His fingers traced along her delicate jawline with deceptive tenderness, the caress carrying an unmistakable threat.

Ernest’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “So what you’re claiming is… that throughout our entire relationship, I was coercing you? That you never experienced even a moment of genuine desire to be with me?”

“Are you seriously clueless right now?” Elissa fixed her gaze on Ernest, determined not to shrink away from the turmoil on his face. She braced herself, refusing to back down. “Let’s not pretend. Every step between us, you made the calls. You were the one who pursued me. You made sure I felt wanted, you planned everything—down to us talking about getting married.”

A flood of frustration colored her words. “Tell me, which part of our relationship was ever up for discussion? Every time I tried to end things, you refused to let me go. I told you I wanted to break up more than once, but you never listened.”

He always found a way to keep her tethered, whether by using Locke as leverage or threatening her with Robin. There was no use in Ernest pretending otherwise.

As he stared back, his eyebrows drew together. He wouldn’t budge. He held Elissa’s icy stare, as if the pain in her eyes could wound him.

“Alright,” he conceded, each word sounding like an admission, “I didn’t give you much of a choice. Still, haven’t I cared for you all this time? Wasn’t I good to you? I remember you saying you loved me.”

“Could I have refused you and said anything else?” Elissa’s interruption was swift, every word cutting straight through his defense. “Did I even have a choice?”

The air thickened as Ernest faltered. For a moment, he struggled to speak. He looked away, face drained of color, mouth pressed shut, barely able to swallow as he searched for something to say.

“So you’re telling me I forced you into admitting that you love me. Are you saying you never actually cared about me?”

“Do I care about you?” Elissa lowered her gaze, her eyelids heavy, and spoke softly as though she truly needed to consider his question. “Honestly… I’m not even sure what I feel for you anymore.”

“Elissa?”

Ernest clung to that faint hope in her hesitation.

“But…” Elissa gazed at him, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I have loved before. My feelings for Robin were real. I would have turned my back on my mother, left everything behind for him. I was willing to sacrifice my career, marry him, and have a family with him.”

The color drained from Ernest’s face. He shouted, his voice trembling, “Elissa, enough!”

He already knew what she meant. Hearing it out loud was too much for him. Even so, Elissa seemed untouched by his anger. His words rolled off her as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Her smile never faded. She reached out, letting her palm rest on his cheek. Her touch was gentle, fingers tracing his jaw with surprising care.

Her tone remained gentle, but her confession carried undeniable weight. “Whatever I felt for you could never compare to what I once felt for him. Does that mean I love you? You—”

Suddenly, Elissa’s face twisted in pain. Ernest’s grip on her chin grew harsher, his fingers now pressing hard against her throat.

.

.

.