How to Train Your Ex-Billionaire novel Chapter 164

“Winifred, that’s not it…” Yvan said weakly.

Winifred raised her hand emotionally to stop him. “Just let me finish. You said you didn’t date anyone for seven years after we broke up, that you were miserable. But my pain was no less than yours. To be honest, I was lying when I said I dated in college. I just wanted to keep you away. And Owen—you’re always suspicious about us. But there was never anything between us. The problem between us was never other people. Do you know? After we broke up, my heart closed itself off. I couldn’t accept anyone else, and I lost all hope for love. You ruined my life!”

The phrase “ruined my life” made Yvan stumble. He felt Winifred truly slipping away, and he wanted to grab hold of her but couldn't control himself.

“Winifred…” Yvan took a step forward, trying to reach for her, but he didn't dare touch her. “I was wrong before. I didn't know how to love someone. It was only after I lost you that I realized… I actually still love you. I know I don’t deserve to say I love you, but that’s how I feel right now. Give me another chance. Let’s start over, okay? This time, I’ll learn to love you properly, I promise…”

“Yvan, do you even understand what I’m saying?” Winifred cut him off, tears streaming down her face again. “I can’t get past it emotionally. Whenever I see you, I remember that child, and I remember my grandmother died because of us. Do you really think I could be happy with you?”

Yvan froze.

“Do you see that painting?” Winifred pointed to the picture on the wall. “Aren't you curious why I would hang such a gloomy painting? Because that's my dream, a dream I used to have all the time!”

“I always dreamed of that child. She would just stand there silently, looking at me, before slowly drifting away. Her eyes were so melancholic, so sad.”

Winifred sobbed, “I’d chase after her, desperately calling for her not to go, but I could never catch up. Yvan, during those months of my depression, I had that dream almost every single night. It became my nightmare. I couldn't escape it.”

Yvan’s body went cold. He wanted to comfort her, to hold her and tell her he was sorry, but he couldn’t move a single step or utter a single word.

Because he knew his apologies were powerless, that they meant nothing to Winifred.

Yvan’s heart seized with a pain so sharp it felt like a convulsion.

He didn't know how he got home. Yvan sat alone in his bedroom like a stone statue.

The curtains were drawn tightly, plunging the room into darkness, without a single ray of light.

Was this how Winifred felt back then? Trapped in such darkness, unable to see any light or hope.

…