“Don’t,” she choked. “Don’t—William, don’t touch me.”
His hand froze midair. “Violet… please don’t shut me out.”
She was already pulling her dress back into place, shoving her arms into the sleeves with shaking, clumsy movements, breath breaking in her chest—half sob, half panic.
“This never should have happened,” she whispered.
His face went stark white.
“How can you say that?” he breathed. “What we just did—what’s always been between us—Violet, it’s us. It’s always been us. I love you. And you love me.”
Her laugh cracked, a sound ugly and sharp and full of pain.
“Love doesn’t fix this,” she said. “It didn’t fix it then, and it won’t fix it now.”
His face tightened, his mouth parting like he meant to say something—
but nothing came out.
“What do you want from me?” she snapped, breath uneven as she tried to pull the front of her dress together, one hand clutching the fabric closed while the other fumbled hopelessly with the hooks.
“What do I want from you?” he burst out—too loud, too raw, as though it tore free without his consent.
“I want a life with you.”
The words landed heavy—too heavy—and she froze.
He took a small step toward her, only to force himself still again, chest rising and falling like he was trying to hold his own body back.
“I want you, Violet. And Lily. The future we were meant to have.”
His voice cracked.
“A home. Years together. Marriage.”
Another step, hesitant and hopeful, and she stepped back, her heel brushing the wall behind her.
He stopped at once, as though her retreat had hit him like a blow.
“A nursery full of the children we dreamed of,” he whispered. “God… the ones I used to imagine you holding.”
He dragged a shaking hand through his hair.
“Everything I threw away. Everything I should have chosen then… everything I’m choosing now, if you’ll let me.”
Her pulse roared in her ears.
She couldn’t run.
She couldn’t stay.
She couldn’t breathe.
Violet stared at him—wild, overwhelmed, trembling.
“Everything?” she whispered. “You want everything?”
Her breath hitched, chest rising and falling in quick, frantic bursts.
