Page 125 of The Bittersweet Bond

"Yes, Bas, that’s exactly what I think!" She took a step toward him, her hands curling into fists. "Because for you, everything is a goddamn game. Cat. Me. Probably a few others I don’t even know about."

"That’s not fair," he countered, his voice quieter now, but firm, unwavering. "You have no idea what’s going on inside me."

"No idea?" She let out a sharp, humorless laugh, the words burning on her tongue, but she spat them out anyway. "What exactly am I supposed to know, Bas? That you used me the same way you used her? That I’m nothing more than another pretty face in your collection?"

He stepped closer, the tension in his face hardening. "Stop saying that. You know that’s not true."

"No, Bas. I don’t know anything anymore." Her voice cracked, but she recovered quickly, standing taller, forcing herself to meet his gaze without wavering. "Do you have any idea what it feels like to lie awake at night, wondering if you even matter? If you’re just there because he’s bored?"

Her hands were shaking now, and she crossed her arms over her chest, holding onto herself as if that would keep her from falling apart, as if that would stop the anger that was no longer just simmering beneath the surface, but breaking free.

He wanted to interrupt her, but she didn’t let him.

"And then I see you. With her. On the phone. With that look, Bas! Like I wasn’t even there. How many girls like me have there been? How many thought they were different?"

He looked at her, his eyes narrowing, and for the first time, he actually looked hurt.

“First of all—none of them were anything. Hook-ups, that’s it. If they thought it meant more, that’s on them, not me.” His voice dropped lower.

"But you, Evin?" His voice was quiet, dangerous. "Are you going to tell me that Ben and Sergej meant nothing? That they were just… what were they? Distraction? Revenge?"

She flinched, but her anger left her no choice.

"Ben was always just a friend. And Sergej…" She stopped, her voice faltering for a moment, but she clenched her jaw and forced herself to continue. "Sergej was a mistake. But at least I am honest enough to admit it."

"Honest?" He took a step closer, so close now that she couldfeel his breath. "Do you have any idea what it felt like to watch you like that? To see him near you, to know you chose him, Evin? Him. Not me."

She took a step back, but her shoulders remained tense, her posture defensive.

"That wasn’t my choice! You were never really there, Bas. Not completely. Always halfway in, always with one foot somewhere else."

"I was never there?" His voice rose, his gaze locking onto hers with burning intensity. "Evin, I wanted you. I sent you a voice message. You heard it—and you never answered. What else did you need to hear?"

The words hit her like a punch. She blinked, staring at him, and suddenly, there was no more anger in her eyes. Just pure, unfiltered shock.

"The message…" she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

Her chest tightened, her breath caught, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to stand still.

She remembered it now. Clearly.

He took a step back, shaking his head, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Yeah, the fucking message!"

Bas stepped forward again, his eyes burning with frustration and something deeper—something raw.

"I told you everything in that message, Evin! Everything I couldn’t say when I was standing in front of you. And you… you just stayed silent. Nothing."

Evin felt the panic tighten around her ribs, her breath coming faster, and the freezing night air did nothing to cool the heat rising in her cheeks.

"I…" She shook her head, but the words refused to come.

"What else did you need to hear?" His voice was sharper now, his frustration spilling over. "I apologized. I told you what I felt, and you ignored me. You didn’t even give me a chance!"

"You don’t understand!" she burst out, her eyes shining with unshed tears she refused to let fall.

"I didn’t finish listening to it!"

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