His Heart Was Never Mine to Keep

Fortunately, a kind nurse was passing by. Seeing I was about to collapse, she rushed me into the emergency room.

The doctor treated my injuries immediately. The process of setting my ankle was excruciating. I bit down hard on my lower lip, refusing to make a sound.

Noticing my pale face, the nurse gently suggested, "Miss Prescott, you'll have a hard time getting around on that ankle. Why don't you call your family or your boyfriend to come get you?"

I shook my head.

"I'm alone."

"Aveline, what are you doing here?"

After my treatment, I found Yates waiting. He looked at me in surprise, his gaze flickering guiltily to my heavily bandaged ankle before darting away.

"I'm sorry, I was in a hurry just now. She's settled now. Let me stay with you!"

He crouched in front of me, gently cradling my injured ankle.

I shook my head.

"Don't bother. Go take care of your priority."

Yates was about to say something else when Cora Vaughn appeared in the doorway of the treatment room.

"Yates, what are you doing here?"

Yates immediately shot to his feet, moving to her side and speaking in a gentle voice.

"Cora, why did you come here by yourself?"

Cora gazed up at him, her expression a mask of vulnerability.

"I didn't see you, so I got scared. Oh, is this your friend?"

I looked up at Yates, waiting.

He severed the ties between us without a moment's hesitation.

"No, she's my friend Emmett's sister. You've met her."

I felt something inside my chest splinter into a million pieces.

He had cast aside our three years together without a second thought, all to protect this secret from his childhood sweetheart.

Yates didn't dare to meet my eyes, but his gaze darted nervously toward me as if I might detonate. He took Cora's hand, intending to leave.

"Cora, you've just calmed down. I'll take you home."

A bitter taste filled my mouth, but I forced my voice to be steady.

"Yes, I'm Aveline Prescott. My brother Emmett and Yates's brother, Ronan, are best friends."

Cora's smile grew brighter, and she gave Yates a coquettish look.

"Yates worries about me too much. I just got back from Europe and don't have many friends here. Aveline, if you don't mind, you could come to my welcome party."

As I was about to refuse, Cora tugged on Yates's arm, whining.

"Yates, I want Aveline to come!"

"Okay, she'll come."

Without asking for my opinion, Yates made the decision for me.

I looked at them, a hollow smile on my face.

To satisfy the girl he loved, he had already forgotten my injured ankle.

"I don't think I'll go."

Cora pouted.

"Yates, does Aveline hate me?"

Yates frowned, then turned and pulled me roughly to my feet.

"Aveline, don't be a spoilsport."

I choked, the words dying in my throat.