Off Limits Attraction (The Heirs of Hansol #3) - Jayci Lee Page 0,56
accusation and heartbreak that he had to look away. “Did you make love to me—have this relationship with me—to earn my trust? Was all this your way of using me to get information out of me? Or was it your plan to break my heart all along? To avenge your precious family?”
“Jihae, no. God, no.” He took a step toward her and she flinched, turning her head away as though his proximity would hurt her. He stopped. “I made love to you because I couldn’t hold back anymore. No matter how hard I fought it, I wanted you more than my next breath. Not being with you would have burned me into ashes.”
“So the part where you had sex with me was just to satiate your lust then.”
“No. Please. I knew in the depths of my soul that you were innocent, and by relaying Sylvia Taylor’s move to Hansol’s PI, my involvement in the investigation was over. I didn’t know then, but I was already so deeply in love with you. I fooled myself into thinking that I would be happy with whatever you gave me. I didn’t deserve forever with you, but I thought we could have a short time together without you getting hurt. I was an idiot and none of it makes sense now.”
“No, it doesn’t. You were selfish, and you were cowardly.”
“I was, but I will make it up to you if you would only give me a chance. I will become the man you deserve. I love you with every cell in my body—more than life itself. I’d made up my mind to tell you, but I was waiting for the right time. Again, that was my cowardice. But I wanted to tell you everything and beg for your forgiveness. I never meant to hurt you. Please give me another chance.”
“You broke my heart, Colin. I have no forgiveness or hope left in me, because you ruined me. You stole my chance to choose you, and I’ll never forgive you for that.”
“I love you, Jihae. I’ll never stop loving you.”
Even if she didn’t believe him, he had to try to convince her that she was loved and cherished by a foolish man. A fool’s love was still love, and he hoped that it could provide her with a little salve for her pain. Colin got down on his knees in front of her, pulled out the ring from his pocket and held it out to her without opening the box.
“I won’t insult you by even dreaming that you could accept my proposal, but once I told you everything, I was going to propose to you so I could spend the rest of my life loving you and making you happy. My love wasn’t planned, but it’s the greatest truth I know. And even if you can’t accept me, please know that you are loved most deeply. Truly. Your father betrayed you, and I added to that hurt on the same day. My past mistakes are unforgivable, but causing you such pain today is beyond reprehensible. Please forget about me. Don’t let your memory of me cause you any further pain. I’m not worth it.”
Jihae didn’t say a word, but tears were streaming down her face again, every drop like blood seeping from her heart. He got to his feet and placed the engagement ring on the counter.
“This is yours. There is no one else who will wear it. Do with it what you will.” He turned from her then and took his first step toward the door and out of her life. But the burning pain in his heart made him turn around and look at her one last time. “I love you so very much. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the man you deserve to be with.”
It was only when he put his shaking hand on the doorknob that he heard her first broken sob. He held back the tears that rose to his eyes. He didn’t deserve even a speck of relief from his anguish.
Thirteen
Time had passed. The cut on her palm had faded away into a thin white line, and Princes Jihae was able to pour herself into work without feeling much of anything. The production of Best Placed Bets was running toward the finish line. She was damn proud of what Rotelle Entertainment, CS Productions and the staff, crew and talent had accomplished.
Rule Two—they must finish the film no matter what—remained firmly in place, because she always kept her word. While