Chapter 199
Chapter 199
My fingers stilled on the fabric. “Forward into what, exactly?”
He frowned slightly. “A future together. One where you don’t have to look over your shoulder, or worry about old ghosts.”
I knew who he meant; he didn’t have to say Nolan’s name for me to hear it in every syllable.
“I haven’t seen him since that day in the park,” I said quietly. “We haven’t even discussed what it’ll take to make the divorce happen.”
“I know,” Kieran said. “And that’s for the best. You deserve peace, not another round of heartbreak. Goddess knows Nolan Silver Fang is only good for causing people pain.”
Something inside me shifted at those words. A small, steady defiance I hadn’t expected to find filled my chest. “You’re wrong. >>
Kieran’s expression cooled. “I know him. I’ve seen what he does to people. I saw that state you were in because of him. Or have you forgotten when you came to be begging for help, escaping him?”
My jaw tightened. “He’s not the same man he was then.”
“People like Nolan don’t change,” Kieran said, the edge creeping into his tone despite his effort to keep it light. They adapt. They manipulate. You should know that better than anyone.’
>>
I turned to face him fully now, my voice firm. “He’s made mistakes, but he’s trying. He loves the boys, Kieran. That’s what matters the most. I know that this arranged marriage would be convenient for you, but-”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Convenient?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice trembling only slightly. “Because if you admit he’s capable of being better, then you have to admit you were wrong about him.”
The silence that followed was sharp. Kieran’s blue eyes darkened, his hands curling briefly into fists before he caught himself.
“I am not wrong about Nolan Silver Fang. He’s a cold, heartless, violent bastard.”
Kieran’s words seemed to hang in the air between us, charged with the heat of his anger. I felt like I’d been splashed with cold water.
I was offended, angry. Hearing him talk about Nolan so sharply made my pulse race with the need to act in some way. The intensity of my reaction startled me.
“He is not,” I said shakily. “He is not a bastard.”
Kieran stared at me and for a moment I saw real, unguarded anger flash in his eyes. Then he took a slow, steady breath and ran his fingers through his hair.
“(
“I didn’t come here to argue,” he said finally, his tone smooth again but colder. “I came here because I care about you. Because I thought-” He stopped, his composure cracking for a moment. “I thought you wanted the same thing I did.”
My heart twisted. “I thought the same thing. I wanted safety,” I said softly. “After everything that happened, I wanted something calm.”
“I can give you that. Nolan can’t. Chaos follows him, Ellie. Everyone who gets close ends up hurt. Is that what you
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Chapter 106
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want for the boys?”
“Don’t you dare!” I snapped, stepping toward him aggressively. “Nolan would never let anything hurt our babies!”
“You can’t be serious, Ellie, you’re smarter than this!” Kieran said, running his hand down his face in frustration. “He’s a heartless bully! The only reason he cares about the boys at all is because having an heir will make him look good in the election!”
“That is not true! You don’t know anything about his bond with them.”
“Bond?! He’s met them once!”
“That doesn’t matter! They’re his, and he would do anything for them. Just spending time with them isn’t enough. He loves them.”
He stared at me, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. “Not enough,” he repeated quietly. “You mean I’m not enough.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s what you meant.”
The words hung there, heavy and honest.
“That… that wasn’t fair of me. I didn’t mean it the way it came out,” I said more softly.
“Then what did you mean? What do you want, Ellie?” Kieran stepped closer to me.
“I don’t know.”
30
“Well, call me when you make up your mind.”
When the door clicked shut, the silence that followed was vast. The bouquet still sat
on the table, its colors too bright against the pale morning light.
I sank into the nearest chair, pressing my hands to my face. I cried, but I wasn’t sure
if it was from guilt or anger.
I couldn’t keep doing this. I had to make a choice.
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