I Crossed the World for Him, But He Chose Her Chapter 06
Life in France moved slower than I’d expected.
Work kept me busy, but my free time was entirely my own. On holidays I traveled across Europe, making friends from all kinds of backgrounds, warm and generous people who also helped me sharpen my French.
One evening, a girl named Diana winked at me. “Want to learn French fast? Get a French boyfriend.”
The guy sitting across the table grinned. “I volunteer, Jo.”
Laughter erupted around the table. I played along. “I’ll think about it.”
But peace never lasts long in this world.
That night, when I got home, I found Dante curled up outside my door. As I approached, he struggled to stand, his legs stiff from the cold.
“You’re back.”
He reached for my bag, a gesture he’d never made before. I didn’t stop him. I unlocked the door. He followed me inside.
I faced him. “Didn’t I tell you not to come?”
Dante stared at the floor, fists clenched. Weeks of courage crumbled in an instant. His eyes went red.
—
“I’m sorry.”
A dull ache pulsed at my temples. “How did you find me?”
He swallowed. “Your work email. I remembered the password.”
I froze. Of course. He’d helped me manage my schedule once.
I took off my coat. “What about your work?”
He stiffened. “You’re more important.”
In three years, he had never once put me above the family.
I drank a glass of water and noticed something clutched tight in his hand. A small jar of ointment.
“What’s that?”
“Ointment,” he said hoarsely. “For frostbite. From back home. I… I brought it.”
“It’s already healed.”
He flinched, looking down at his hands. “The egg why didn’t you eat it?”
I don’t eat runny yolks.
“It wasn’t runny,” he murmured. “I cooked it firm. Just for you. But you threw it away without even trying it.”
Tears welled in his eyes. He fought them back. “I do love you, Jo.”
—
I managed a thin smile. “Maybe. But that little bit of love isn’t worth my trouble.”
He grabbed my wrist, voice urgent. “I admit it. Things with Mia crossed a line. But I swear, nothing physical ever happened. I was careless. I thought you wouldn’t care. If you’d told me sooner…”
Even now, he was blaming me. Pinning his choices on my silence.
He pulled out his phone, dialed my new number, and held it up. “I changed the ringtone.”
So he remembered that.
“I’m sorry,” he choked out. “I was acting like a child. I didn’t think the music bothered you. I just… hated feeling like I had to obey your every request. It made me feel weak.”
“Jo I’ve always felt like I wasn’t good enough for you. You’re flawless, in control of everything. I wanted to see you lose control. I wanted to see if you’d fight for me.”
“Everything I did was just proof of my own inadequacy.”
He gripped my hand and broke down sobbing. “Can you forgive me? I’ll wait this time. I’ll make it right.”
I looked down at our clasped hands. Fragile. Desperate. I sighed and gently pulled free.
“Dante, it’s over.”