He’d gone on with his life in LA. Was available for the post-production process of his film and worked on an upcoming book in his free time. He’d tried to make things work with Sasha, but video calls, texting, and phone conversations were hard with the different time zones. She’d often been called away mid-sentence and he had been frustrated.

“It was a hard time,” she admitted. “And it was complicated for me. I had a lot of pressure from my agent and my mother.”

Her mother had never liked Xander, whether it was their age difference or the fact that he might derail Sasha’s career, it hadn’t mattered. She’d always been a negative voice in her daughter’s ear. It made sense that she’d both wanted and needed the approval of the parent who’d raised her and also encouraged her to pursue her dreams. Even if Annika had been trying to live vicariously through her daughter.

And yet, he’d understood. “I loved you, so I supported you.”

She winced at his use of the past tense, but it was the truth. Those feelings were in the past.

She nodded, tears in her eyes. “I know you did. And I appreciated it.”

Did she? He didn’t want to be a dick and ask.

“But when those photos of you and yet another co-star surfaced…” He shook his head. Sasha and Corey Murphy had been spotted cozying up in a small café, sharing a booth, heads bent together in what looked like an intimate conversation. The photos went viral. And Xander had had enough.

He wasn’t a jealous man but she’d pushed him to the brink. “At that point, I didn’t care if the rumors and the photos showed the truth or not.”

“They weren’t,” she said in a strong voice, and he actually believed her and acknowledged the point with a nod.

“But I also knew I couldn’t live the Hollywood life. Your life.”

She sighed but remained silent.

Xander had solid reasons for his feelings. He’d grown up with a father who’d been a serial cheater, and he’d resolved never to be that man or to accept it in his life, as his mother had. Plus, he’d already been fed up with LA. He’d been alone in a city and living a lifestyle he hated. The woman he loved had been halfway around the world, and there was nothing about their relationship that was sustainable. Not for him. Not when she’d allowed things to happen that would hurt him in order to get ahead.

Since they opened these old wounds, he might as well be one-hundred-percent honest with her. “I knew I’d always come third or fourth in your priorities. I just put an end to it before you did, by leaving.”