Page 165 of The Silver Fox Brother

"I'm not!" Rowan runs his hands through his hair.

"I'm just trying to explain. I fucked up. I know that. But we can fix this. We can go to therapy, we can talk, we can—"

"We can't do anything," I interrupt.

"Because I don't want to fix this. I don't want you back."

Rowan stares at me like I slapped him.

"You don't mean that."

"I do."

"Winter, please." He reaches for my hand and I pull away.

"I love you. I know you still love me. You wouldn't have stayed with me for two years if you didn't."

The words hit harder than I expect because there's truth in them. Ididlove him. For a long time, I thought he was everything I wanted. But that was before I knew what it felt like to be with someone who actually saw me.

"I did love you," I say quietly.

"But I don't anymore."

Rowan's jaw tightens. "Is this about Knox?"

I scoff and then laugh.

"God, do you actually hear yourself? This is notabout anyone else but YOU. This is aboutyoucheating on me for over a year."

"I ended it with Madeleine. It's over."

"Good for you. But we're still over."

Rowan steps back, his expression shifting from desperate to angry.

"How did Knox find out you were available? Did you go to him?"

"What?"

"Knox. How did he know we broke up? Or that you were even available?"

I don't answer because the truth is complicated and none of his business. Rowan's eyes narrow.

"You went to him? You're the one who approached him about the project?"

He sounds absolutely obsessed at this moment. I can see the rage behind his eyes.

"It doesn't matter how it happened. The point is—"

“—It matters to me!" Rowan shouts.

"He's doing this to hurt me. He hires my ex-girlfriend to work on his biggest project because he knows it'll piss me off."

"You're being paranoid."

"Am I?" Rowan demands.

"Knox has spent his entire life competing with me. Taking things from me. This is just another game to him."