I Refused To Be His Second Best Chapter 10

I Refused To Be His Second Best Chapter 10

At the restaurant entrance, I was about to leave with Ronan when Stellan grabbed my arm.

His eyes were stubborn.

“Let’s talk alone. Don’t make me do something I’ll regret.”

He glanced meaningfully at Ronan.

My stomach tightened.

I knew he meant it-he’d grown up with a silver spoon and a temper to match.

He could erase my exchange spot with one word.

He could make Ronan’s life difficult just as easily.

I nodded and told Ronan to take Faye back to school.

I sat in Stellan’s car.

The window was half down, night air cooling the stuffy cabin.

His voice cut through, sharp with sarcasm.

“I just heard you got the public-funded spot after all.”

“He gave it up for you. You touched?”

“Whether I’m touched or not-do I need to report that to my ex?”

He took a breath, like he was holding back.

“When you and Faye go abroad, I’ll find you a place.”

“Driver, housekeeper-all set.”

“Whatever you want, just say it. I’ll take care of it.”

“I was wrong about your birthday. I’ll make it up to you.”

I finally turned to look at him.

The dim light couldn’t hide the sharp lines of his face.

I used to love him so much-one soft word from him and I’d let everything go.

But this time, I didn’t look back.

“Stellan, we’re not fighting. I’m really breaking up with you.”

He looked at me like I was a child throwing a tantrum.

He probably thought he’d already apologized enough.

I was the one being unreasonable.

His patience ran out.

“Fine. Don’t come crying later.”

After that, he didn’t reach out again.

He was too proud to beg.

I buried myself in paperwork-applications, interviews, visas, medical checks.

Busy enough to keep my mind off things.

Three months later, the plane touched down in a foreign country.

Faye and I had the same major, the same university.

We saw each other almost every day.

But after that night, we never spoke again.

Even when we passed each other on campus, she looked through me like I was a stranger.

I knew it was because of Ronan.

But I didn’t care anymore.

Ronan had gone to a different school, about forty minutes away.

At first we texted.

Then he started coming over on weekends-grocery shopping, cooking, watching movies.

We didn’t rush into calling it anything.

We just let each other into our lives.

One winter night, he walked me to my dorm.

Without a word, his hand found mine-palm slightly damp.

I smiled and held it back.

A month into our relationship, Ronan posted a simple photo on Instagram.

Just my silhouette.

It didn’t take long for the comments to flood in.

And for Stellan to notice.