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Dare's words wash over me like a wave of cold water. He's been holding this in for so long, and it's breaking my heart to see the pain etched on his face. I reach out for him, cradling his face in my hands. His cheeks are wet with tears.
"Oh, Dare," I whisper, my voice shaking with emotion. "You don't have to worry about any of that with me. You know that you can trust me."
He looks away, struggling to find the words he needs to say.
“It feels like I'm dragged back to my younger days. Days when I dated women who weren't really interested in me. Women who were only interested in my last name and getting a ring on their finger that would make them a Morgan.”
“Oh, honey.” I kiss his knuckles. “It’s not like that between us. You know that.”
“It’s just… I've worked hard to build a life for myself. Yet you know that you could take it all away from me if we ever divorced. It makes me wonder what your motives are. And if the life I've given you tempted you into marriage, or if you truly love me. I don’t think I will be able to recover if you leave me,” he finishes softly.
Understanding dawns. I understand now why Dare has erected those walls between us. The fear of being hurt again was too much for him to bear. No wonder he was so scared of getting close to me in the first place.
"You don't have to worry about that," I tell him gently, wiping away the tears from his eyes. "I love you for you. Money doesn't factor into it at all."
After an endless moment, Dare squeezes my hand. "I want to believe that," he says, his voice rough. "But how can I trust it's really true?"
I blink back tears. "Because I love you. Only you. Not your money or your name. Just you."
The words hang between us as the boat motors onward through the night.
Dare's eyes glisten as he takes a shaky breath. "I've spent my whole life feeling used. Like people only wanted me for what I could give them. My grandfather, my father..." He trails off, looking into the distance.
My heart breaks for the lost little boy inside this powerful man. I wait silently for him to continue.
"Even Daisy," he says after a moment. "Our relationship was never real. Just for show, because it benefited us both. But I thought it was real at the time. The way it endedwreckedme."
He refocuses on me, doubt clouding his face. "So how can I believe you're any different?"
I squeeze his hand fiercely. "Because I walked away from you once. I was ready to raise this baby on my own rather than be bought. Does that sound like a gold digger to you?"
Dare blinks as my words hit home. I press on.
"I came back because I love you. Because we're a family now, the three of us." I place my free hand on my belly. "I don't need your money, Dare. I just need your heart."
Tears spill down Dare's cheeks. In a rush he pulls me into his arms. I cling to him as the boat rocks gently beneath us.
"I'm so sorry I ever doubted you," he murmurs into my hair.
"Shhh. It's okay." I stroke his back, soothing away the pain. "No more doubts. No more fear. Just us."
Dare pulls back to look at me, his eyes searching mine.
"I meant what I said before," he says. "About using my wealth to lure you into marriage. That wasn't right of me."
I nod slowly. "I know your intentions were good. You wanted to provide for our child."
"Yes, but..." He trails off, conflicted. "I manipulated you with money and power. Just like my family has always done."
I cup his cheek. "The past is the past. All that matters now is that we love each other."
Dare shakes his head. "How can you be so forgiving after everything I've done?"
"Because you're a good man, Dare," I reply firmly. "You've made mistakes, but so have I. That's life."
I take his hand and press it to my belly. "This baby will learn from our example. We have to be better. For them."
Dare pulls back to look at me, his expression turning serious again. "There's one more thing we need to discuss."
