Chapter 0128
“I know I was a bastard in the past. How I treated you… well, there’s no excuse for the things I’ve done-“I begin, letting the words flow through me freely, not stopping to think about what I’m saying.
Instead, I try to really speak from the heart. To finally give Cara a window into my mind… perhaps even into my soul.
“You really don’t have to do this. It was so long ago-” Cara says, her voice sounding detached and far away, like she’s simply calling out from another room of the house, even though she’s standing 10 feet away from me.
Suddenly I can’t stand how separated we are. She’s too far, she’s not hearing me. I need to bring her closer. I need to explain.
I reach out, letting my hands snake around Cara’s smooth arms, pulling her into me. “Cara, please, just give me a chance,” I whisper into her fiery red hair, hoping she hears me.
“You have had enough chances, Alaric.”
But she says it so softly.
“I-“My voice sounds almost like a plea for her forgiveness. “Just one more chance. I want to tell you how I truly feel.”
There is a long silence.
Maybe my silent prayers work, because I feel her give the faintest nod after the pause.
Carefully, gently, I release her. The distance between us is almost nonexistent, and my hands still rest on her shoulders. It forces us to look directly into each other’s eyes.
She is beautiful.
So utterly captivating.
I need to make my decision.
“Listen to me, Cara. I know I’ve done a lot of awful things in the past,” I say, fumbling over my words. Damn it, I hope I can say this properly say everything I feel, everything I regret. “But ever since Bedford proposed to you, I’ve been thinking about something…”
I try to continue, awkwardly grasping for the right words. “-Something about us. About our past. About right now. I… I can’t just stand by and watch you belong to another man!”
Her green eyes widen. Then she lets out a bitter, almost mocking laugh, her voice laced with
anger.
“…So what? Because I was your ex–mate, you think you still have some twisted claim over me? That even if you don’t love me, you still can’t stand seeing someone else want me?”
Chapter 0128
“That’s not it! Or–maybe it is, but that’s not the most important thing!” I blurt out desperately.
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My heightened senses pick up the faint sound of knocking at Cara’s front door. Outside, I hear the muffled voices of the Arbun brothers chatting.
“Hey, we’re definitely going to give her a big surprise. Like, a huge surprise party…”
“Keep your voice down. She’s been tired lately; she might still be sleeping.”
“Should someone check if she’s awake? Just–be quiet about it, alright?”
The soft creak of footsteps approaching the bedroom reaches my ears.
This may not be the perfect moment to confess, but I know it’s the only moment that truly matters. If I don’t say it now, I might never have another chance to fix this–tò fix us.
Cara glares at me, still angry. “So what is it you’re trying to say, Alaric?”
I can’t hold back anymore. My emotions overwhelm me as I pull her tightly into my arms, locking her against my chest. She lets out a small gasp, startled.
Feeling the warmth of her body, the sensation of holding her again, grounds me. I take a deep breath and summon the courage to speak my truth.
“Hey, Cara, are you awake…?” Aidan’s voice drifts in as the bedroom door creaks open.
Then a loud, stunned shout: “Alaric?! Why the hell are you here?!”
But I don’t care.
“I love you, Cara.”
I say it softly, but with all the conviction in my heart, my words meant only for her ears.
Her green eyes go wide, staring into mine.
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