“I know enough,” I say firmly. “I know he shows up. He helps without expecting anything in return.” I move closer, a new power fueling me. “And I know that you never did. Which is why you need to leave.Now.Before I change my mind and call every single person in this town to tell them exactly what kind of man you really are.”
He stares at me for a second, clearly shocked that I’m not begging him to come back.
“Didn’t you hear me? Leave!” I repeat, louder this time. “Or I’ll call the police and report you for breaking and entering.” I pull out my phone to prove my point.
Nate’s eyes widen, clearly not expecting this new version of me. “You think Maple Falls Police will do anything?”
“If they don’t, I will. And I’m telling everyone what your plans are for Maple Lake.”
He looks livid that I would strip away his power. “What difference will it make? In a few weeks, it’ll already be mine.”
“Funny, that’s the same approach MacDonald’s lawyer tried. And he was shocked when the town challenged MacDonald’s claims. We’ll do whatever it takes to protect Maple Falls from people who want to destroy its heart.”
I step closer, feeling a reckless courage I didn’t know I had, as if the whole town were rallying behind me. “You don’t own me anymore, Nate. You never did—you just made me think I was lucky to be chosen by you, when really, you were the one who should have felt lucky. But there are some things you’ll never have power over. And I’m done letting men like you ruin everything important to me.”
For a moment his jaw clenches, before he whirls around and leaves, the door slamming behind him.
CHAPTER 21
NEESHA
Ifinally did it.I stood up to Nate. I lean against the kitchen counter for support, not from fear but from the power of finally saying all the things I’ve wanted to for months.
There’s another knock, and my whole body tenses from the sudden dread that Nate is back—that he won’t let it go.
“Neesha? Are you okay?”
I rush toward the door and throw it open. Lucian stands there, still in his auction clothes but completely undone—hair mussed, tie loosened, chest rising and falling like he sprinted here. The moment our eyes meet, his face crumples with relief, and I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
“What happened?” he says, completely undone with worry for me. “I was pulling in when I saw Nate leaving. Did he hurt you?” He catches me in his arms and I fall into his embrace, feeling safe for the first time since I walked through my door. My whole body melts in Lucian’s arms, like it already knows where it belongs.
“No, he was waiting here when I got back from the auction, but he didn’t hurt me.”
His hands frame my face, tilting my chin up until I meet his intense gaze. “I’m so sorry, Neesha. I knew I shouldn’t have letyou go home alone. When I saw your text and couldn’t find Nate after the auction, I had this sick feeling in my gut.” His jaw clenches. “I’ve never driven that fast in my life.”
A relieved laugh slips out of me. “Remember how I said I didn’t need your number?” I shake my head. “I was very, very wrong.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “I’m glad I put it in there anyway.”
“You were worried about me?” I ask.
“Terrified,” he admits. “I may be gentle with you, but if he’d laid one finger on you…” His voice trails off, but I can see the torment in his eyes, the weight of knowing what could have happened. That’s when I realize—he’d burn the whole world down before letting someone like Nate get anywhere near me again.
“I finally said all the things I wanted to say. And it felt…” I pause, searching for the right word. “Incredibly freeing.” I step back, letting him see that I’m okay.
Better than okay.I’m with the man who would never weaponize my trust or compromise my safety. This is how you know someone is your safe place—when being with them feels like coming home, when you never have to wonder where you stand or question if they love you. You just know.
He takes my hand and pulls me close again, burying his face in my hair. “Never again,” he murmurs. “I’m never letting you face something like that alone again.”
“At some point, I have to learn how to stand up to people like Nate.”
“Want me to punch him?” Lucian asks, looking only too happy to do it. “Because he deserves to have his nose broken. I think everyone in town would agree.”
I laugh at the mental image of Nate stumbling backward, hand over his face.
“I think Nate was surprised I didn’t take him back…especially after what he told me about you.”
Lucian studies me. “What did he say?”
