Page 52 of Rejected By My Shifter Billionaire
Just five words again, and yet this time its impact was a thousand times worse.
Five goddamn words, but they created a sense of desperation inside him like they heralded the end of the world.
And for him, this was exactly like it.
Kassia was saying goodbye to him, and it was like having the truth slap him in the face.
He hadn’t walked out of her life because it was better for her.
He had walked out of her life because it was better forhim.The whole fucking time, he had blown hot and cold with her like an asshole. Over and over, he had made her fall for him only to push her away like a fucking coward, turning tail and running the moment things became too deep between them.
He...loved her, but he had blinded himself to his feelings, denying their existence in fear of turning into another Domenico.
And now...
It might just be too—-
Alessandro didn’t allow himself to finish the thought. It was not going to be too late. It wasnot.
“IT’S THE PROFESSORagain,” Jacob suddenly said under his breath. They were having lunch at one of the park’s on-siterestaurants, their easels propped next to their table, and their works-in-progress temporarily put on hold.
She wished she could think he was joking, but of course she couldn’t. A ripple of excitement had jolted the crowd, and around her, the other girls had once again started babbling about the professor. Over and over, she heard his name—-
Professor Moretti.
She wanted to cover her ears so she would no longer hear it.
It hurt too much.
Suddenly, he was there, the professor standing next to her table and Jacob’s. She forced herself to look up, and the pain at seeing his beautiful face was so tortuous it actually turned into numbness.
Kassia’s pale face and terrifyingly unreadable eyes made Alessandro stiffen in tension, but even so he fought to keep his voice level as he spoke. “Ms. Summers? I’m afraid I’ve received a call from your family. If I may speak with you privately?”
Kassia only nodded. “Yes, Professor.”
Her voice was so damn stiff, he was torn between wanting to shake her and kiss her into showing some sign – any sign – of life. But because all eyes were trained on them, and to those people he was only her professor and Kassia his student, Alessandro could only be stiff as he said, “Please follow me.”
He led her to a private office inside the park, something he had called ahead for to make sure it was available for his use. He held the door open, and Kassia wordlessly stepped inside. Hefollowed behind her, closing the door, and when he faced Kassia again, he found her still pale, her eyes blank, her body rigid.
“I’m sorry.”
The professor’s tone was almost...raw, and she panicked. Tearing her gaze off him, she desperately kept her eyes glued to the floor while telling herself that she had probably imagined it.
Alessandro fought to remain in control even as Kassia’s continued silence made him feel even more frantic inside. He would find a way to make her understand this was the last time he was going to hurt her. He had to.
When Alessandro started walking towards her, the urge to run away became stronger and her body started to tremble at the effort it took just to keep still.
“Kassia.”
She dug her fingers into her palms, using the pain to distract her from the bittersweet sound of his voice saying her name.
“Kassia, look at me, please.” When she remained unresponsive, he could no longer keep himself from reaching for her. He cupped her chin and forced her to look into his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Just like that, and tears started to prick her eyes. Why was she so darn helpless against this man?
“I’m sorry I made you wake up alone again.” His voice was hollow but determined. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to answer your calls again either. But I swear, Kassia, I had a reason—-”
