A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 760

"Declan, have you ever stopped to think? Since the day Chloe met you, has she ever once wronged you? Ever?"

Keaton's interrogation pounded into Declan's heart, forcing it into a frenzied contraction, yet he found himself utterly speechless, unable to muster a single word in his defense.

"You guys never seem to get it, do you? Chloe hasn't done a single thing to wrong you. It's you who's been squeezing her dry, using her, and then have the audacity to accuse her of betrayal!

Isn't that just hilarious? What, do you think you're some kind of king? What's the deal, did Chloe sign her life away to you or something? The days of servitude are long gone, buddy, and yet here you are talking about betrayal! If Chloe wanted to betray you, she would have done it a long time ago. Why would she give you the chance to hurt her again?

She's been underestimated by you, used by you, thrown into the line of fire because of you. And for what? Because she had the misfortune of falling for you!"

Because she had the misfortune of falling for you!

Keaton's words struck Declan like a bolt of lightning, turning every spoken word into a sharp knife, relentlessly stabbing at Declan's very being. If words could kill, Declan would be lying in a heap, riddled with wounds.

Sitting there, stunned into silence by Keaton's tirade, the buzzing in his ears drowned out all other sounds, his consciousness shattered by the flood of memories that consumed his every thought.

It was as if the world had come crashing down around him.

Yvan caught a glimpse of the despair in Declan's light brown eyes, a look of a heart dying in an instant—a sight both tragic and profound.

He, too, was taken aback. Somehow, his own heart ached in response—was it because Keaton's brutal honesty hit too close to home?

After his outburst, Keaton was panting, his voice hoarse from the effort, "I just don't get it, Yvan, Declan, either of you. I've told you over and over, to cherish what you have... Why do you insist on hurting the ones you love?"

Yvan and Declan remained silent.

"Is it really so hard to admit that you love her, to own up to your mistakes?" Keaton pointed at himself, "Sure, we come from privileged backgrounds, I won't deny that. I know we tend to carry ourselves with a certain arrogance, but is that really an excuse to keep hurting them without remorse? Declan, what's the point of putting on this act? Chloe is living her life just fine without you. You can't just 'take' someone back like they're some kind of object. Do you see her as a toy? Ask Yvan how much he regrets now. I don't want to see you make the same mistakes he did, I don't want to watch my brother drown in despair over love gone wrong."

Keaton's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, "But what can I do? I've done all I can, tried to mediate every time Matilda and Chloe got hurt because of you guys. Watching them walk away from you, I actually want to applaud them. They deserve better. And you, Declan, you especially deserve this. Do you understand?!"

Declan's face went pale, words failing him.

After a long silence, he finally murmured, "I... I never thought Chloe would... leave me."