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The honesty in her eyes said her mind was made up, but I couldn’t accept that.
“That’s not?—”
“Stop. You said you would never lie to me.” She pulled away from my embrace. “I know why and how you stopped my wedding to Dubois, and frankly, I’m grateful. You saved me from a tedious existence that would no doubt eventually turn me into my mother. But blackmail isn’t?—”
“The blackmail is over. Harrison knows,” I interrupted.
How was I fucking this up so badly?
“He had always known, and so had your father. Harrison is planning on going public with it, but even if he doesn’t, I wouldn’t use that information against your family.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She stepped back.
“It does. I…”
Fuck, I had never done this before, and I didn’t know what the right thing was to say.
How did I prove to this woman that I wanted her, not her family connections, not to screw over Dubois, but I just wanted her?
“What you overheard with my father, that was me letting him talk. I don’t know what exactly you heard, but I don’t agree with a thing he said. I just wanted him out of my house so I could climb back into my bed with you.”
She merely looked at me, her emerald eyes big, bright, and filling with tears. Tears had to be a good sign. I prayed that it had to mean that she felt something for me. If she was indifferent, then she wouldn’t have been about to cry. She was so beautiful, standing in the middle of the field, the lake behind her and the breeze blowing through her dark hair.
Even on the verge of tears, she was breathtakingly beautiful, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt she was the future I wanted. Whatever she wanted that to look like, I was in.
“Amelia, look, last night was the best night I have ever had. It was the first time I have ever done anything like that. I want more of that, more of us.”
“I really liked it, too, but…” She gazed off to the side and pulled away from me.
“Then come home with me. Let me show you that every night can be like that. Come home, move in with me, and let’s plan the wedding you want, that we want.”
“Luc… I…”
“Amelia, baby, when we got engaged, I didn’t ask for your hand. I blackmailed your mother. Now, I am asking. The blackmail is gone. It does not exist, and even if it did, I wouldn’t use it. I am asking you.”
I dropped to one knee in the grass and held her hand in mine. “Amelia Mae Astrid, will you do me the honor of letting me love you, cherish, and provide for you? Will you be my wife?”
She looked at me for several long moments, tears streaming down her beautiful face, and looking directly into my eyes, she said the one word that destroyed me.
“No.”
CHAPTER 34
AMELIA
One Month Later
The crisp September breeze finally displaced New York’s August humidity.
Fall was pushing its way in, and the city seemed eager for summer to end.
In the evenings, the sidewalks were full of people walking hand in hand.
What was it about New York City and couples? The second someone became single, it was like every happy couple in New York got a text message to go outside and be in love around the miserable, lonely people. All I saw every single day were beautiful, happy couples in love.
It was just rude.
After I left Luc in the sculpture gardens, I took a cab back to the city and called my brother.
