“You could press charges against her for slander, if you wanted to.”He lifts one shoulder in a casual shrug. “With Darius arrested, I highly doubt that Elena or Silvia will be able to maintain their positions in society.”
“You did.”
He smiles grimly. “Because I made sure I had wealth that wasn’t tied up in Donald.”
I frown. “Are you supporting your mother? Nolan and Darcy?”
“Nolan, no. He has his own trust fund. Darcy does as well, but she’s still in school. Donald paid the tuition for both me and Nolan, so I told her we’d keep it as it was until she graduated.” He looks across the table, where his mother is chatting to Lottie. They’re on the edge of the dance floor, both their eyes fixed on Darcy, who’s dancing with a man around her age. “I’ve suggested that Mom sell the estate.”
“That makes sense. You’ve always hated that house, and it’s too big for just her and Darcy.”
“Exactly. If she does, I’ll help her buy something smaller and invest the profit, but I’ll make sure she’ll always be able to live comfortably.”
“What happens if Donald gets out?”
His expression fades into a neutral mask that sends a shiver down my spine. “That will never happen.” He says it with such certainty that goosebumps lift the skin on my arms and neck. After a weighty pause, he turns back to me, his smile back in place. “Don’t worry about all that just now,” he says softly. “I want to focus on the here and now. On us.”
“Is there an us?” I don’t ask the question to hurt him, but our future still seems so uncertain. If I’m honest with myself, I want to give us another chance, to learn the new man that Declan is becoming, but there's a large part of me that’s still terrified of being hurt by him again.
He watches me, his stare moving from the top of my head to my eyes, the slope of my nose, my lips, heating as they move, committing every single feature of my face to his memory. “I’ll always choose you, Lily. Even if it takes our whole lives for you to believe it.”
Our eyes catch and I don’t look away, thoughts tumbling through my mind like a leaf caught in a strong wind. I love him, I know that, but there’s something holding me back.
I give him a tentative smile. “Should we go get some air?” I tip my head to the glass doors, leading outside to the hotel gardens.
He tips his chin, standing and helping me up. We walk slowly over to the doors and step outside, the silence giving me a chance to gather my thoughts. Outside, the breeze is chilled, and he quickly shrugs off his jacket, wrapping it around me. The patio extends along the entire building, with stone columns along the edge. Each one is wrapped with strands of glittery lights, reminding me of the gazebo. It feels symbolic, and certainty settles into my bones.
“Thank you,” I murmur, pressing against his side. We pause next to one of the pillars, Declan leaning against it as I stand in front of him.
“I believe you.” The words escape me before I even realize I’m going to say it. “About you trying to protect my family, and Dad’s company.”
“Lily—”
I talk over him, needing to get this out; knowing if I hold onto it, it’ll never end well for us. Not if we’re trying again. “And I want to trust you. But you lied for a year, Declan.” There’s a challenge in my stare, but he doesn’t look away from it or try to deny it. Finally, I admit quietly, “But I understand why you did it.”
Relief crosses his face. “That’s more than I could ever ask for, Lily.”
“Thank you for defending me tonight. Against Silvia.”
“I hate that you think you have to thank me for that,” he says roughly. “I know it’s what you’ve learned after being with me, that it’s my fault, but I hate it.” He looks away. “I saw Silvia coming up to you, but Darcy told me to wait.”
My eyebrows climb my forehead. “Why?”
“She said I needed to stop underestimating you, that you could handle someone like Silvia well enough on your own.” His lips tip as he glances back at me. “She wasn’t wrong.”
Warmth unfurls in my chest, slowly creeping throughout my body, chasing away the icy chill that had settled in the moment I’d heard his voice on that call. But the thought is enough of a reminder.
“You crossed a line with Silvia. Before, I mean. You let her have a place between us, gave her the power to hurt me.” I lower my lashes, not wanting to see his expression. “You gave pieces of yourself away to someone else while you were lying to me, sharing secrets with her. Calling her names that never should have belonged to her. Trusting her when you never trusted me.” A pause, and then, “Justin is just a friend.How did you feel when you found out I was spending more time with him?”
“You know how I felt,” he rasps out. “Just like you know how I felt about your date that night.” His hands clench into fists, the only outward sign of his feelings.
“A relationship, a marriage, is a bond of trust between two people.” I reach out to touch his hands, and he flips one over, entwining our fingers together. “If we give this another chance, there can never be another opportunity for me to doubt you. I don’t want to worry about where you are if you come home later than expected, or if you’re on your phone more than usual. I need to feel secure in us and my place in your life. I need to know that I hold pieces of you that you don’t—and won’t—give to anyone else, just like you hold those pieces of me.” I swallow thickly, lifting my eyes to his face, seeing his own hurt staring right back at me.
But I’m done with the pain. We’ve both been punished enough, Declan even more so than me. It’s time to put it behind us, to move forward.
My heart flutters wildly in my chest, but it’s not a bad feeling.
It’s hope.
