Page 56 of The Substitute Fiancée

Silence settles between us. Sam lowers her gaze to our joined hands.

“And do you see things more clearly now?” she asks quietly.

“A little.”

I gently lift her chin so she’ll look at me.

“The attraction I feel toward you has been there for a long time. But back then, you were too young. You were just starting your life as a student, and I was already living an adult life. Our seven-year age gap felt insurmountable. So I smothered my feelings before they had a chance to exist. I was wrong.”

Her eyes fill with tears, and I realize Oliver may have been right. Sam had feelings for me back then too. My choices hurt us both—needlessly.

That realization makes what I have to say next even harder, but if we’re going to have any chance, I can’t hide anything from her.

“Then there was Kristel,” I continue. “It almost happened by accident. She was at every party I went to. She made it very clear she was interested in me. One night, I’d had too much to drink, and when she kissed me, I didn’t push her away. We slept together that night.”

A tear slides down Sam’s cheek. Guilt claws at me. I wipe it away with my thumb, and she leans into my palm for a moment. I want to kiss her, but I need to finish.

“When I woke up, I knew I’d made a mistake. But it was too late. I committed to a relationship with Kristel because otherwise, I would’ve lost any chance with you for nothing. Over time, I learned to love your sister, even though our relationship wasn’t perfect. Her betrayal hurt me—but it also awakened buried memories. The ‘what ifs’ started creeping in. All of this is just to say that what I feel for you didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been there for a long time.”

For a long moment, Sam says nothing. Then, her voice tight with emotion, she murmurs,

“You had feelings for me?”

“Yes, but I—”

“You’re such an arrogant asshole!”

She yanks her hand out of mine.

“Did it ever occur to you that I might’ve had a say in this?”

Her words hit me full force.

“You’re right,” I say softly. “I’m sorry, Sam. I didn’t know you had feelings for me. I thought it was… one-sided.”

She stands abruptly and walks a few steps toward the bay window, turning her back to me. Her shoulders are tense, trembling.

I stand as well and move closer to her, without touching.

“I tried to forget you,” I admit. “Kristel was different from you. Simpler. She didn’t make me feel what you make me feel. It was easier. Less terrifying. I convinced myself that was what adult love was supposed to be—something predictable and comfortable. I lied to myself for three years.”

She finally turns around, tears streaming freely down her cheeks.

“And now?” she asks. “How am I supposed to know if what you’re feeling is real? What if in three or six months you wake up and realize you rushed into this? That we’re too complicated?”

I step closer and hold her gaze.

“The problem was never you. Three years ago, I wasn’t ready. But know this—I never felt with Kristel what I feel with you. Not once. What we share is different. More intense. More real. And yes, it terrifies me, because it demands more of me.”

I cup her face in my hands.

“I can’t promise I’ll never make mistakes. Or that everything will be easy. But I can promise you that what I feel is sincere. This isn’t a rebound. It’s not a reaction to Kristel’s betrayal. It’s you, Sam. It’s always been you. I was just too much of a coward to admit it. I’m done being that man.”

She looks at me for a long moment. I can see the battle raging inside her.

“What do you expect from me?” she finally asks.

“That we try. Both of us.”