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I let out the breath I’m holding, blinking back the stinging in my eyes as relief and hope thread together inside me, strengthening the parts that were weakened when she left.
“You bet I fucking am.”
“Princepe,” she whispers, her lips curling a little higher before they stall their movements and form a sad smile instead. “I spent so many years hating you. I never gave myself the chance to get to know the real you.”
“The real me can still be a dick.”
“You still didn’t deserve to be hated for something that was never your fault,” she whispers.
I run my thumb over her bottom lip again. She sucks in a breath as my eyes follow its path, and I dust it back and forth.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“It does.” Her voice wobbles. “I hated you. I—”
“And while you were busy hating me, I was busy falling in love with you, Mads. Deeper and deeper.” I bring my lips to hers. “I wouldn’t change a damn thing that led me to that. Led me to you.”
I curl my hand around her neck, pulling her to me. Her lips part the moment mine touch them, and she falls into me, kissing me back.
“Don’t cry.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“Stop.”
“I don’t.” She kisses me harder.
“You’re wrong. But it doesn’t matter because you’ve got me anyway.”
“What about—?”
“I’m not marrying Gabrielle. Mum and Dad will be okay. They have the money they need to save the business.”
“But Spencer was adamant. I don’t understand how you convinced him.”
I press my lips to her forehead.
“I didn’t. Gabrielle did. She showed him a photograph of a little boy who lost his parents in the earthquake where she was working. A boy she’s adopting.”
Maddy frowns.
“I know. No one had any idea. She didn’t know how to tell Spencer. She thought all he cared about was a son-in-law that could manage the business and about having grandkids. Whichiswhat he wants. Now he’s got it, mostly. Gabrielle is bringing the boy over to London to live with them.”
“But how did you get the money for your dad?”
“I sold the island… and I sold the patent for Vex to Spencer. Under the condition it’s to be put into the boy’s name and managed by Gabrielle until he’s eighteen.”
“You sold it?”
“I sold it,” I confirm. “It’s what I was pushing for before. But Spencer wasn’t interested. He was fixated on a family for Gabrielle and making her secure. A mix of his illness and losing his wife made him unable to see anything else, I guess.”
I stroke Maddy’s wet hair back from her face.
“We’re all getting what we want.”
“But Gabrielle was going to agree to marry you.”
“She loves her dad. And people do crazy things for love. Even if they’re hurting themselves in the process.” I give her a pointed look as my voice softens. “Don’t they?”
