Chapter26 The instant Logan saw the man , his temper snapped . " I'm talking to my wife . Who the hell are you ? " " Wife ? " Rowan didn't flinch . " Serena told you herself , you're in the middle of a divorce . Strictly speaking , you're not a couple anymore . Since you're not , I'm well within my rights to speak for her . " Logan swung back to Serena , eyes bloodshot . " You told him about the divorce ? Who is he to you ? " His voice rose , ugly and raw . " You said you needed time alone to see the ocean . Was that a lie ? Did you already have a man on the side ? Is this the guy ? " The slap cracked across his cheek before he finished . " Logan ! " Serena's voice shook with fury . " I'm not you . I'm not that shameless . " The slap snapped him back to his senses . He knew she wouldn't do that ; he had only been lashing out . " I am so done with you , " Serena said , each word like a blade . " You chased me all the way here just to smear me ? Bravo . I must've been blind to ever love someone this shameless . ' " } The words sliced straight through his chest . " I'm sorry , " he said hoarsely . " I was angry and out of line . I didn't come here to accuse you . I came to beg your forgiveness . I don't want a divorce . I love you . I love you so much it hurts . I'll give up the company if that's what it takes , nothing matters more than you . " Serena almost laughed , but she was too tired to manage even that . " Logan , can we just end this cleanly ? Don't make it so that every day from now on , all I feel for you is disgust and hate . While I still don't hate you that much , do me a favor , leave . Disappear from my sight . " She drew a breath , then slipped her arm through Rowan's . " If the only way to make you leave is for me to say I'm with someone else , then fine - he's my boyfriend now . We're together . I'm meeting his parents soon . You and I are over . " Both men froze . Rowan's brows hitched , a flash of surprise , and , if he was honest , a spark of pleasure . " Really ? " Logan just stared at Serena . What he saw in her face was final . Absolute . In that moment he understood : there was no road back . He didn't argue . He couldn't . Serena turned away and walked off without a backward glance . Once they'd put distance between themselves and Logan , Rowan couldn't help it . " About what you said ... " " You heard me , " Serena said gently , slipping her arm from his . " Rowan , sorry for using you as a shield . You covered for me once ; I covered for you once . We're even . " " I wasn't hoping to be your shield , " Rowan said , candid and calm . " I was hoping to be more , " Serena didn't let him finish that thought . " We're strangers who happened to cross paths . Travelers cross paths with countless people . You're just a passerby in my life , as I am in yours . " " I don't see it that way . " His tone softened . " I rarely feel anything for anyone . I'm serious . " " I've been married , " she answered quietly , " and Llost a baby . Right now , marriage feels more like a prison than a promise . I don't want to step into another one so soon . " She patted his shoulder with a rueful smile , " You're exceptional . You'll find someone better . " Then she turned and walked away . On the way back , she passed a girl clutching a bucket of roses , not a bloom sold . Serena stopped and bought the entire bundle . i No one had to send her roses , she could buy them for herself . From here on out , her life had to be hers , and it had to be happy . Watching her go , Rowan's mouth tipped into a slow smile . Good . She was interesting , resilient . She thought he was some old - fashioned prig who cared about labels and pasts . He didn't . She'd been the one hurt , not the one doing the hurting . She deserved better . The one who owed everything , the regret , the consequences , was that man who'd thrown her away .