Chapter 330

Riyana felt a dull ache spread behind her ribs. She kept her gaze on the painting. “He once got into a fight with a professor,” Elara continued, “because the man implied I wasn’t good enough for a research grant. Jabco nearly got expelled. He didn’t care. He said the world could take everything from him, but not me.” Elara laughed softly, as if embarrassed by the memory. “Crazy, right?” Riyana did not answer. Elara leaned closer, lowering her voice. “That’s why I find it hard to believe,” she said gently, “that someone like him could move on so easily.” Riyana finally turned to face her fully. “What do you mean?” she asked. Elara met her eyes, her expression carefully composed. Innocent. Almost apologetic. “I mean,” she said, “Jabco isn’t the kind of man who forgets. When he loves, he loves deeply. Completely. Even destructively.” Riyana’s hands trembled slightly. She clasped them together to steady herself. “You’re very close to him,” Riyana said. “I was,” Elara corrected softly. “For