The Chains That Bind
Jasmine sat in her car outside the café Luke had chosen, gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white.
She had no idea why she was here.
Correction—she knew exactly why.
Because even after everything, part of her still wanted answers.
Still wanted to understand why.
Why he had betrayed her.
Why he had chosen Belle.
Why, after a year of silence, he was suddenly back.
Her stomach churned as she exhaled sharply.
You don't owe him anything.
And yet, her feet still carried her inside.
---
A Familiar Face, A Different Man
Luke was already there, sitting at a corner booth.
The moment he saw her, he stood, his expression unreadable.
"Jasmine."
She ignored the strange rush of emotions his voice triggered and slid into the seat across from him.
"Talk."
He winced. "No small talk?"
She arched a brow. "We're past that, don't you think?"
A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Yeah. I guess we are."
She waited.
Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know I don't deserve to ask this, but… how have you been?"
Jasmine let out a hollow laugh. "You really want to know?"
His gaze flickered with something—guilt? Regret?
Maybe both.
"I do."
She leaned forward, voice cold.
"Well, Luke, let's see. I spent months crying over you. I spent a year wondering why I wasn't enough. And I spent way too much time reminding myself that you owe me your life."
His jaw tightened. "Jasmine—"
"Let me finish."
She exhaled sharply. "I watched you build a new life with Belle while I was stuck picking up the pieces of the one you shattered. And now you want to sit here and ask how I've been?"
Her lips curled into a bitter smile.
"I've been great."
Luke's eyes darkened. "I never wanted to hurt you."
She scoffed. "But you did. Over and over again."
He looked away. "I know."
For a brief second, silence stretched between them.
Then, he sighed.
"Jasmine… I need to tell you something."
---
The Truth He Should Have Said Sooner
Jasmine folded her arms. "Then tell me."
Luke hesitated before looking her straight in the eye.
"I wasn't happy."
She went still.
He exhaled. "Not with you, not with Belle. Not with any of it."
She stiffened. "You're saying that now?"
"I didn't realize it at the time."
She let out a harsh laugh. "Oh, so sleeping beside another woman helped you figure it out?"
He flinched. "I'm not trying to justify anything. I just… I need you to understand."
Jasmine shook her head.
"No, Luke. You need to understand something."
She leaned in, voice low.
"I gave you my kidney. My literal flesh. And you threw me away like I was disposable."
His expression twisted. "That's not—"
"Yes, it is."
Her hands clenched into fists.
"I loved you. And you made me feel like I was nothing."
His throat bobbed. "Jasmine…"
She forced herself to breathe.
Don't cry. Don't break.
"I don't know what you're looking for, Luke. Forgiveness? Closure?" She laughed humorlessly. "Because I don't have that for you."
Luke's gaze was intense. "I just wanted to see you."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Well, now you have."
And with that, she stood up.
She had wasted enough time on him.
---
An Unexpected Encounter
Jasmine stepped out of the café, heart pounding, hands shaking.
That was… a lot.
Too much.
She needed air.
She needed a distraction.
And then—
"Rough night?"
She stiffened.
That voice.
That infuriatingly smooth, too observant voice.
She turned, already knowing who she'd see.
Asher Donovan.
Leaning against a black luxury car, arms crossed, watching her with that amused glint in his eyes.
Jasmine exhaled sharply.
"You following me now?"
He smirked. "No. Just lucky timing."
She scowled. "If this is luck, I want a refund."
Asher chuckled. "You always this hostile?"
"Only when men annoy me."
His lips twitched. "Noted."
She rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Asher?"
He tilted his head. "The real question is, what do you want?"
Jasmine frowned. "What?"
"You look like you could use a drink."
Her shoulders tensed.
He wasn't wrong.
But accepting would mean… something.
She just wasn't sure what.
Still—
She was tired of thinking about Luke.
Tired of feeling this way.
And Asher?
He wasn't a bad distraction.
So she sighed.
"Fine. One drink."
Asher's smirk deepened. "That's what they all say."
Jasmine shot him a glare. "I'll fight you."
He chuckled, opening the car door. "Looking forward to it."
And as she slid into the passenger seat, for the first time in a long time,
Jasmine felt something dangerously close to free.
---