Zayn Malik confided he was still "really upset" about his failed engagement to Perrie Edwards says TOWIE fling Abigail Clarke.
1D star Zayn dumped Perrie in a single text in August 2015, bringing to an end their four-year relationship and throwing their plans to marry out of the window.
But it appears over the years Zayn has come to regret the way he ended the romance.
Property developer Abi, who enjoyed a brief fling with the dad of one, said: "Zayn kept saying I reminded him of his ex-girlfriend, Perrie Edwards."
She said to the pal: “He told me a lot about his family and the band and his split with Perrie.
“He was really upset about how it ended. I thought it was sweet of him to admit that. He showed his vulnerability."
Abi dumped Zayn after it emerged he was still dating Gigi Hadid - the pair had been dating on and off for several years, with the two sharing daughter Khai together.
However, following an incident with Gigi's mum Yolanda, the two went their separate ways.
Perrie is now dating footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and they have a son together, Axel.
She said at the time: "It was horrible, the worst time of my life. A four-year relationship, two-year engagement ended by a simple text message. Just like that. Even though things my career were going really well, it was incredibly difficult for me.
"I surrounded myself with friends and family...I didn't want to be alone because when I was I'd start to think about things and get upset. It should have been a really happy time—my career was successful, 'Black Magic' was doing well, and we were traveling and performing. On the surface I was happy, but inside I felt broken."
It is understood that Zayn and Abi met at a bar in Los Angeles before they ended up at his 'dungeon-like' bedroom.
According to The Sun, the reality star told her friend: "I called him my ‘Mr Grey’. We had a great time together."
Abi thought that the A-list couple had split up at the time but later discovered they were still together.
