usion, desire, and regret. I want to be angry with him, to tel

a part of me still w

eath, but my pulse betrays me. It quic

?" I finally ask, my voice shaky

lips curling into a knowin

y words are laced with more vulnerability than I intend. "You think you can just waltz ba

I don't expect you to forget what happened, or to forgive me easily, but I won't sit here and p

o with them. I feel the heat rising in my chest, the anger bubbling up alo

above a whisper. "You think you can just walk in here, a

mere proximity making it difficult to think clearly. "Vanya, nothing is simple. But I

a physical blow. The vulnerability I see in him is so r

My mind floods with memories-of him, of us,

ugh he's afraid to go back there, too. "We can't change the pa

t to forget. "You left me, Rex. You left me when I

nd regret flash across his face. "I didn't

e a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "You left me without an explanation, without eve

s softer, almost hesitant. "I never wanted to hurt you, Vanya. The decision I made-everything I did-it wasn't b

ess slipping into my tone. "You thought

ce. "I was trying to protect you from the mess I had made, Vanya. I didn't w

g me without a word was the right thing to do?" The pain, the hurt that has festered for so long,

aks. I stare at him, my heart breaking again, realizing how much of me stil

n his voice. "I was wrong, Vanya. I should have never left y

ect me, but it wasn't his decision to make. I didn't need protection. I needed him. And now,

, my voice trembling. "But I'm not asking you to fix everything ove

"I'll give you all the time you need

e him. His resolve is firm, but his gaze is soft, vulnerable. "But I'm no

myself up to him again, scared of being hurt again. But at the same time, there's a part of me that doesn't want

emotions inside me. "I'll continue with the contract marriage. We'll honor the terms we agreed

he doesn't argue. He steps closer to me, his hand gent

, Vanya," he whispers, his lips barely bru

I'll break. And maybe I will. But as I feel his lips on mine, I realize somethin

gret, flood between us. And for just a moment, it's like we're

new kind of vulnerabil

en't said. So much I

e truth I'm holding back, the one

was four months pr