Page 47 of BounBound By Scars

“Yes! Rejection.Yourrejection, Kabir!”

“Six years!” He roared and then bowed his head, continuing in a low whisper. “Six fucking years. I was fine. I was fuckingfine!”

His face crumpled in suppressed anguish.

“Then, you kissed me. I was shocked. And yet, here we are.”

I shook my head, stepping toward him. “Kabir, I—”

“You think I’ll take being someone’s fucking placeholder now? Being your option?” He laughed bitterly, eyes glistening with angry tears. He shook his head. “I’m in love with you, Amelia Desmond. And I have kept this inside for years. Iburiedit.”

His chest rose and fell heavily.

“But,sweetheart,” he spat the endearment, making me flinch. “You dug that grave out when your lips met mine.”

He took another step closer, until I could feel his breath against my face.

“You want to date Sebastian?”

I wanted to shake my head—tell him the truth—but his hand shot out, gripping my jaw. He wasn’t rough, but his grip was tight enough to jerk my head up.

“You think you need to make a choice?”

I swallowed, hard.

“You think youhavea choice?”

I couldn’t breathe when he let out a menacing chuckle.

“I am your only fucking option, Lia.”

And just like that, he let go, stepping back like I was the one who burned.

He picked up the breakfast tray without another word, without another glance, and walked out of the room—leaving me drowning in everything I hadn’t said.

TWELVE

Amelia

I had to fix this. I needed to fix this because I had made a horrible—horrible—mistake in the heat of the moment and now I had to undo it.

I was sure of two things, though. Sebastian was mature enough to listen and back off. And also that he probably—most definitely—had feelings for that Grayson woman.

We had already broken things off—not that Kabir knew. Or thatthingshadn’t even properly started. But Sebastian’s blatant flirting needed to stop.

This should be easy.

Just as I was about to cross over the bridge to Blackthorn building, I felt a silent presence behind me.

The slightly labored footsteps were the only indication and I knew exactly who it was. I stopped immediately and spun around.

Any clever remark, or frustration I had in that moment died when I saw those gray eyes—similar to mine—boring into me. They were almost accusatory.

“What?” I snapped.

Dylan slowly closed the distance, tilting his head slightly.

“Walk with me.”