Her Heart, Her Undoing Novel

Chapter 17 1/2 Chapter 17 Jace's bombshell hit like a master key, forcing open the gate Jullan had kept locked tight with denial and pride. Everything that had been gnawing at him for months came flooding back-those sleepless nights, the way his focus slipped, the reflex to compare, the guilty thrill whenever face failed, and the stab of panic when Avery left. He'd told himself that he was just losing control or struggling to adjust, but it wasn't that at all. It was jealousy because he cared. It was the beat of a heart that had already fallen. Maybe he'd fallen for Avery long ago.

Maybe it happened while he was "playing" the boyfriend and she was quietly taking care of him. Maybe it was in the way she endured the pain, yet still looked at him without blame. Or maybe it went all the way back to that afternoon by the courts, when she looked up and met his eyes. His pride had kept him blind, and so had the habit he'd mistaken for love-those years of duty and obsession with Tessa. He had ignored his real feelings, and worse, he'd trampled on them. He'd treated Avery like a stepstool, driving her to the edge and even pushing her to Jace's bed.

A sharp pain speared through his chest, and he doubled over, struggling to breathe. Only now did he understand, but it was too late, and the cost was too high. Julian didn't sleep that night. When dawn broke through the windows, the light fell across his face, set in grim resolve. Neither the bloodshot eyes nor the weariness made him falter. He wasn't going to lie to himself anymore, and he wasn't going to hesitate. He had to clean up the mess he'd made, and then he had to win Avery back. He called Tessa. His voice was calm and distant in a way it had never been before.

"Tessa, meet We need to talk." They chose a quiet café. Tessa showed up, still sulking, from the fight the night before. "Julian, you went too far! You owe me a-" "Let's break up," Julian said, cutting cleanly through her complaint. His voice was calm but firm, leaving no room to argue. Tessa blinked at him, like she hadn't heard right. "What? Julian, are you kidding?" "I'm serious," he said, meeting her eyes without any hesitation. "We're not a match. This is it. Chapter 17 The color drained from her face, shock giving way to panic and then fury.

She grabbed his hand, her voice rising sharply. "Why? Just because of something so trivial last night? You're unbelievable! How can you treat me like that? I'm not breaking up! I refuse!" She broke into tears, pleading at first, before snapping into threats. "If you walk out on me, I'll jump! I swear I will! You'll live with it forever!" If it had been before, Julian would have softened and given in. But now, when he looked at the face he'd once been obsessed with, all he felt was exhaustion and disgust.

Julian pulled his hand free, rose to his feet, and looked down at her with a chill that cut the air between them. "Don't make this uglier than it already is, Tessa. Let's end it cleanly." He didn't glance back at her twisted face. He turned and walked out without a single pause. 22 2/2