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The air in the room crackles with tension as I push myself up out of the chair, my blue eyes locked on hers. “You know, ever since we first met, you’ve been nothing but trouble,” I accuse, the words cutting through the stillness.
Annalise’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back, her hands coming up defensively. “I never wanted to cause any problems, Nikhil. I’m just trying to do what’s best for our daughters.”
“Your apologies won’t fix anything,” I snap, feeling my anger rising like a tidal wave. The truth is, I don’t want to be angry at her—but the emotions are too raw, too intense to keep at bay.
“Please,” she pleads, her voice laced with desperation. “I just want to make things right. Tell me what I can do to help.”
Help? I snort at the thought. As if anything can truly fix the mess we’ve found ourselves in. My thoughts race, images of Cassius and Damian flashing through my mind. How did it come to this?
“Nothing can change what’s already happened,” I say coldly, stepping closer to her. “We have to live with the consequences of our actions, Annalise.”
Her green eyes brim with unshed tears, and I feel a pang of guilt deep within my chest. But it’s too late to turn back now—too late to undo the tangled web we’ve woven.
The silence stretches between us, heavy and tense, as if a single word could shatter the fragile balance we’re desperately clinging to. Annalise’s face is a mixture of hurt and determination, her vulnerability laid bare before me.
“Maybe I should just leave,” she whispers, her voice quivering with emotion. “I don’t want to tear your family apart.”
Her words hit me like a gut punch, forcing me to confront the reality of what her departure would mean. Losing her—losing our daughters—is not an option. Not when I’ve only just begun to understand my role in their lives.
“Leaving won’t solve anything,” I tell her, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me. “It would hurt Cassius, and it would hurt me too…and possibly Damian.”
The mention of my brothers seems to affect her, and I can see the resolve forming behind her emerald eyes. She doesn’t want to come between us—that much is clear.
“Please, Nikhil, I don’t want to be the cause of any more pain,” she says softly, her gaze locked on mine. “I care about all of you, and if there’s a way for us to coexist, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
My heart thuds in my chest at the sincerity in her words, at the hope that flickers in her eyes. Can we truly find a way to navigate this uncharted territory, or are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of our past?
“I will too,” I admit, taking a step closer to her. The air crackles with electricity as the distance between us lessens, and I can feel the pull of our shared connection—a connection that has only grown stronger since the revelation of my paternity.
“Let’s try to make this work, then,” she agrees, her voice barely above a whisper. “For our daughters, for your brothers…for all of us.”
As our eyes remain locked, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of hope—the possibility that, despite everything, we might find a way to move forward together. It’s a long shot, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take.
“Alright,” I agree, my voice rough with emotion. “We’ll make it work. Together.”
The heat of her body permeates the scant space between us, sending a shiver down my spine. I know I should keep my distance, but the pull is too strong to resist.
“Annalise,” I breathe, unable to tear my gaze from hers. My hands reach out and grab her arms, pulling her against my chest. She gasps, her eyes widening as our bodies collide. “I can’t deny it anymore…I’m entranced by you.”
“Wh-what are you saying?” she stammers, her cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and vulnerability. But she doesn’t push me away—if anything, she leans in closer, as if seeking solace in my embrace.
“Ever since I saw you again—” I pause, swallowing the lump in my throat. “And our children…I knew I couldn’t let any of you go.” The words pour out of me, raw and unfiltered, leaving me exposed in a way I’ve never experienced before.
Her eyes search mine, looking for some hint of deception or insincerity. But all she finds is the truth—the undeniable connection that binds us together, despite the chaos that surrounds us.
“Is this really what you want, Nikhil?” she asks hesitantly, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” I admit, my grip on her tightening as if I could somehow anchor us both amidst the storm of uncertainty we face. “But I know one thing—I can’t walk away from you, Annalise. Not now, not ever.”
As I speak, I can see the weight of my words settling upon her shoulders, and I silently pray that she’ll find the strength to bear them. We’re standing at a precipice, teetering on the edge of something terrifying and exhilarating. And I know, without a doubt, that I want her by my side as we take the plunge.
My heart races as I lean in, capturing her lips with mine. The kiss is fierce and desperate, our emotions colliding like a whirlwind, leaving us breathless. Annalise’s hands find my chest, gripping the fabric of my shirt as if holding on for dear life.
As we break apart, I release her and take a step back, my chest heaving. My gaze never leaves hers, even as I feel the pain of separation clawing at my insides. “I have to go,” I say, my voice hoarse and barely audible. “But this isn’t over, Annalise. Not by a long shot.”
“Wait, Nikhil—” she starts, but I’m already turning away, pushing the door open and stepping out into the dark hallway. I can’t bear to look at her any longer, not when every fiber of my being screams for me to stay, to claim what I’ve wanted since that fateful night at the masquerade ball.
“Goodnight, Annalise,” I whisper, closing the door behind me. The sound echoes through the empty corridor, sealing the rift between us—for now.
