scares me the most.
“Why didn’t you just come up? You know you don’t have to get Margaret to let you in.”
She ignores what I say and walks further into the room, holding out her hand in front of her like she wants to give me something. “I just wanted to give you this.”
I reach out and open my hand and she drops her engagement ring into my palm. I suck in a breath and my head whips up to meet her gaze.
I step closer. “You have to let me explain.”
She steps back. “I don’t have to do anything.”
“Isla, what you heard… it’s not what you think.”
She wraps her arms around herself like she’s cold. “Did your dad want you to marry me?”
I inhale a shaky breath. “Yes, but—”
“Is there something he wants from me?”
“Yes, but—”
“There’s nothing else to know, then. You’re free to do what you want now.” She turns to leave, but I reach for her upper arm and spin her around.
“It’s true that that’s why I originally tried to get close to you, it is. And I feel terrible about that. But that is not the reason I asked you to marry me. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.” I hope the desperation in my tone makes her believe me.
“Then why didn’t you say that to your dad when he asked if you had feelings for me!” she screams. The dam holding back her emotions breaks and her heartbreak shines.
Fuck. I swore I never wanted to be the cause of her hurt.
“Because if he knew how I felt about you, he’d only use it against me, and I won’t let you be a pawn in his sick game.”
She throws her hands out to the side and my hand drops from her arm. “I’m already a pawn! The least you could have done was told me!”
I push my hands through my hair out of frustration. “You don’t understand. You don’t know what he’s capable of. Even I’m not sure. I was protecting you.”
She scoffs. “By asking me to marry you?”
I shake my head. “Partly. But I asked you because I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I don’t believe you.” Her eyes well up, but she doesn’t cry.
“Please, Isla, I’m telling you the truth. I love you. I never lied about my feelings for you.”
“But you lied about everything else. So many times. How many more confessions am I going to hear from you before I learn that you’re a liar? I’m an idiot.”
“Fuck!” Her eyes widen in fear. Shit, I have to get myself under control. “You know everything now. I swear.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think I could trust you anymore, or your feelings for me.”
“Isla.” I move to step toward her, but she steps back with her hand extended out, halting me in my tracks.
“Don’t.” She shakes her head and takes a few more steps back.
“Please,” I beg, my own eyes welling up with tears. This can’t be it for us.
“I don’t want to see you anymore, Garrin. Please leave me alone. I’m going through enough right now after losing my father. I can’t take any more heartbreak.”
She turns and rushes out to the foyer and out of my life.
The grief inside me is all-encompassing, and I fall to my knees on the floor, head in my hands. For the first time since my mom died, I cry for all I’ve lost.
45
Chapter Forty-five
Garrin
Every day since Isla left my apartment feels like a decade. I want to pick up the phone and call her or show up at her work, but every time I’m close to doing so, I remember the look in her eyes when she asked me not to contact her again. The pain. The devastation. The disappointment.
I’ve been in a worse mood than usual lately, so much so that even Roslin asked me about it. It’s not public knowledge that our engagement is off. Apparently, everyone believed Isla left because she was ill the night of the engagement party, and she must not have announced it to anyone except Everly and her mom. Otherwise it would be all over the social circuit.
It’s coming, though. The wedding is only a couple weeks away.
Today is election day, and all I can think of is that I should be by her side to either help her celebrate Ford’s win or soothe the burn of defeat if he loses.
But instead I’m sitting on my