Chapter 496

Hayden just stared at me, silent.

My heart was pounding like I was waiting for the verdict on some huge screw-up.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he moved. He took my hand and said, "Keira, let go."

And just like that, my heart dropped straight through the floor.

Humiliation flooded over me, hot and stinging. I'd swallowed every last bit of my pride to try to fix things, and still... nothing.

He'd made up his mind.

He loved me, but he wouldn't be with me.

That stubborn jerk.

Anger and frustration boiled over, and before I knew it, I sank my teeth into his shoulder. Hard.

He let out a grunt, but he didn't push me away—just stood there and let me do it.

And the more I bit, the angrier I got. Part of me wanted to snap him out of whatever trance he was in, to make him wake up, make him change his mind.

But even when my jaw started aching, he just stood there, stone-cold.

I'd tried sweet-talking, promises, and now I was biting him with every ounce of frustration I had lef