Betrayed and Dumped: She Rose Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 362

Paul looked right at Bruce, his tone sharp and mocking. “Why are you even asking me this now? You’re getting engaged to Sonja in two days. What’s wrong, having second thoughts? Thinking about running back to your ex?”

Bruce just stared at him, his eyes cold and hard, saying nothing.

Paul let out a short, bitter laugh. “Of course you’re not. All you care about is what you can get. Rebecca, Sonja, it’s all the same. They’re just your stepping stones. You’re selfish, Bruce. Always have been, always will be.”

He brushed off Morris’s hand, smoothed down his suit, and got in his car without another word.

Morris raked a hand through his hair, muttered a quiet curse, and then turned to Bruce, his voice gentle. “Wanna go upstairs?”

Bruce didn’t look at him. His face was a mess of bruises, his expression empty. He pulled a cigarette from the pack and lit it. “I just need some time alone.”

Morris hesitated, then patted Bruce’s shoulder. “Don’t let Paul get to you. He was just pissed. I’ll talk to him, make sure he apologizes.”

He started to head for the hotel, but Bruce’s rough voice stopped him. “Do you think I’m selfish too? Heartless?”

Morris paused. “Bruce, you grew up in a world where you had to fight for everything. If you hadn’t done whatever it took, you and your mom wouldn’t have survived. It’s not your fault. Sometimes things just don’t work out, like with you and Rebecca. That’s life. Don’t overthink it. You’ve got Sonja now, and a whole future ahead of you.”

Bruce stood there, smoking one cigarette after another, watching the smoke curl into the night. He felt drained, like something inside him had finally given up. A small voice in his head kept asking if maybe he’d been chasing the wrong things all along.

He’d always wanted the Lamont family’s approval, but what did it really matter? He could make it on his own. He could give his mom a good life, with or without them.

He closed his eyes, his hands shaking just a little, and tried to push it all aside. In two days, he’d be engaged to Sonja. Everything was supposed to get better after that.

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