I Stopped Waiting and Started Loving novel Chapter 280

Bonnie instantly went on the defensive, taking a cautious half-step back. Staring at Quentin, all the disjointed puzzle pieces in her mind suddenly violently slammed together.

Quentin Vance... The Vances and the Yorks...

A cold dread flooded her chest. Was he really the estranged older brother Parrish always talked about?

She looked up at him, her voice wound terrifyingly tight. "Are you really his brother? Did you sign that marriage contract with me just because I'm Parrish's ex-girlfriend? Did you just use me to get back at him?"

Quentin's brow furrowed sharply as he caught the devastating flash of betrayal in her eyes.

That look made his chest seize with raw panic.

He immediately reached out, gripping her hands tight, his voice urgent. "No. Bonnie, I never used you."

Bonnie yanked her hands away, her tone freezing over. "Then why do you have ties to the York family?"

Without a second of hesitation, Quentin fired back, "If you hate it, I'll legally change my name tomorrow."

Bonnie blinked, completely thrown off. He sounded so intensely serious—not like a man desperately making excuses, but like a man who would genuinely march down to a courthouse the next morning if she gave the word.

A flicker of suspicion remained in her eyes. "So, are you really his older brother or not?"

Quentin stared at her. He desperately wanted to confess his true relationship with Parrish.

He didn't want to lie to her, but he also knew exactly how traumatized and paranoid Bonnie was right now. Her toxic history with Parrish had left her terrified of her own shadow.

If he told her the truth—that he shared Parrish's blood, that he used to be the heir to the York empire—she would absolutely believe that his entire pursuit of her was a calculated revenge plot.

She would think his affection was a lie, his protection was a lie, and that she was nothing more than a pawn to destroy Parrish.

And considering she barely had romantic feelings for him to begin with, dropping that bomb would obliterate whatever fragile trust they had built.

Quentin's eyes darkened heavily. After a long, agonizing pause, he slowly shook his head.

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