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“I didn’t know she was suffering from cancer, that she didn’t have long to live,” he continued. “Dad never told us about any of that. You didn’t either. I’m sorry about it all.”
The sincerity in his voice sent a spasming ache through me. Pain I’d long suppressed deep inside me suddenly burst out, drowning me in a sea of memories and heartache.
Tears ran down my cheeks.
Standing before Mom’s grave under the open sky, I heard Noah Amhurst’s confession.
Seething in my hatred for five years, I never expected the Amhurst brothers to say such things.
Caleb and Corey wanted to give me the CEO position.
Noah wassorry.
I glanced at Mom’s gravestone, feeling like she was watching everything unfold. In my mind, I could almost hear her saying, “It’s all going to be okay, sweetheart. Just hold on a little longer.”
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice Noah coming close to me.
Suddenly, my whole body was engulfed in his strong arms. My face hit his rock-hard chest as he held me.
My body trembled in his hold.
There was simply too much pain inside me.
I couldn’t tell whether it was the chilliness of the breeze or my own heart that made my body tremble. The warmth seeping from his body was comforting and I stayed in his embrace.
“I promise to protect you,” he said in a deep, sincere voice. “I won’t let you be hurt again.”
What’s he talking about?I wondered in a daze. Noah could never hurt me again. I wasn’t the weak, shy kid from five years ago.
It felt like someone dumped a bucket of ice cold water on my head. The frigid sensation spread through me, bringing me back to reality.
Mustering all my strength, I shoved Noah away.
He stumbled back with a surprised look on his face. “Are you okay?” he asked, looking worried. “Did I hurt you?”
“You couldn’t even if you tried,” I spat, brushing my tears away.
“Milla...”
“I’m Azalea!” I shouted. Before he could say anything, I carried on. “Don’t act in front of me. You were happy to see my mom die. You were happy to see me disappear. We both solved all your problems, didn’t we?”
“Didn’t Dad tell you?” he asked, moving closer again. “We were worried sick about you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you all this time. Please, trust me. I didn’t want you to go.”
I took a step away, intent on keeping my distance from him.
“Stop backing away from me,” he shouted in frustration. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said. “Besides, you should go. I don’t want you coming here.”
His luscious lips pressed together in a line. He looked ready to shout at me but controlled himself.
“Fine, Milla,” he said, backing away. “I’ll go for now. Before I do, let me warn you. The construction business is not like any other. It’s almost like battling in a war field. I can’t believe Dad’s going to let you take over.”
“Brian’s not a sexist like you,” I spat. “He believes I can do the job. He believes you and your brothers will help me with it. But as usual, you guys are going to disappoint him.”
“I know you’re angry with us but watch what you say,” he said in a warning tone.
“Anger isn’t the only thing I feel when I look at you,” I said in a venom-filled voice. “I hate you, Noah. Don’t tell me you’re sorry because it makes no sense at all. You hurt me because you were scared to lose your dad’s money and property to me and my mom. I kept telling you we didn’t want any of it, that my mom was with Brian because she loved him—”
