Page 226 of The Bittersweet Bond

For a second, panic clawed at her chest.

But she pushed it down.

Bas swallowed.They were almost there. The familiar silhouettes of the houses passed by, the deep blue of the ocean glowing faintly on the horizon.

He pulled into the driveway.

Turned off the engine.

And suddenly, everything was too quiet.

No more hum of the tires against the pavement. No more background noise to fill the space between them.

Just them. And whatever was about to happen.

He twisted the key in the ignition, let it rest in his palm for a moment before turning to face her. His eyes met hers—heavy, inescapable.

“This thing with London... it’s perfect for you.”

His voice was calm. Too calm.

Evin frowned. “So? What are you trying to say?”

He blinked once. The streetlamp outside cast a soft glow over his face, but she couldn’t read what was behind it.

Then, without looking away: “Maybe it’s better if we…”

She felt it before she heard it.

Like the air had been knocked from her lungs.

Like everything inside her clenched into itself, her stomach twisting as if she had been punched.

He didn’t have to finish the sentence.

“You’re doing it again.”

Her own voice sounded foreign to her ears.

Bas’ expression shifted. Surprise. Confusion. “What?”

“You’re making the decision for me. Telling me what’s best.”

Anger surged through her veins, hot and fast, before she could stop it.

It wasn’t even the fact that he wanted to end things.

It was the fact that he thought he had the right to.

“Evin, come on. That’s not what I meant—”

“No, Bas. Don’t tell me what to do. Don’t tell me what’s best for me!”

He exhaled, jaw tightening as if he was struggling with himself. “I just want you to be happy.”

A short, bitter laugh escaped her. “Oh yeah? And how exactly does this make me happy?”

“It’s easier this way.”

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