Page 49 of Bewitching her Highland Savior

Liam knew that Muriel was right. He knew it from the start that Muriel had been promised to another man and that he was nothing but a mercenary but he had held onto the hope that he could change their situation. Perhaps it had been foolish. Yet he was still willing to try.

“If ye gave me some more time, I could fix this,” Liam insisted. “I could find a way.”

“There’s nae time,” Muriel said as she stood and faced the door. “Me maither will be dead by morn if I dinnae agree to me faither’s terms. I hope one day, ye’ll find it in yer heart to forgive me.”

Muriel got up to leave, but Liam jumped up from the bed and grabbed her wrist to stop her. When she paused, however, no words passed his lips, all of them dying in his throat. He tried swallowing around the knot to keep his panic at bay, but nothing worked. Grief washed over him like a wave, with such force that his knees almost buckled and his hand tightened around Muriel's wrist.

She never once complained about it.

“Muriel, please,” he said. He tried to pull her toward him but she didn’t move. “Please, dinnae end it like this.”

“I’m sorry,” Muriel said; her voice was flat, empty of any emotion. Liam wished that he could see her face but she stared straight ahead, never letting him look at her.

“At least… at least tell me ye love me one last time,” he said. “At least kiss me one last time.”

Muriel hesitated for a moment, and Liam assumed she would give in and do as he asked. If she did, he might be able to persuade her to stay with him and let him fight for her as he saw fit. She didn't, however, turn to face him. She simply yanked her hand free of his grasp and exited the room, never looking back.

Liam watched her, looking at the entrance to his chamber long after she was gone. It all felt like a nightmare and he desperately wished to wake up and find her in his arms, safe and happy.

It will never happen. I will never hold her again.

A fire sparked within him. He couldn't let everything between them end so abruptly. Muriel could say she chose Macleod but she did so out of necessity. Liam didn't believe she didn't want him to do something to help her, to save her from that marriage. He'd spent days with her, listening to her complain about the future she didn't want, the future her father was forcing her into and she'd repeatedly asked for his assistance.

She still needed it. She still needed him.

Liam refused to give up. He just had to find a way to save both Muriel and her mother.