Sorry for Your Loss, It's Me, I'm the Loss novel Chapter 177

Mrs. Gonzalez smiled faintly, lost in thought. “You know, sometimes I miss those days in the basement apartment. The happiest moments were on weekends, when we could all sit together and share a simple meal I’d cooked.”

Matthew sat in silence, his knuckles white as he gripped his fork. Verna, sensing the heavy atmosphere, chewed her food quietly, not daring to speak.

Only Yvonne continued to eat, unperturbed.

When Mrs. Gonzalez finished, Yvonne slowly set down her utensils. The food was good, but she was no longer hungry.

“Hard times are certainly unforgettable,” she said, her voice even. “But when things get better, the first thing people want to forget is the hardship—and the people who endured it with them.”

She raised an eyebrow and looked at Matthew, a cold smile on her lips. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Gonzalez? The moment you got back on your feet, the first person you threw away was the fiancée who stood by you through thick and thin. You couldn’t wait to go chasing after the one that got away.”

Matthew’s grip on his fork tightened, his hand trembling. He had never intended to break up with Yvonne. He had promised to marry her, to give her the world. He hadn't wanted Queena, not really; he had just been unable to let go of the past. How had everything gone so wrong? How had he lost her?

“Yvonne, you’re just a country bumpkin. You can’t compare to Queena,” Verna piped up, unable to comprehend the situation. “My brother is willing to be with you now that he and Queena are over. You should be grateful instead of playing hard to get…”

“Verna, shut up!” Matthew snapped, cutting her off.

“You’re being too nice to her! Have you forgotten how she shamelessly clung to us in that basement? She was the one who was desperate to be with you. Now she’s acting all high and mighty—ah!”

At the front door, Mrs. Gonzalez took Yvonne’s hand, her eyes red. She glanced back at her crestfallen son, then looked at Yvonne, her voice trembling. “Yvonne, is there really no chance for you and Matthew?”

“You should know, I’ve already died once,” Yvonne replied, her voice cool and steady. “That girl died when I was kidnapped, and Matthew stood by and did nothing.”

Matthew flinched as if he’d been struck. Any words of protest died in his throat.

Mrs. Gonzalez nodded, finally accepting the truth.