The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Yvette froze. "Sherry actually had it in her to break up with you?"

Gavin nodded, his chest tightening as if a thousand needles were piercing him. "She told me not to come looking for her anymore."

He'd always been so sure that Sherry loved him and that she'd never walk away. That confidence had made him careless, thinking she'd let any mistake slide. He'd forgotten Sherry was only human, that she could hurt just as much as anyone else.

"This wasn't just some stupid fight. She's made up her mind. She thinks she'll be better off without me," Gavin said.

Yvette took in the pain etched across his face, then moved closer, wrapping her arms around him. "How could she not see what she's losing? Doesn't she realize someone else is going to swoop in and take you?"

Her words stung like salt rubbed into an open wound.

"But I don't want anyone else. Just her," Gavin mumbled.

Yvette knew if she brought herself into the question, Gavin would undoubtedly respond by saying that if he'd ever loved her, they would've been together years ago. So, she decided to stay close to him, clinging to the hope that someday, somehow, he'd grow to love her.

She gently patted his back. "It's alright. I'm here."

Gavin's thoughts wandered back in time. He recalled that first get-together with friends after he and Sherry had gotten together.

Yvette had slipped right between them and asked Sherry, "You don't mind me being such a close friend of Gavin's, do you?"

Sherry's face had darkened, but she shook her head. "Of course not."

Since then, wherever Sherry showed up, Yvette would nudge her aside and latch onto Gavin.

At first, Sherry kept asking if she was reading too much into things. He always assured her she was. That was, until the day Sherry finally cracked, confessing she couldn't deal with her partner being so close to another woman.

He'd dismissed it as irrational jealousy. But now... Gavin fixed his gaze on Yvette.

"What?" she asked, playing innocent.

"Are you happy with how things turned out?"

"Why would I be?"

"Because Sherry and I finally broke up," he said, emphasizing every word.

Yvette fell silent. Gavin turned away. "You should go. I can't stand to look at you right now."

"It wasn't my fault you two broke up!" Yvette shot back, the words bitter on her tongue.

Deep down, she knew the lie glowed brighter than any truth ever could It had always been about Gavin. She'd loved him first, though she'd never gotten the chance to say it before he picked Sherry. noveldrama

So, she went out of her way to undermine their relationship. She made sure to parade every moment she and Gavin had ever shared.

Yvette had convinced herself that Sherry's love for Gavin couldn't be that strong. She was sure Sherry would walk away if she gavecher more nudges.

But Sherry held on, month after stubborn month, right up until now. Finally, though, Yvette's persistence paid off. Sherry and Gavin had called it quits.

"It's obvious. Sherry's just too petty to make love work," Yvette muttered.