Page 60 of Ruthless Sinner

I know damn well why I did what I did.

It was everything I told her. I didn’t go further because I knew I’d want more.

Once wouldn’t have been enough. Look at me suffering now from the mere ten minutes we had.

I think of her with this Matthew person. Him with his hands on her doing everything I never got to do.

Each image I think of sends shards of rage cutting through my insides like shrapnel.

Fuck me. I shouldn’t have looked at her phone.

There are so many fucking things I shouldn’t have done when it comes to this girl, but I did them anyway.

Again, I'm prompted to leave her alone. Let her be with him. Matthew is who Jason wants to see his daughter with. Not someone like me.

I don't want his approval or anything from him besides his death. But he just so happens to have control over the one thing I mustn't have—her.

This has to stop now, but I'll see her one last time.

One last time to wrap this up. Then be done with it.

* * *

Serenity and Matthew reach the Marriott Hotel at nine, where they're seated in the Grand Hall.

I’m standing on the balcony, blending into the shadows so no one can see me. There, I watch them.

I watchher. Her reactions to him, how she looks at him, how she communicates.

He looks like a prick and exactly the sort of pompous ass I’d expect Jason to choose. I did some reading before I got here. Matthew Bouchard is a playboy, but he comes from a legal family who will be useful to Jason.

From what I can see, there doesn’t appear to be any attraction between him and Serenity, but maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see. I don’t know.

I continue to observe and seethe in jealousy. No point denying it because I want her for myself.

Moments later, the entity of attraction that has existed between us must notify her again that I'm here because she looks up and stares right at me.

The shadows have hidden me well, but if you’re looking properly, you can see someone standing here.

While Matthew chats on, she looks at me, her eyes narrowed at first as she tries to figure out if what she’s seeing is real.

Because this is goodbye, I help her out and step further into the light.

We’re far away from each other, but I can tell she’s gone pale, and I’ve studied her face well enough to know her eyes are sad.

This is it. The final moment. We must never see each other again.

Her father is my enemy, which makes her the same.

She loves her father. Even if she knew what kind of man he was, she would still love him, and it would be understandable because he's her father. Jason loves her, too. There is no question about that.

So, here is where we part.

Sorry, Printcessa, this is goodbye.

Tearing my eyes away from her, I turn and walk away.

But I already know no matter what I do, I won’t forget her.