How to Train Your Ex-Billionaire novel Chapter 80

Yvan stood in the hallway for a long time, not leaving right away.

He replayed her actions in his mind—the sadness on her face, her resolute refusal.

A wave of pain and frustration washed over him.

He dragged his tired body downstairs, lit a cigarette, and stood in the shadows, staring up at her window.

The light was still on, a warm, orange glow filtering through the thin, pale blue curtains. It was soft and gentle, just like she was.

For so long, Yvan had thought of Winifred as soft and timid, but now, for the first time, he was seeing her stubbornness, her strength.

He stayed there until the light in her window went out. Then, he dropped the cigarette, crushed it with his foot, and walked away.

…

Tomorrow was New Year’s Day.

Karen was coming back tonight, and Winifred had planned to go straight to Hunter and Queena’s place after work.

But as she walked out of her clinic, she saw Yvan waiting for her.

After that night, Winifred had started avoiding him. She told her colleagues she was away for a training seminar, but she was actually staying at Stella’s apartment.

But the lie couldn’t last forever. Yvan had seen her schedule on the hospital’s website and had come to corner her at her office.

Winifred froze when she saw him.

Yvan walked toward her. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

Winifred pressed her lips together. “Let’s talk outside.”

She led the way out of the building, and Yvan followed. They stood on the sidewalk, facing each other.

“Yvan, you should understand what I mean by now,” Winifred said. “I told you, the past is the past. It’s impossible for us to be together.”

Yvan stared at her. “...You still haven’t given me a reason.”

“The reason is that I don’t have feelings for you anymore,” Winifred said, looking him straight in the eye. “Is that reason enough?”

“...I don’t believe you,” Yvan said. “You told me before that our problem wasn’t about love.”

She didn’t love him anymore. She had no feelings for him.

Her rejection was so absolute, so devoid of any hesitation.

Suddenly, an unbearable pain seized him.

He pulled out a cigarette, but his hands were shaking so much that he couldn’t get the lighter to work.

Frustrated, Yvan threw both the cigarette and the lighter to the ground. He wiped a hand across his face and it came away wet.

So much for men not crying. He was actually crying.

He didn't care who saw him. A six-foot-tall man, standing on a street corner, tilting his head back as tears streamed down his face…

Around the corner, hidden in the shadows, Winifred watched him.

She saw his shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Was he crying?

Silent tears rolled down her own cheeks as she thought to herself, “Yvan, we were never meant to be.”