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Remy holds up a hand and Dare falls silent. Remy speaks haltingly at first, then his words come pouring out like a floodgate has just been opened.
"I… I treated you boys harshly after your mother passed. Made you compete for everything. My attention, the family business. Tried to make you as hard and ruthless as me." He glances at Dare. "Maybe I went too far. Your mother wouldn't have wanted that."
Dare's jaw tightens. "You think?"
Remy winces at his grandson's sarcastic tone. "I thought it would make you tough. Ready to take over the empire someday." His voice drops. "Like my father did to me and my brother."
Burn looks surprised. "You have a brother?"
Remy's eyes darken. "Had. I haven't spoken to him in forty years. I don't even know if he's still alive or not."
He falls silent again. The clock ticks steadily on.
Dare steps forward. "It's time to break the cycle, Remy. No more lies and manipulation. Things are going to change around here."
Remy rubs a hand over his face. For the first time, he looks every one of his eight decades.
"Maybe you're right," he says finally. "I'm an old man set in my ways. But perhaps... maybe there's still time to change."
He meets Dare's eyes, and for once there is no malice there. Dare studies his grandfather, arms folded across his chest.
"That's not an apology."
Remy's face mottles. "Are you going to fucking make me say the words?"
I chime in. "It would be nice."
He gives me a cutting look.
"Fine! I'm sorry. Okay? Sorry for not being the grandfather you needed."
Silence reigns for almost half a minute. Dare scrubs a hand through his hair.
"It's nice to actually hear an apology for once," Dare says finally. "But I'm not ready to forgive you yet. You have a lot to make up for. If you really want to change, if you want me to stay here in Harwicke, you'll have to prove it."
Remy's shoulders slump, but he nods. "Understood. I'll... I'll try to do better."
My eyes fix on Dare. "Wait, did you just say... are you thinking of keeping the company here in Harwicke?"
He nods. "I am."
"Do you really mean it?" I whisper, my heart pounding in my ears. Dare takes both of my hands in his and looks me in the eye, determination shining in his gaze.
"Yes," he says firmly. "For you, I'll give up everything. All I need is right here."
My breath catches as he leans in to kiss me, sending sparks of warmth radiating through my body.
Remy clears his throat from the other side of the room. A sliver of ice forms in my chest, but I meet his gaze head-on. He looks like he's about to say something when he notices the protective hand that Dare has placed over my growing belly.
"Talia," Remy starts gruffly, the apology painfully slow to form on his lips. "I owe you an apology as well. I shouldn't have insulted your background or tried to use you as a pawn against my grandsons. That was wrong of me."
I suppress the urge to throw him out then and there. Instead, I look pointedly at Remy and reply coolly, "I accept your apology. On one condition. That you never raise your voice to a woman again. And you need to learn to hold your tongue."
My words seem to surprise him, because for once his mouth stays shut. He makes a face like he is being forced to absorb something unpleasant. For Remy, I guess this is a brand new concept. He simply nods and turns away without another word, shuffling off into the dark hallway like a chastised child.
Dare gently wraps his arms around me and presses a kiss to the crown of my head. "Don't let him get to you," he murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear. "You handled that like a pro."
I smile up at him, the warmth of his embrace soothing away the last of my tension. "I'm just glad it's over," I admit, leaning into his chest. "I don't think I could handle any more drama right now."
