His Cold Heart, My Burning Love

ke's cold eyes, his dismissive tone, Chloe's triumphant smile. Each memory was a fresh wave of pain. I curled up on the

tiny shared apartment, surrounded by moving boxes. I remember the excitement bubbling

trying to soothe the wounded look on his face. "We

"Ava, don't you get it? You'r

voice rising. "I'm choosing my dream! I

my passion for art was a part of me, not a choice over him. Looking back now, I saw the foolishness of my youthful optimi

, our mutual friend from college. The only person who knew the whole story, the only

t saw the broadcast," his

d, my voice thick

you. He's... he's not himself. He's still hurt, Ava. That whole

m," I choked out. "He looked at m

hear him shaking his head. "But he still care

arkness. Maybe Liam was right. Maybe beneath that cold

of the hotel floor reserved for the contestants. As I turned a corner, I saw him. Jake was s

took a deep breath a

I said

tood there, his back rigid. It w

ll opened and Chloe emerged, wrapped in a silk robe. S

d, her voice a low purr.

oked down at her. He said something I couldn't hear, and she laughed. Then, he put his arm around her shoulders and guided her back toward her room, the on

e dissolved into a bitter, heavy lump in my stomach. I had no right to be here, no righ

sent over the years. Birthday wishes, congratulations on his company's success, simple "how are you's." None of them had a "read" receipt. None

?

-sided conversation, a pathetic symbo