18
EMILIANO'S POV
Tilting my head slightly, I continued to study Rebecca. She remained unaware of my stare, her attention focused entirely on arranging the last-minute details of our trip back to Orlando. It was fascinating to watch her, to take in the small movements of her hands and the slight furrow of her brow as she worked. She was meticulous, almost obsessively so, like she believed that if every detail wasn’t perfect, everything would fall apart. Ever since we got together, I’d noticed something different about her. She was more open now, less guarded. It was as though she’d taken down some invisible wall between us, allowing me to see all the things she used to hide. Whatever she wanted to do, or even thought about doing, she’d tell me without hesitation.
She didn’t realize how much that change meant to me. Or maybe she did. Maybe she thought it was enough to erase all the lies, the secrets, the betrayal. But was it? Was I being too hard on her? The question had been gnawing at me for days, refusing to let go. I kept asking myself if I should have done things differently, approached things with more understanding. Rebecca had told me things—things that would’ve made most people run for the hills. Things that could make anyone second-guess what they were doing with her. And I had been mad. No, furious. Everything she told me a few weeks back had been enough to shake the foundation of what we were trying to build together. I had every reason to leave, to walk away and never look back. But I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
I loved her. I loved her more than I’d ever loved anyone in my life. And love like that doesn’t just vanish because of a lie—or even several lies. She was Rebecca Lewis, cursed to carry the burden of her father’s mistakes. And I was Emeliano, cursed to bear them alongside her. It was a cruel twist of fate, but one I couldn’t escape. I’d made a vow once, a long time ago, that I’d never let myself get involved with anyone from that family. And for years, I’d kept that vow, reminding myself of it every time I felt even a sliver of temptation.
But my heart didn’t care about vows or logic or self-preservation. It only cared about her. Rebecca. It wanted her, all of her. And no matter how much I tried to fight it, that wasn’t going to change. Even now, after everything, I still wanted her. I wanted to marry her, to make her mine in every way possible. I knew it wasn’t rational, knew it wasn’t safe. But love doesn’t play by the rules, does it?
That’s why today mattered so much. I had something big planned—something bold and reckless and completely out of character for me. It was the reason I’d gone out of my way to book a private plane for our trip back to Orlando. I wanted this moment to be ours, to happen without the interference of anyone or anything else. The plan was insane. I wasn’t even sure it would work. But if there was even a small chance it could, I had to try. Rebecca was worth it. She’d always been worth it.
Still, I couldn’t ignore the tension that radiated off her in waves. She was always on edge these days, trying so hard to make everything perfect, as though perfection could erase the past. Did she think I’d stopped loving her? Did she really believe that? I couldn’t imagine she did, but then again, Rebecca had always been hard to read.
She turned abruptly, her expression caught somewhere between curiosity and irritation. “Let’s go,” she said, then paused, her brows knitting together as she caught me staring. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing,” I muttered, snapping out of my thoughts. Straightening up, I grabbed our suitcases and headed toward the private plane. She followed, her steps hesitant, like she wasn’t sure whether to press me for an answer or let it go.
It wasn’t like I was giving her the cold shoulder—I wasn’t. But I needed to know. I needed to see if she truly meant everything she’d said. Words were easy. Promises even easier. But actions? Those were what mattered. Would she fight for us? Would she do whatever it took to make this work? I’d given her so many chances to prove herself before, and each time, she’d let me down. Could I really trust her not to do the same this time?
I wanted to. God, I wanted to so badly. But too many people had told me things they didn’t mean, made promises they never intended to keep. And Rebecca… she’d broken my trust more times than I cared to count. I loved her with everything I was, but I couldn’t ignore the cracks she’d put in our foundation. This time, I had to protect myself. I couldn’t let her hurt me again.
These past few days in Paris had been amazing, better than I’d dared to hope for. We’d laughed, talked, and reconnected in a way we hadn’t in months. For a moment, it almost felt like the old days, like we were just two people in love without the weight of the past hanging over us. But even as I cherished those moments, a part of me held back. I wasn’t ready to let my guard down completely. Not yet.
Maybe that made me a coward. Maybe it made me selfish. But I didn’t care. Anyone in my shoes would understand the need to protect themselves. I wasn’t trying to punish Rebecca. I was just trying to survive.
That didn’t mean I cared for her any less. If anything, the depth of my love for her was the reason I was doing all of this. Rebecca had no idea what I was planning, no idea how pivotal today was going to be. One word from her—just one—was all it would take to decide our future.
It was either a yes or a no. If she said yes, it would break down the walls I’d built around my heart, opening the door to something real and lasting. If she said no… well, then it would all come crashing down in a way that might be impossible to rebuild.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
