Chapter 109 Chapter 109

Chapter 109 Chapter 109
I stayed frozen in the shadowed corner long after Courtney’s footsteps faded down the hallway and Scott’s voice chased after her. I didn’t move, didn’t think.  My body felt glued to the wall, as if the plaster itself refused to release me. 
My heart was still pounding in my ears when I heard slow, uneven footsteps. Ace’s. 
He was coming this way. 
I panicked and almost ran. The urge shot up my spine like electricity, but my legs didn’t move in time. 
Ace rounded the corner, shoulders tense, jaw tight, eyes unfocused with leftover anger and heartbreak. 
He almost walked past me. 
Almost. 
But then he stopped mid-step, turned his head slightly— 
And saw me. 
His eyes widened. “Sabrina?” 
I swallowed hard, unable to hide anymore. 
He stepped closer. “What are you doing here?” 
He sounded confused… and tired. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My throat felt locked shut. His stare drifted down my body, then back up to my face, staring at me as if trying to understand why I was rooted to the floor. 
“How long… have you been standing there?” he asked quietly. 
The question made my stomach twist. I looked away for a moment, gathering courage, then forced my eyes up to meet his.  
“A while.” 
Ace blinked. Once. Twice. The air changed. 
“A while,” he repeated slowly. “Meaning…?” 
“I heard,” I whispered. 
His brows tightened. “What exactly did you hear?” 
“Everything.” 
Ace exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. His whole body seemed to deflate, like he had been holding himself together until that moment. 
I felt compelled to explain. “I didn’t mean to—listen in on you two. Scott asked me to go find you. I was looking for you, and when I heard voices… I didn’t want to interrupt. And then I just… froze.” 
He nodded once, processing that. He didn’t look angry, only overwhelmed. 
“So you heard me break up with her,” he said. 
“Yes.” 
“And you heard the reason she thought I was doing it.” 
“Yes.” 
“And you heard her slap me.” 
I swallowed. “Yes.” 
“And you heard what I said to her.” 
I took a slow breath. “All of it.” 
Ace closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, he stepped closer. 
He spoke softly, but firmly. “Good.” 
That wasn’t what I expected. 
“Good?” I echoed. 
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “Because I want you to know why I did it.” 
My heart thudded painfully. “Ace—” 
“I broke up with Courtney because of you.” 
I stared at him, unable to blink, unable to breathe. Ace didn’t back down. He didn’t flinch. He held my gaze like he was anchoring himself to it. 
“I did it because of you, Sabrina,” he repeated. His voice was low, calm, and devastating. “Because I really don’t love her.” 
I felt my pulse in my throat. 
“And what you heard me say earlier?” he continued. “About how I didn’t love her the way she wanted me to? That was the truth. All of it.” 
I shook my head slightly, overwhelmed by too many emotions crashing into each other. The feelings of shock, relief, disbelief, and fear. 
“Ace, you can’t just say—” 
“I’m not saying it because I’m upset,” he cut in gently. “I’m not saying it to make you feel better. I’m saying it because it’s true.” 
“But—” 
“The way I feel about you,” Ace said, stepping even closer, “is not what I feel for Courtney. Not even close.” 
My breath stuttered. 
“Sabrina… I wanted you to know.” 
I opened my mouth, but words scrambled together, tangled and useless. “Ace… you can’t—” 
But before I could finish, before I could even think of what to say next— 
“Ace!” 
Scott’s voice boomed from the far end of the hallway, growing louder as he approached. Ace stiffened instantly. 
“Ace!” Scott called again. “What the hell is going on with you?” 
I whispered quickly, urgent and panicked, “You have bigger problems than me right now.” 
Ace clenched his jaw right as Scott rounded the corner. He had his phone in his hand, still unlocked on a call screen. He looked furious and confused, breathing heavily from hurrying back and forth. 
“Ace,” Scott snapped, “I just spoke to Courtney’s father. He’s sending a driver right now. She’s completely hysterical! What did you do?!” 
Ace swallowed but didn’t back away. “I broke up with her.” 
Scott’s face hardened. “Yes, I gathered that. What I’m asking you is why and how you did it to make her run through my house sobbing like someone had died!” 
Ace dragged a hand through his hair. “Because I didn’t love her, Dad!” 
Scott stared at him, stunned. “Then you should’ve told her that earlier! Not today, not in my house, not while she’s visiting!” 
Ace snapped, “I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell her! It wasn’t easy.” 
“So you just threw it at her like that?” Scott fired back. “You couldn’t wait? You couldn’t do it gently? Privately? With some sense?” 
“I did do it privately!” Ace shot back. “And gently? Dad, she wasn’t listening!” 
“You made her cry!” 
“She was always going to cry!” 
“Not like that!” 
“She slapped me!” 
Scott blinked. “She SLAPPED you?” 
“Yes!” 
Scott inhaled sharply, then pointed accusingly. “And that tells you how upset she was, Ace! You pushed her to that point!” 
“I didn’t do anything aggressive!” Ace insisted. “I only told her the truth!” 
“Well, your delivery clearly sucked!” 
“Dad—” 
“And you break up with her TODAY? While she’s here? While I’m hosting dinner? While she’s excited to see you?” 
“That wasn’t my plan!” 
“Well, clearly you didn’t have a plan at all!” Scott barked. 
Ace threw up his hands. “What do you want me to say? I didn’t want to be with her anymore!” 
Scott glared. “And you couldn’t wait one more day?” 
“Why delay something I knew I didn’t want?” Ace snapped. “It would've been worse tomorrow. Or next week. Or whenever.” 
“You still should’ve handled it better,” Scott argued. “This girl cares about you. She trusted you. You owe her respect.” 
“I gave her respect,” Ace said through clenched teeth. “I didn’t lie to her.” 
Scott scoffed. “Oh, right, because telling her in the middle of a visit that you don’t love her is respectful?” 
“At least it’s honest!” 
“It’s hurtful!” 
“It was always going to hurt! There’s no easy way to say you don’t feel anything for someone!” 
Scott looked like he was ready to explode. “And what am I supposed to tell her father when he asks why my son made his daughter run out crying like he broke her heart in half?!” 
“Tell him the truth,” Ace snapped. “That I don’t love her.” 
Scott threw his hands up. “That’s not how this works, Ace! Her father is my business associate. Her family is connected. This makes me look irresponsible!” 
“I’m not your reputation, Dad!” 
“And I’m not your punching bag, Ace!” 
“Then stop acting like I did something evil!” 
“You humiliated her!” 
“I didn’t yell at her. I didn’t insult her. I didn’t cheat on her. I told her the truth!” Ace said, voice rising. “I can’t pretend to love someone I don’t love!” 
Scott inhaled sharply, losing steam but still angry. “Then why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why didn’t you say you weren’t happy?” 
Ace’s voice went softer, not quieter, just softer. “Because I didn’t want us to get into an argument.” 
Scott froze. 
Ace continued, “I knew you liked her family. I knew you liked the match. I didn’t want to deal with you being upset at me for not liking her the way you expected me to.” 
Scott slowly lowered his hand. Something in his face shifted. Frustration turning into worn-out resignation. 
“Ace…” he sighed. “I just… I didn’t want this mess. Courtney is a good girl.” 
“I know,” Ace said. 
“And she didn’t deserve this.” 
“I know.” 
“And I didn’t expect you to love her right away, but I thought you might grow into it.” 
“I wasn’t going to.” 
Scott shook his head. “You’re too young to understand what stability means.” 
“No,” Ace said, voice firm again, “I understand perfectly. And I know enough to not waste her time.” 
The hallway went quiet. 
Scott stared at him, chest rising and falling, anger still lingering but softening with fatigue. 
Finally, Scott said, “You still handled it badly.” 
Ace didn’t argue. “Probably.” 
“You need to apologize to her father when he gets here,” Scott added. 
Ace stiffened. “Dad—” 
“That’s final,” Scott said. 
Ace closed his eyes briefly. “Fine.” 
Scott sighed heavily, massaging his temples. “I’m going to the front door. Her driver should be here any minute. Don’t say anything else to her. Just… stay out of the way.” 
Ace just nodded. 
Scott walked off down the hallway, still muttering under his breath. 
Once he was gone, Ace leaned back against the wall and exhaled, exhausted. I hadn’t moved from where I stood, though I had tried. My feet didn’t obey me. 
Ace looked at me again. 
His voice was rough, worn down, but steady as he asked, “So… where were we?” 
And my heart thudded all over again.