From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 197

**Title: Dreams Folding Into Broken Time**
**Chapter 197**

I couldn’t help but scoff, shaking my head in disbelief. “Of course you do, Dean. It’s almost laughable. I remember it all too well—how you’d only come around when you had some urgent need to fulfill. That’s all I ever was to you, right? Just a convenient little option.”

His head jerked toward me, his eyes igniting with a flash of indignation. “Jesus, Sav! No. That’s not true. What the hell? I genuinely cared for you.”

“Don’t give me that! It’s a lie, Dean! Just stop already. We’re not together anymore.” My voice rose, raw and jagged with years of unspoken bitterness. “You never loved me. You just used me when it suited your needs. And now? Now you’re just a bitter little boy throwing a fit because a real man is finally giving me the love I deserve.”

The impact of my words landed squarely in the air between us. I could see the way his face flinched, as if I had struck him. His lips parted, revealing the wounded expression that crossed his features. For once, Dean was left speechless, devoid of his usual clever comebacks.

“Is that really how you see me?” His voice trembled, small and vulnerable. “Is that what you think of our time together? That I was only using you for sex? That’s it? You didn’t feel my love for you? You didn’t see how deeply I cared?”

Turning my gaze back to the window, I focused on the blur of trees racing past us. It felt safer to look outside than to meet those pleading eyes. “Just shut up and keep driving, Dean. I’m losing my patience with you.”

After a heavy pause, he finally admitted, “I know I wasn’t the best boyfriend. I admit I was distant. You know how much I was dealing with back then—”

“I was dealing with my own shit too!” I exploded, my voice louder than I intended, years of suppressed rage finally breaking free. “I was facing battles far beyond what you could ever comprehend! My own demons were haunting me! I had so much more on my plate than college football and frat parties. I was hurting! I was dying slowly while you hopped from keg to keg every other night!”

His voice rose to match my intensity. “If that hurt you, why didn’t you ever say anything?! You should have told me! Why keep silent and then throw it all back at me now?”

“Just drive, Dean!” I snapped, feeling Roman’s voice echo in my mind: Do not get too comfortable. Do not engage in unnecessary discussions with him. I straightened in my seat, resolve filling my tone. “And don’t you ever raise your voice at me again. I am not Chloe; I will hit you.”

For a moment, my words rendered him speechless.

He let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head as if I were a riddle he couldn’t solve. “Whatever that guy’s been telling you, it’s given you a huge pair of balls.”

“Said the smallest man who ever lived.”

“What was that?” he asked, his attention still on the road, missing my jab entirely.

“I said, shut up and drive. You’re reminding me of all the reasons I can’t stand you.”

That seemed to do the trick. He fell silent. For maybe thirty seconds. And then, in a soft, almost nostalgic tone, he said, “We used to be very happy, Sav.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify