Chapter 20
Jason stood before Kelsey in precedented humility. His shoulders, usually squared with confidence, how slumped slightly as he awaited her response. The vulnerability in his eyes was something no one at Culver Academy would have believed possible,
Even with Hamah, he had never spoken with such desperation, never allowed himself to appear so exposed. Each second of silence between them fall like an eternity as he watched her face for any sign of softening,
But Kelsey’s eyes remained unchanged, her expression as calm and distint as if she were observing a scientific specimen. The fire that had once sparked whenever she looked at him was completely extinguished, leaving only cool, analytical detachment.
She looked up her attention caught by a group of students playing rugby on the nearby lawn. They were playing intensely, their shoots echoing acros the courtyard, when the hall flew off course, smashing into a classroom window with startling force.
A sharp crash echoed across the courtyard as glass shattered, fragments raining down to the pavement, glittering in the afternoon suh.
People around then gasped and exclaimed, but Kelsey simply turned to Jason and asked. “Do you see that broken window?”
Jason blinked in confusion, following her gaze to the glittering shards on the ground. The randomness of the question momentarily threw him off balance.
Kelsey continued, her voice steady and matter of fact, as though explaining a single concept to a child.
“Once glass shatters into pieces, it can never be restored. Trust and feelings between people work the same way. I won’t be to you–after you deceived me, I can never fully trust you again.”
She gestured vaguely between them. “Without trust, we can’t even be friends, let alone partners for life.”
Kelsey spoke with genuine sincerity. There was no anger in her words, no desire to hurt him in return. Her emotional detachment wasn’t a shield but a reality–the pain had simply faded, leaving only clarity in its wake.
In the months since she’d discovered the truth, she had come to understand Jason. He was, in many ways, like a child who had been sheltered his entire life. Born into wealth and privilege, accustomed to success in everything, he approached life with a peculiar mix of innocence and cruelty.
That’s why he had so carelessly trampled on her feelings, never considering the damage he left behind.
She didn’t blame him anymore–resentment required emocional investment she no longer had to give–but that didn’t mean she was willing to start over. Some things, once broken, couldn’t be fixed. Her trust in him was one of those things.
So what if Jason had finally realized his true feelings for her? What would happen if one day he grew bored again? Wouldn’t he just hurt her in new ways?
You judge a person by their lowest moments, and Jason had already shown her his. She would rever open herself to that vulnerability again.
Jason’s face drained of color as her words sank in. The finality in her tone was unmistakable. This wasn’t a negotiation; it was a closing statement.
“Kelsey, please,” he whispered, taking a step toward her.
But Kelsey had nothing more to say. She turned and walked away, her movements fluid and unhurried. She didn’t look back
Jason initially moved to follow her, then stopped himself, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
He knew he had hurt Kelsey too deeply. Pursuing her relentlessly now would only make her resent him more. That would achieve nothing except driving her further away.
That was okay. He had time
Whether it took a month, a year, or even a decade, he was determined to win Kelsey back. The Jason Stan who had manipulated and schemed was gor; in his place stood someone who finally understood what it meant to truly want someone’s happiness above his own.
In the weeks that followed, Jason flew to London at every opportunity, pulling strings with his family’s connections to rearrange hockey practices and even miss games.
Even when he had just a two day weekend–spending over 20 hours in transit for less than 48 hours in London–he came without complaint. The
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Almost in Love with Four Before That Cruel Summer Took Everything
discomfort of cramped airplane seats was nothing compared to the achie of her slitence.
He sought Kelsey out regularly, but was careful not to intrude on her life or make her uncomfortable. He studied her schedule, learned her always keeping a respectful distance.
He would leave her favorite breakfast mitside her apartment door without a word.
He sent gifts she loved to her school, always anonymously.
When it rained, he would silently walk behind her with an umbrella, staying far enough bark that she might not notice, but close enough to step in if needed
He gave everything he had, but Kelsey’s demeanor remained unchanged–calm, distant, unmoved. She accepted his gifts with polite nods when she saw him, but the spark he desperately sought never returned to her eyes.
One day, Jason arrived at the Royal Ballet School once again, carrying a bag of Kelsey’s favorite snacks and a small gift he’d brought all the way from America. His persistence hadn’t wavered despite werks without progress.
But before he could find her, his phone rang
He answered to hear Derek’s panicked voice.
“Stan, it’s bad. You need to come back right now!
