Page 91 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

He recognizes his own words. The ones he threw at me in the laboratory to hurt me. Because he knew exactly where to strike.

His face falls apart. He closes his eyes.

The silence between us feels endless.

When he finally opens them again, he offers neither excuses nor justifications.

He simply lets me see what lies behind all his walls.

His regret. His pain. His love.

“I’m sorry. I’ll regret those words for the rest of my life. But you have to believe me. There has only ever been you.”

He means it. I can feel it. His love is still there. Buried beneath anger and resentment. But still there.

And that’s exactly the problem.

He doesn’t get to do this. Not after what he said to me. Not after nearly marrying someone else. Not after looking at me like I was the enemy.

I rise abruptly. I need air. Distance.

I need to stop feeling his warmth so close to me.

But his hand closes around my wrist. Gently. Not restraining. Pleading.

“Please... don’t go.”

His voice is low, almost vulnerable.

And that’s precisely what roots me in place.

Because Dante is never vulnerable.

“If you still feel something for me...”

His voice wavers.

“Then let me try to repair what I’ve destroyed. Let me show you that I can be better than the man I’ve been these past few weeks.”

He swallows hard.

“I’m not asking you to forgive me. I’m not even asking you to trust me right away.”

A brief silence.

“I’m only asking for a chance to earn your trust again.”

24. Don’t Leave

Valeria

Even as I still refuse to look at him, Dante keeps talking without loosening his grip around my wrist.

He doesn’t have the right to do that anymore.

It’s cruel, the power his touch still has over me.

“You don’t have to believe me,” he says softly. “But stay. Give me a chance to show you I can still be the man you can rely on.”