The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 859

"I trusted Yvette," Gavin said. "She also mentioned that if Sherry really wanted to call it quits, she'd have already moved out. We weren't married but had been sharing a place. Yvette kept insisting that Sherry would cave if I pushed her to leave."

Steven grew quieter with each passing word. He couldn't shake the sense that Gavin was even more lost now than he'd been in the past. But Gavin was already a mess, so he couldn't bring himself to twist the knife.

"You didn't actually go along with Yvette's advice, did you?" Steven asked.

Tears streamed down Gavin's face. "I did. But Sherry packed up and left before I could even say a word. That day, I came home so sure she'd take me back if I just said the right thing.

"But when I walked in, I saw that our photos were gone from the walls. The dinner she always had ready wasn't there.

"Every trace of her was gone. I searched everywhere, but there was nothing left. She'd taken it all."

He wiped his tears away and continued, "I never realized how much she meant to me. I kept telling myself I'd be fine if she left. But that first night without her? I couldn't sleep.

"I couldn't stop thinking about her. In the end, I broke down. I couldn't stand being without her, so I decided to reach out to her."

Gavin's voice cracked then, crumbling so violently he couldn't get another word out.

Steven knew this pain. He'd lived it himself. He gently patted Gavin's shoulder.

Gavin let the storm inside him break free since no one else was in the room besides Steven. A raw, guttural sob ripped out of him.

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