Not because he’d accepted the stark divide between their stations in life. No, she had always known that was inevitable.
She was angry with him.
For leaving her behind without a word.
For never coming back.
For moving on so easily while she had been left to pick up the broken pieces of her heart.
And she was angry, too, for all the people he had abandoned—not just her, but the families his uncle had turned off Woodland Priory. Families who had worked that land for generations, who had trusted in their noble protector, only to be cast aside like they were nothing.
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, nails pressing into her palms. She had spent years pushing that pain down,convincing herself she had imagined what they had shared, that she had been nothing more than a childhood folly for a boy destined for greatness.
This moment felt like the cruelest of tricks.
But standing here now, his nearness wrapped around her like a force she could not fight—God help her, it was as if no time had passed at all.
And that terrified her.
She wanted to rage at him, to demand why he had never checked on her, why he had never cared enough to come back.
And the worst part? The man before her didn’t even know he had wronged her.
He didn’t remember breaking his promises. Didn’t remember choosing his title, his responsibilities, his entire life over her.
Even if she screamed all the pain in her heart, even if she let it tear free like a wounded animal, he would only look at her in confusion.
He could not answer for sins he did not remember committing.
And that realization…
It left her feeling utterly powerless.
Because once again, she had no choice but to swallow it all down—again.
“As much as I want you…” He continued, unaware of the storm raging inside her. “In good conscience, I can’t… We cannot…” His fingers found her chin, tipping her face up, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Ah, hell.”
She had lost him once before, and now, even without his memories, he was pushing her away again.
It wasn’t fair! Because now, she was angry with herself.
“I want nothing more than to do… so many things with you.” His voice was rough, and his jaw flexed as though the words cost him dearly. “But we need to wait.”
Wait.
Like she had waited for him all those years ago?
Because, as pathetic as it was, shehadwaited.
Even when she’d told herself to move on. Even when she had forced herself to face reality, to accept that they had no future. Somewhere deep inside, she had still waited.
She had clung to the foolish hope that he would come back for her.
But he never had.
And now, after all these years, here he was, asking her to wait again.
He dragged a hand through his hair, completely unaware of the way he was ripping her heart to shreds. “I know there’s no evidence that I ever wore a wedding ring, but that doesn’t guarantee I’m not married. Until I know…”
