He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 776

She could barely stand, her entire body trembling violently.

She raised her hand again and delivered a second, merciless slap to the other side of his face.

He didn't dodge. He took the full brunt of the blow.

His expression instantly hardened into cold, flinty steel. "I explained everything to you, and you still hit me?"

The fury he had been keeping at bay finally ignited. "So you can forgive anyone else's mistakes, but when it comes to me, you refuse to offer even a shred of grace. Is that it?"

"Never. I will never forgive you as long as I live."

"Get out. Get out of my sight and don't ever appear in front of me again."

Her body went into full shock. Her stomach convulsed violently as an intense, agonizing wave of physiological disgust hit her, making her desperately need to vomit.

She bolted into the bathroom, collapsing over the toilet, and wretched until there was nothing left.

"That's enough, Yardley."

"Get out. Stop pushing her. Can't you see she can't breathe?"

Julian rubbed his throbbing temples, forced himself up, and yanked the front door open.

In the hallway, Veronica had her ear plastered against the wood, straining to hear the juicy details.

She had caught muffled sounds of an argument, but the soundproofing of the luxury hotel was too good; she couldn't make out a single word.

When the door flew open without warning.

Veronica lost her balance and tumbled hard onto the carpet.

She scrambled up, frantically smoothing down her skirt, only to look up and see Yardley marching out with a face like thunder.

Distinct, bright red handprints marred both of his cheeks.

Her eyes went wide, her blood pressure spiking. "What happened to your face?!"

"I'm so sorry..."

It wasn't his fault, but in that moment, he felt like the worst criminal on earth.

He had only wanted to play a trick on Yardley, to expose his hypocrisy. He hadn't meant to rip open a festering wound, to brutally remind her that all her suffering had been for absolutely nothing.

From the very beginning, it had been a calculated trap.

But she had been so naive, believing it was love, believing it was fate. She had poured her entire heart and soul into that marriage, only waking up when she had been bled completely dry.

How much must she be hurting right now?

The thought made him pull her tighter.

He wished he could sprout wings, wrap her battered soul in downy feathers, and use every ounce of his warmth to melt the ice that had encased her heart.

But he couldn't do anything. He could only hold her, his own heart aching in ways he couldn't even articulate.