Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband
Chapter 113: We Both Are Broken!

Chapter 113: We Both Are Broken!

Claire’s POV

"Protecting me? From whom?" Evander shook his head, his expression softening as he let out a bitter laugh. "Claire, you have been punishing yourself for things that were never your fault. I never wanted anyone but you."

His words were like a lifeline, cutting through the storm of doubt and guilt that had consumed me for so long. But could I believe him? Could I allow myself to hope after everything?

How could I not believe him now? His words felt so genuine, yet the scars of my past made it hard to trust completely. Was my sister truly my sister? She had always taken everything that was supposed to be mine.

I was the legitimate daughter, yet I was treated as if I didn’t belong in my own house—as if I were a burden, a thing that should never be born. Even the maids and servants were shown more respect than I ever received. My so-called room was nothing more than a dusty storeroom, cramped and cold.

When they didn’t want me around, I was forced to hide on the terrace during freezing nights, trembling and alone under the open sky. My childhood had been a never-ending cycle of rejection and torment where I learned to swallow my tears and bury my pain.

How could I believe anything anyone said when all they had ever done was treat me like a lifeless doll? To them, I had no emotions, no voice, no worth.

But Evander... he was different. He had been the only person who made me feel like I mattered— as if I were human. Yet, even that fragile connection had been broken by my insecurities and the venomous lies of others.

And in the end, I had lost him too.

I closed my eyes, taking a shaky breath. The memories were too much, but the truth in his eyes now... it was something I couldn’t ignore. For the first time, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, I had let the past dictate too much of my present and ruined my future.

"Th... Then why did you propose this marriage?" I asked, my voice trembling as I tried to control the tears threatening to spill. "Why the daughter of the Reed family? You could have chosen any lady from any family!"

Evander let out a soft sigh, his expression unreadable. He rose from his seat and walked toward me, each step deliberate and measured. He stopped just inches away, close enough for me to feel the faint warmth of his presence.

"Of course," he began, his voice calm yet firm, "it’s just as I said... I have always loved you."

My breath hitched, and my eyes widened in disbelief. What? Did I hear him right?

He gazed at me steadily, his words carrying a weight that made my heart pound. "I loved you then, Claire, and I love you now. That has never changed, and I assure you that it will never change!"

What?! He said this the last time too, but back then, I thought he was only trying to reconcile or ease his guilt. But now... now I could see the sincerity in his eyes. He wasn’t just saying it to make amends—he truly loved me.

The realization hit me like a tidal wave, and I stumbled back a step, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions surging through me. Had I been so blind all this time? Could it be true?

I clenched my hands at my sides, struggling to process his words. My heart ached with both hope and doubt as I tried to make sense of everything. Could I believe him now? And if I did... what would that mean for us?

"However, Claire..." I was still lost in my thoughts when Evander’s voice pulled me back. "After realizing what kind of person I truly am—how deeply broken I am inside— I know I will only hurt you, just as I did in the past." He said as he continued. "I am trying to purse you just because of my selfishness!"

His voice was cold, devoid of emotion on the surface, but beneath it, I could feel the ache, the pain he tried so hard to conceal.

He turned his back to me, taking a step toward the door. His broad shoulders, which always seemed so strong, now looked unbearably lonely at the moment. I wanted to reach out, to hold him, to wrap my arms around him from behind and tell him it was okay. But I didn’t dare.

All I could do was stop him from walking away.

I stepped forward, gathering my courage. I gently held the hem of his shirt between my trembling fingers. "I... I think..." My voice faltered as I struggled to find the right words. "We are both broken, Evander."

He froze in place, not turning around but clearly listening.

"We have both been treated so harshly," I continued, my voice soft but steady. "The wounds we carry... they run so deep. And because of those wounds, we ended up hurting each other. Not because we wanted to, but because we didn’t know how to express our feelings with each other."

His shoulders rose and fell with a heavy sigh, and for a moment, I feared he would pull away. But he didn’t.

"I don’t believe being broken means we can’t heal," I whispered, clutching his shirt a little tighter. "Maybe... maybe we can try again. Not to erase the past, but we might end up healing each other."

Evander slowly turned his head, just enough for me to catch the flicker of emotion in his eyes. It was a mix of pain, hesitation, and something else—hope, perhaps?

"Claire," he murmured, his voice softer this time, "do you really think... after everything... we can fix this?"

I met his gaze, my own eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I don’t know," I admitted honestly. "But I do know that walking away will hurt more than trying to fix it."

His lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile for the first time in what felt like an eternity. And in that moment, I felt a spark of something I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.