Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,73
life is with you!” Then I take a deep breath, thinking something through. “This is because of my mom, right?”
“And your dad,” he confesses.
And my dad? So he’s also against us? I shouldn’t be surprised. If anything could destroy his reputation, Dad would automatically stand against it, including us.
“Why did you accept my proposal, then?” I ask, confused. Dazzled. Lost.
“Because I do want to marry you,” he replies, his eyes locked on mine. “I just can’t.” As if he’s ashamed to have said so, he breaks eye contact, looking downward.
Those three words, as sharp as a knife, have just perforated me, my soul, my heart, my dreams… And, worst of all, I saw this coming. The nightmare I had was not just a nightmare, but a glimpse into my new reality—a reality without him.
I close my eyes in a failed attempt to control the pain. “Why?” I mumble, knowing all too well the answer. “Why can’t you?”
He lets out a sigh, pondering his next words. “Your mom has some dirt against my family, your dad… and me. And she is ready to press charges if I don’t leave you alone.”
“What kind of dirt?” I ask just as fast.
“The kind that could land me in jail for a long, long time,” he says, keeping it short. “I can’t tell you exactly what it is, since it involves other people, but I can’t take it lightly.” He pauses, observing my distress. My mind must have shut down, as I’m totally unable to speak. “Your father tried to talk to her, I also tried, my own mother tried…” His face and voice are filled with disappointment and pain. “I’m so sorry to have started this relationship,” he says, sounding defeated. “I should’ve been wiser.”
This is it. He’s really breaking up with me. My jaw must’ve dropped a long time ago by now, and as I process everything he just said, my eyes start watering and I can’t help but sniffle. “So this is how it ends, huh?” Wiping the first tears coursing down my cheeks, I add, “My mom wins, and you let her get away with it?”
“Petra…”
“No!” I shout as I release myself from his embrace. “I thought you’d fight for us. That you’d face anything and beyond for us!”
“I’m doing what is right…”
“For them!” I snap back. “Not for us. Not for me.”
“I know it hurts—”
“I hate you,” I tell him. “And I’m beyond…” I tilt my head back, trying to contain the tears that are already falling. “I’m beyond disappointed with your attitude and cowardice.” I take a deep breath, and, looking him in the eye, I say, “If you give up on us, then you are not the man I fell in love with.”
“I know,” he replies, his voice just as calm. Then he wipes my tears with his thumbs, pulling me again into his arms. “I love you so damn much. Never forget that.” I huff, barely believing his words. “One day you will understand, trust me.”
But I push him away. Then I reach for my engagement ring and say, “I guess you might need this.”
As I’m about to remove it, he stops me immediately. “No, keep it. This ring is yours. It always will be. Please,” he insists. “Keep it as… as a keepsake of the time we spent together.”
I feel so empty inside that even death doesn’t seem like such a bad option. How can he do this to me? To us? What does my mother have against him, my dad, and his family that is so serious he doesn’t even try to fight back?
Before I can think any further, he presses his lips against my forehead in a never-ending kiss. “If you leave for Singapore, I will never forgive you, Alexander,” I tell him, my tone threatening. “Never. Do you hear me?”
We look in each other’s eyes as if it is the last time.
“Promise me you will take good care of yourself,” he asks.
“I won’t promise you anything,” I snap back. Despite my anger and sobs, I plead once more, “Please don’t leave me.” I sound pathetic, but my despair is too great to even care. “You can’t leave me. Please.”
“Hey…” he whispers, soothing me. “You’ll be fine. You’ve got Dr. Nel taking care of you.” I close my eyes, trying to force myself to wake up from this nightmare. It must be one. It can only be that. “You’re destined to do great things, Miss Van Gatt. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”