From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 54

Chapter 2

But right now I couldn’t give a shit about any of that. I just needed to delete those private photos from the group chat.

So I searched through every app and storage folder I could find on his phone, but came up empty. Maybe there was only that one picture–God, I hoped there was only one.

put Jake’s phone back exactly where I found it, my heart hollow as a drum.

That’s when my phone rang. Captain Morrison from the agency.

Sage, have you thought about that overseas assignment we discussed? The operation just launched and we’re short–staffed. It’ll be rough at first, but with your kills, you’d be running point in no time…”

Captain, I’ll take it. Just give me two weeks to wrap things up here.”

Excellent! I love that attitude, Sage. The team’s got high hopes for you. Make us proud.”

After hung up, I went straight to the guest room, finally falling asleep just before dawn.

don’t know how long I was sleep when I felt something brush against my cheek.

jolted awake.

ake’s dark eyes were staring down at me, his usual scent of gunpowder and soap filling my lungs. But his expression was stone–cold as always.

Seeing me wake up, he leaned down slowly, trying to kiss me.

All I could think about were those disgusting comments in the group chat and the way he’d moaned “Vicky” against my neck. Pure revulsion hit me like a tidal

vave.

quickly shoved him away and bolted for the bathroom, dry heaving into the toilet.

n the mirror’s reflection, Jake was standing in the doorway, his jaw tight and eyes dark as storm clouds. “When was your last period?”

My breath caught, and I bent down to splash cold water on my face. “Just been having some stomach issues lately.”

lis rigid jaw softened slightly. “I’ll take you to get checked out after breakfast.”

nodded and headed downstairs to make something to eat.

y the time I came back up with two bowls of instant noodles, Jake was already dressed and heading for the door. Only left one sentence:

Something came up at base. Go to the doctor yourself. Call me if you need anything.”

nd just like that, he was gone.

ifter choking down breakfast, I walked to the drugstore and bought a pregnancy test.

Oh fuck. Two pink lines.

My face suddenly went white as a sheet.

ake didn’t come home until almost midnight.

The second he walked through the door, he pinned me against the wall and kissed me hard, no words, no explanation.

When he felt me tense up and try to pull away, his grip on my wrists tightened, his other hand locking around my waist like a vice.

snapped back to reality and shoved him off me with everything I had.

Chapter 2

“Jake, we need to break up!”

Caught off guard, he stumbled back a step. 11is eyes went pitch black, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.

Break up?”

te repeated the words with no emotion, but there was something terrifying in his voice as he stared me down.

What exactly do you think we are?”

blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

ake let out a cold laugh that didn’t reach his eyes. “JUST fuck buddies. If you’re bored, you can leave anytime,”

Ay whole body went rigid. So we weren’t even in a real relationship in his min!

Sage.”

ake bent down until we were eye–level, and every word that came out of his mouth felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

You were the one who came onto me in that tent. Nobody forced you.”

You didn’t actually think that would make me marry you, did you?”

le paused, but his voice turning ice–cold. “You’re so cheap. My family has standards–they’d never approve of someone like you.”

dug my nails into my palms, fighting back tears.

Don’t worry. I won’t make this messy. Just give me some time to pack my stuff and I’ll be gone.”

fter saying that, I quickly spun around before he could see me break down completely.

didn’t want him to see how weak I was, so I kept my head down and started throwing things into boxes.

Ve didn’t speak. The apartment was dead silent except for the sound of me packing.

ake watched my every move, but said nothing.

‘ntil I was wheeling my suitcase toward the door, he finally spoke:

Once you walk out that door today, don’t come crawling back like a dog.”

didn’t turn around. Just slammed the door behind me.

he second it closed, I heard something crash against the wall–probably his fist.

gripped the handle of my suitcase and walked away, tears blurring my vision.

his time, I wasn’t looking back.

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