rimmed eyes.

She walked into the room, closing the door softly behind her.

I didn’t stop. I turned back to the bed and threw another dress into the bag, my hands shaking so hard I could barely grip the fabric. Tears started to spill again, hot and silent.

She walked closer and gently caught my wrist, stopping me. I tried to pull away, but she was firm.

She didn’t let go until I stopped moving.

“Daphne, look at me,” she commanded.

I refused to meet her eyes, my head hanging low as I let out a shaky, broken breath. She stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.

I resisted for a heartbeat before I collapsed against her, sobbing into her shoulder.

She held me tight, rubbing slow circles on my back until the worst of the crying eased.

When I finally pulled back, she reached up and wiped the tears from my cheeks with her thumbs.

“Don’t act on any impulse decision right now,” she said quietly. “You need to talk to David.”

I shook my head violently, pulling away.

“There’s no point. He will never love me. Not really. This whole thing between us… it’s fake. It started as a fake relationship so he could bring someone to the cruise and keep his grandmother happy. None of it was supposed to mean anything.”

The words tumbled out before I could stop them.

I froze, my eyes widening as I realized what I’d just confessed.

I looked at Jessica with pure terror, waiting for the shock, the judgment, the anger.

Instead of shock or judgment, a small, understanding smile touched her lips.

“I kind of figured that out a while ago, Daphne,” she said gently.

I swallowed hard, the fear still clawing at my throat.

“Please… please don’t tell anyone. Especially Wendy. She’ll… I don’t even know what she’ll do. I don’t want to

10:38 Fri, Apr 17

Chapter 212

hurt David.”

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