Chapter 105 Chapter 105

Chapter 105 Chapter 105
Courtney settled even more comfortably beside me on Ace’s bed, tucking her legs beneath herself like she planned to stay there for hours. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she kept staring at me. 

“So,” she said, shifting closer, “how long have you been dating Ace?” 

My heartbeat quickened, and I forced my face to remain calm, composed, and neutral. Before I could even think of a response, Ace—sitting cross-legged on the floor, controller in his hand—snapped his gaze upward so fast it made my breath catch. 

“Oh!” Courtney gasped and laughed nervously, waving her hands. “I didn’t mean that in a weird way. I mean—obviously you’re not dating him... I know that. I just meant… You know… how long we’ve been together.” She pointed to herself, then to Ace. “Me and him.” 

Right. She and him. 

“Sorry,” she said again, still smiling. “I phrased that terribly... but—like... I knew you were gonna ask me that, so I had to blurt it out first.” 

I swallowed and nodded, trying not to let my voice tremble. “It’s okay.” 

Courtney beamed. “Anyway! We’ve been dating for a few months now.” 

“A few… months?” I repeated quietly. 

“Yeah!” she said, grinning proudly. “Two months officially. But we were talking for a little bit before that. And honestly, if not for my stupid school being so far away, I would be with Ace every single day.” 

Ace visibly tensed. 

Michael grinned wickedly, sensing tension like a shark sensing blood. “Every day, huh?” 

Courtney nodded eagerly. “Of course! We’re inseparable when I’m home. But my school doesn’t allow students to go off campus, not even on weekends. It’s this very elite private all-girls boarding school overseas. It’s insanely expensive and super strict. We have classes six days a week, curfews, dress codes, everything.” 

She rolled her eyes dramatically. 

“But the environment is beautiful. And the opportunities are amazing. They expect perfection from everyone, both academically, socially, and behavior-wise. Honestly, it’s exhausting.” She giggled. “But worth it.” 

I forced a smile. “It sounds… impressive.” 

She nodded. “It is. But the worst part is being far away from Ace. I only come home for big breaks. And when I'm away, we text, but he hates texting.” 

Michael burst into laughter. “He does. He literally disappears mid-conversation.” 

Courtney elbowed him playfully. “Stop! He’s trying.” 

Ace groaned softly. “Courtney—” 

She turned back to me, voice lowering affectionately. “Anyway… It’s been amazing. I really, really like him.” 

“Yeah... I can see that.” 

The sting behind my eyes thickened. My throat closed because every word she spoke was a knife twisting deeper. Acid jealousy crept through me, uncontrollable, uninvited, overwhelming. 

Ace saw it. He was looking at me. 

His expression shifted, with his eyes softening, brows pulling together in worry. He opened his mouth slightly, as if to interrupt, but Courtney kept going. 

“And we’ve known each other for a while now,” she continued cheerfully. “Well—not together together, but we met through our parents when we were like... well, I was seventeen when we met, and Ace was eighteen then. So, reconnecting recently has been really special. Like fate, you know?” 

I clenched my fingers tightly in my lap to keep them from trembling. 

“Did you know that I was his first kiss and he was mine?” she chuckled. 

Ace finally cut in, his voice unusually sharp. “Courtney.” 

She blinked innocently. “Yeah?” 

He ran a hand through his hair, avoiding her gaze. “Maybe… let’s not talk about this right now.” 

Courtney frowned slightly. “Why not?” 

Ace shook his head. “Just… not right now.” 

She stared at him for a moment, confused, but then her face softened. “Oh. Sure, okay. Sorry.” 

Michael, watching the entire thing with amusement, leaned back on his elbows and nodded toward me instead. 

“So, Sabrina,” he said, smirking. “Are you jealous?” 

Ace didn’t hesitate, he threw his controller at Michael’s shoulder. Hard. 

Michael yelped. “Ow! What the hell?!” 

“Shut up,” Ace hissed. 

Courtney giggled, unaware of the depth beneath the moment. “Jealous? Sabrina? Of us? Why would she be jealous?” She waved her hand dismissively. “She has Scott. She’s married. She’s living the life.” 

Michael snorted.  

“Michael,” Ace warned. 

Courtney laughed again. “I mean—it’s obvious. She has Scott. What would she be jealous of?” 

The tears hit me before I could stop them. Just the quiet, traitorous overflow that blurred my vision and burned my throat. 

But fortunately, Courtney didn’t notice. Michael didn’t notice. 

Only Ace did. 

His eyes widened a fraction. His posture shifted, and his breath caught. 

“Sabrina—” he whispered. 

I stood abruptly, pretending I needed to stretch. “Excuse me for a moment.” 

Courtney smiled politely. “Sure! Want me to come with you?” 

“No,” I said quickly. “I’ll be right back.” 

I left the room so fast it felt like fleeing. The moment the door shut behind me, the tears broke loose. I wasn’t even halfway down the stairs before sobs started tearing out of me, uncontrollable, painful, and humiliating. 

“Sab—wait!” 

His voice. 

Ace. 

I didn’t stop. I didn’t want him to see me like this. 

But he was faster. 

Before I reached the last step, his hand closed around my wrist. Not harshly, not painfully—just firmly enough to stop me running from him. 

“Sabrina—stop.” 

I didn’t. 

I shook my wrist, desperate to pull free. 

“Ace—let go,” I cried, voice breaking. 

“No.” 

His voice cracked too. Breathless and clearly pained. 

He tugged me gently but insistently, pulling me away from the stairs, away from the risk of anyone hearing, into a quiet hallway where the lights were dim and the house felt silent. 

“Sabrina—look at me.” 

I shook my head violently. “Ace, I said let go!” 

He didn’t. Instead, he stepped closer. His grip softened but remained steady. “Please. Please don’t cry. Please.” 

My sobs only grew harsher. 

“Sabrina—please,” he begged, his own voice trembling. “I’m begging you. Don’t cry like this. Not because of me.” 

I ripped my wrist free with a sudden jerk. 

And the moment I did— 

I slapped him hard across his perfectly handsome face. 

The sound cracked through the hallway like a breaking branch. Ace’s head snapped to the side. 

He didn’t speak. He didn’t grab me again, and he didn’t move. 

For the longest moment, everything was silent except my breathing that was ragged, uneven, and shattered. 

Ace turned his face slowly back toward me. 

He didn’t look angry. He didn’t look hurt. He only looked guilty. 

Deeply, devastatingly guilty. 

“You’re right, Sabrina,” he whispered. “I deserve that.” 

His voice was soft. 

He took a shaky breath. “Hit me again if it helps. I won’t stop you.” 

I stared at him through my tears, trembling from head to toe. 

“Do it,” he said quietly. “If it makes you feel better. Hit me.” 

My arm lifted, my palm ready, my breath shaking— 

But I couldn’t. 

My hand hovered in the air, trembling violently, before I let it fall helplessly to my side. 

Ace’s jaw clenched. He swallowed hard, eyes shining with something he was trying desperately to hide. 

“Sabrina—” he whispered. “Please talk to me.” 

I shook my head, backing away from him. 

“I never want to speak to you again.”