The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 828

"I—" they both began at the same time.

"You go ahead," Citrine murmured, lowering her gaze. Her fists tightened at her sides.

Sebastian gave a bitter smile. "No, you."

A heavy silence hung between them.

Finally, Citrine steeled herself and asked the question she dreaded most. "Are... are you here to break up with me?"

His heart sank, and a flicker of pain crossed his eyes, but he said nothing.

When he didn't answer, a wave of awkwardness washed over her.

"What about you?" she asked quietly. "What were you going to say?"

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but suddenly they felt impossible to say. He had been up all night as well, and the first thing he noticed were the faint dark circles under her eyes. Before he could stop himself, his concern took over. "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

He stared at her porcelain face, the tenderness in his eyes impossible to hide.

Citrine was taken aback. She never expected that to be his first question. She sniffled, then nodded emphatically. He was still worried about her, even now. The thought made the bitter ache in her chest even worse.

Her lips quivered, and her eyes welled up. "Sebastian, I'm so sorry. I lied to you," she whispered, her voice cracking with a sob. "But I love you. Can we please not break up?"

It was the first time in her life she had ever humbled herself to keep a man by her side. In that moment of utter vulnerability, she understood with perfect clarity just how much she loved him.

As the words left her mouth, she quickly looked down, unable to meet his sincere gaze, terrified he would see the fear in her eyes.

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