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“I would never,” he breathed.
“But you did. You made me feel less every time I wanted you to care. You never saw me past a helper for Sophie, and I know that was my job but… but… I don't know, Ethan. You failed to see how much you were hurting me.”
“Evie, please. If you wouldn't give me a chance to do anything just please let me explain.” He begged.
I breathed shakily, watching him.
“All this was complicated from the beginning. You are so young and dedicated… my best friend's daughter. I couldn't betray my best friend, so I was careful, tried to push you away and I thought... I thought it worked until I started to realize otherwise,” he breathed.
“I started to hate how much I hurt you, but I just couldn't throw caution to the wind. Evie, believe me, I tried to convince myself that all I felt for you was lust. But gaslighting myself could only get me so far. Look what happened when I finally decided to throw caution to the wind.”
He paused slightly, his eyes searching my face.
“Look at the chaos I caused. I blamed myself every day after the fight for the strained relationship between myself and your father… and especially between you and him. Both of you had such a happy family, something I didn't have. I didn't want to ruin that for you. I didn't want to ruin that for any of you and when Henry suggested that I... I let you return to your father, I agreed.”
His voice turned heavy…shaky.
“That was my biggest mistake because then I realized how much I loved you… but it was too late. You were gone. It took losing you, Evie, to realize what I truly lost. I didn’t just lose you. I lost my peace…my happiness. I lost a part of me….”
“…There is no justification for my response, Evie. I… I thought I had your best interest at heart. Now I realize how stupid I was… and I’m sorry.”
He breathed heavily before stretching the bouquet.
“You don't have to forgive me now. But please…” His voice broke.
A tear slipped down my cheek.
“Please, know this; I need you.”
Another tear slipped down my face. Something about his words pierced the walls I’d built around my heart.
“I love you, Evie. And I'm sorry I didn't treat you how you deserved to be treated. But I want you to know one thing. Whatever choice you make…. if you choose to accept me or not, I’ll still love you.”
Still stretching his hand, he brought his other one to wipe my cheeks.
I shivered at the contact. His thumb was warm, just like how it’d always been.
As we stared at each other, all the anger, and hurt slowly simmered away.
It crumbled under the weight of his stare… his touch, leaving one thing.
Love.
My love for him was unwavering.
But somehow the only thing I could do was accept the bouquet and watch as he placed a kiss on my cheek before walking away.
***
It was the following day.
Again, I woke up to an empty house. Dad must have gone to work. And it was just me.
I wouldn't lie after his apology yesterday. I felt a little lighter. A part of me felt lighter but the other part still felt heavy.
The weight of something was still hanging thickly in my chest. I didn't know what.
I moved to get out of bed when I spotted the bouquet.
