From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 60

Chapter 8

After Victoria got out of the hospital, both families went all–out preparing for the wedding.

The ballroom was decked out in obscene Inxury, packed with guests clinking champagne glasses and schmoozing.

Since this marriage involved high–ranking military officials, it was getting major attention. Local news crews showed up to broadcast the whole thing live, and viewers were tuning in-

Just to witness this ridiculously over the top wedding of the century.

Victoria swept into the venue in her massive train, chin tilted up to show off her swan like neck, looking like she owned the world.

Then suddenly, the gentle wedding march cut off and was replaced by breathy, broken moaning sounds.

Victoria’s face went white as she realized what was happening.

She screamed and lunged for the screen cables, but it was too late.

Jake hadn’t left her any escape route.

On the giant screen, two naked bodies writhed together. The man’s face was pixelated, but hers was crystal clear for everyone to see.

The live chat exploded along with the crowd:

[Holy shit, did I just see what I think I saw? Did they really just broadcast THAT? Anyone get screenshots?]

[Am I the only one wondering if that’s the groom she’s with?]

[Dude above, look closer – that’s clearly some black guy. The groom just got cucked and this is his revenge. Gotta respect the pettiness.]

Victoria collapsed on the floor, her mascara running down her cheeks in black streaks. All her wedding glamour was gone.

Under the spotlights, she looked like a circus freak show with nowhere to hide.

She glared daggers at Jake, then gave up and faked passing out.

The whole place erupted in chaos.

Meanwhile, I watched the wedding livestream from overseas, snorted with laughter, and went back to organizing my mission files.

Few hours later, when I got back to my temporary apartment and pushed open the door, I walked straight into a dark figure with that familiar scent of gunpowder and smoke.

The second Jake’s lips crashed down on mine, I tasted tobacco and fury. I bit down hard on his lip, and when he flinched, I slapped him across the face as hard as I could.

Jake stared at me with those dark, intense eyes, his voice rough: “Okay, you got your hit in. Stop playing games and come home.”

I tried to walk around him, but he grabbed my wrist.

“Still pissed? Want to slap me again?”

I yanked my hand back: “Did you forget we broke up? Or do you think this is some kind of recycling center?”

“I haven’t forgotten. I owe you, and I’ll pay it back double-”

I laughed bitterly: “You think humiliating Victoria the same way you humiliated me is supposed to make me grateful?”

Jake’s expression grew serious, his eyes locked on mine: “I know I can’t undo what I did. But please, just give me a chance!”

Chapter 8

I’ll admit it–when we first got together, I had ulterior motives. But it wasn’t because of Victoria.”

What nobody knew what even he barely admitted to himself was that he’d never actually been in love with Victoria.

I was always Sage.

rom that summer night when he was eighteen, waking up from dreams about a girl with bright, intelligent eyes, his sheets soaked with evidence of his lesire–that’s when he knew he was smitten by Sage.

le’d always prided himself on his self–control, but he was too ashamed to admit he was having wet dreams about his cousin’s best friend.

You lied to me once too. Can’t we call it even?”

almost laughed out loud. “What exactly did I lie about?”

You were pregnant. Why didn’t you tell me?”

froze, remembering the pregnancy test I’d left on the bathroom counter. He must have seen it–that’s why he came looking for me.

ut I hadn’t actually been pregnant.

That test was a false positive. I got it rechecked–I wasn’t lying, and you don’t need to take responsibility for anything. We’re done.”

fter saying this, I quickly turned and walked away without looking back.

he next morning, I’d barely arrived at the mission checkpoint when my phone rang.

ommand was calling me back to Denver for some critical project wrap–up.

o I packed up my overseas files and caught the next flight back. When I got to headquarters, the tech team was setting up some new equipment.

saw a group of engineers surrounded a guy in a light tactical jacket as they walked into the building.

heir footsteps just stopped right in front of me.

S

looked up instinctively and found myself staring straight into warm, gentle eyes.

or a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

་

ly fingers curled unconsciously.

than Cross.

hree years ago, he’d come to the base as technical support for training exercises. When I’d had trouble with some equipment on the range, it was he who spent wo hours crouched in the dirt helping me fix it.

came to my senses, the sunlight had fallen across his focused profile, and then he’d suddenly looked up and smiled:

sage, you’ve been staring at me for a while now. Got a crush on me?”

hat seemed to be when the rumors started around base–that the tech guy had a thing for me.

long with that came the not–so–subtle comments from some colleagues, joking that I’d barely escaped from Jake before jumping to my next target.

t wasn’t exactly cruel, but during that sensitive time, it made me keep my distance from Ethan deliberately.