Mike Goodnough, former partner of Valerie Bertinelli, recently opened up about the end of their relationship in a deeply personal Instagram post. The author described their connection as “complicated” and admitted that writing about the breakup was painful, yet necessary.

Accompanied by a somber graphic reading “You & me. The end,” Goodnough’s message acknowledged his role in a conflict between the two earlier this month.

“A post of mine here was the cause of it. I regret having posted it,” he shared, adding that his words only made a difficult situation worse.

While the couple’s romantic relationship had ended months ago, Goodnough explained that their close communication had continued until recently, making the separation feel more recent than it appeared.

He also hinted that external factors—not their bond itself—played a major role in their split.

“The one thing that was never an issue was our love for each other,” he said. “I loved Valerie more than I’ve ever loved someone in a relationship of choice.”

He went on to describe the heartbreak as the most agonizing experience of his life, one that completely shifted his understanding of emotional pain. “What was once a 10 is now a four,” he wrote.

The couple reportedly ended their 10-month relationship in November 2024. Valerie previously revealed she first fell for Goodnough’s writing before meeting him in person, sharing that their time together had a lasting, transformative impact on her.