Jerrick's eyes gleamed with a glassy sheen, the crimson hue deepening as he heard her words. Jessamyn's gaze met his with a sincerity that cut through the tension between them. In her eyes, there was no hint of deception—only a raw, unfiltered truth.
She truly believed that his cruel words had merely slipped out in a moment of weakness. They hadn't wounded her as he feared they might have, and that simple realization made his chest tighten with emotion.
"You understand me," Jerrick whispered, his voice thick with regret. "You love me, even after everything I've said. Forgive me for being so cruel to you…" His fingers traced the delicate contours of her face as he cupped her cheeks, the warmth of her skin grounding him in this moment.
He felt unworthy of her forgiveness, yet there she was, leaning into his touch, her soft lips curling into a tender smile as if to say there was nothing to forgive.
