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I cut him off. “I’m sure.”
“Hopefully she feels better.” Mrs. Yakura smiles.
If the look on Iris’s face is a small inkling of the pain she feels, I doubt she will for a long time.
I made sure of that.
41
IRIS
Did I expect Declan to attack me like he did after I went out of my way to drop everything and help him when he asked? No, but damn did the surprise hurt almost as much as the things he said about me.
Your job description says you’re supposed to alleviate problems, not cause them.
My throat closes up. How dare he talk about me and my job description like that. I can’t believe I spent three years of my life fixing his problems whenever they arose, only for him to cut me down to nothing the moment I messed up.
If you evendidmess up.
Regardless if I did, Declan should have never spoken to me like that. He used my insecurities against me until I was left standing before him, feeling just as broken as ever before. I’ve been on the receiving end of his verbal lashings before but never like this. This one felt personal in a way I never want to experience again.
You can only get angry at yourself. You’re the one who let him in to begin with.
What was it that Declan used to always tell me?
Oh, right.
Learn to use your words as weapons because they can be stronger than any fist.
I feel like a fool for giving him the perfect ammunition to use against me. A tear slips free, and I swipe it away with the sleeve of my shirt.
Instead of wallowing in self-pity during the bus ride back to the hotel, I call the pilot and ask him to prepare the private jet for takeoff. I might be a failure, but I’m still a Kane, so Declan can fly commercial for all I care if he wants to get back to Chicago within the next day. I’m not staying in Dreamland for another hour after the way he spoke to me. The park feels too small for both of us right now, and I’d rather get the hell out of here. At least that way I can wrap my mind around everything he said without anyone trying to sabotage me, talk down to me, or make me cry. Knowing my husband, he might do all three if I stick around.
Running is what I’m good at. Staying and dealing with problems that hurt like a bitch on the other hand? Hard freaking pass.
Screw him and screw his stupid deal. I deserve more than him hurting me to save his own face, especially after all the sacrifices I made for him.
The bus drops us off at the hotel. I don’t know how long I have until Declan gets back to the room, so my panic forces me into action mode. If I’m lucky, Mr. Yakura will keep Declan and his father discussing contracts for hours. Maybe evendays.
Except the thought doesn’t make me happy like I would expect. Rather, it drives me to a fresh round of tears as I consider Declan choosing to secure the deal over coming after me. After everything he said, one would think he would want to fix things right away if they really mattered to him.
I’m so screwed up in the head about everything that I can’t even tell whether it’s selfish or not to wish for something like that.
I shake my sadness off and get to packing. The whole suitcase looks close to bulging but somehow my belongings stay put.
I throw my hotel key on the nightstand, write a quick note, and leave the room without looking back. Turns out my worries about Declan coming back to get me were misplaced since he never bothered to show up. Instead of feeling relieved, I’m hit with another wave of despair.
Of course he didn’t show up. Declan’s priorities will always align with the company no matter the cost. He has been trained since a young age to work like that, and I was willing to be second best because his love is worth it.
Was. His lovewasworth it. Not anymore though. I could live without feeling like he took my heart and shattered it into a million pieces.
You’re nothing but a distraction that I don’t have time for right now.
He did apologize right after.
Yeah, so did my father after saying the ugliest things to my mom. I learned from her mistakes and don’t plan on falling into the same trap.
You need to get out of here.
