"I'm saying…" She takes a shaky breath. "I'm saying I considered it."
The words feel like actual physical punches. Time slows. All of my senses are suddenly heightened.
"You considered taking the money?"
"I considered whether your father was right. Whether you'd be better off without me."
"That's not the same thing."
"Isn't it?" Tears are streaming down her face now. "Declan, that's Quantico. That's the dream job. The job I never thought I'd have a shot at. And the money—do you know what I could do with that money?"
"So you actually thought about leaving me for money?" My voice comes out like I’ve been gargling glass.
"No!" She steps toward me. "Not for the money. To stop being the thing that ruins your life."
The distinction stops me cold.
"What?"
"Declan, I don't belong in your world. I don't have the background, the connections, or the lifestyle. I work at a restaurant. I can't afford the things that are going to be normal for you." She's sobbing now. "And maybe the kindest thing I could do is get out of your way. Let you focus on your career without me constantly creating problems."
"You think you're ruining my life?"
"I think I'm holding you back. I think your father is right that this relationship will end eventually anyway. And maybe it's better to end it now before I cost you more than a broken finger and a lost game."
Something breaks inside me.
She actually believes this. Believes she's a burden. Believes she's hurting me just by existing in my life.
I close the distance between us in two strides.
"You're not ruining my life," I say fiercely. "You're the best thing in my life. The only thing that makes any of this worthwhile."
"Declan—"
"No. Listen to me." I cup her face, forcing her to look at me. "My father is a manipulative asshole who thinks he can control every aspect of my life. He thinks love is a weakness. That relationships are distractions. That nothing matters except career, money, and legacy."
"But he's not entirely wrong."
"He is wrong. About everything." I brush away her tears with my thumbs. "You're not holding me back. You're not a distraction. You're not a burden, an obstacle, or any of the other things he tried to make you believe."
"Then why does everything keep going wrong?"
"Because life is complicated. Because people like Bree and Cole are manipulative assholes.” I press my forehead against hers. "But none of that is your fault."
"I feel like it is."
"I know. And I hate that. I hate that you're carrying guilt for things you didn't do. I hate that people are blaming you for my choices. I hate that my father made you feel like you're not enough."
"Maybe I'm not."
"You are." I kiss her softly. "You're everything."
I kiss her again.
“I don't care what anyone says." I pull back to look at her. "I love you. I choose you. And I'm not going to let him or anyone else make you feel like you don't belong in my life."
She nods as more tears slide down her cheeks.
