Zafir froze when Stella said she wasn't worthy of his dedication. She was being polite. That meant he was the one who didn't deserve her. He wasn't worthy of her.
Of course. He knew that already. She was worthy of someone better. Someone who could give her a good future.
He wanted her for himself, but one of the reasons he tried to kill his feelings was because he knew he couldn't give her a good future.
That was what he had been reiterating to himself for years in hopes that he would be able to give up on her and move on. But that didn't happen. It was as if the more he tries not to love her, the more he falls for her.
But who would have thought that hearing her reject him would hurt so much even if she said it in such a nice and polite way?
It didn't feel like a stab. It felt like his chest was crushed by a mace. He already knew that if he ever said it, he would be shut down. And now he got it.
