“Of course not. I love you, Emma. So fucking much. And it’s because I love you that I have to let you go. You should get the chance to live on your own. Seeing you almost die because of Matteo woke me up. You’ll always be in danger married to me. I want you to have the chance to live on your own. To find your own independence. I want that. You always wanted that.”
“I did. I mean, I do. But I made the choice to be with you.”
“Can it really be a choice when I’ve always forced you? Don’t you want the chance to have your own apartment? Make your own money?”
“Yes,” she breathes out. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted. But that doesn’t mean I want to give you up. I love you, Leo. I don’t want to lose you.” Tears well up in her eyes.
I cup her face. “You won’t lose me. We can still see each other. I’ll make sure you have a guard watching you for your own safety. But you need to have time to yourself. You need your own independence. It’s only fair. And only then if you still choose me, then we’ll both know it’s because you truly want to be with me. Not because I’m forcing you.”
“Why are you doing this?” she whispers as her tears cover my fingers.
“Because I love you and it’s the right thing to do. Even if it hurts. It hurts me. I don’t want to give you up. I’m a possessive man. But I have to do this. And you know it’s right. You need this chance, Emma. You’ve always wanted it.”
She sucks in a raggedy breath before letting it out. “You’re right. I’ve always wanted this. I don’t want to be a naïve little girl. I want my own independence.”
“So here it is. You can have it. I’ll find an apartment for you. Or you can choose one yourself. I’ll pay for it. No strings attached. You can live on your own. I can help you find a job. It’s killing me inside at the thought of letting you go but… you need this. I know that. I’m trying to be selfless here even if it fucking hurts.”
Her smile is filled with pain. “I know. I have wanted this for a long time.”
“I’m giving it to you.”
“That only makes me love you more.”
I place a tender kiss against her lips before pulling back. “Come back to me when you’re ready. But I need you to choose me for me. Not because I’ve made you.”
“Thank you, Leo.”
Seeing the light in her eyes is worth this pain even if it’s breaking my heart.
Emma
I find an apartment that I like – one thirty minutes away from Leo’s home. Though with Leo’s home having been burnt to the ground, he’ll have to find a new one eventually. Leo graciously pays for the apartment like he promised. He even helps me move in, though I can tell it’s eating him up inside.
“Just because we’re living in different places,” I say, placing my hand on his chest, “doesn’t mean we’ll never see each other again.”
“I know.”
We look around the empty apartment.
“I don’t have any things,” I whisper. The room is echoey with no furniture in it. “It all belonged to my mother.”
“We can get you things. Pick out furniture. Find art to put on the walls. Make this place your own. Here.” He hands me a credit card. “To get you started. Once again, no strings attached. I just want to help you out, Emma. Get you on your feet. Give you that fresh start you’ve needed.”
Leo’s kind actions only make me love him more. It makes me want to live with him but I know Leo is right. I need to have my own space for a while. Discover who I am on my own.
“Thank you,” I say, taking the card.
“And I found you a job. It’s a nearby bookstore. You had mentioned once the books you read growing up.”
“Thank you. This means everything.”
He lets out a little chuckle and sigh. “All I want right now is to throw you on the floor and have my way with you. But if I do that, I won’t be able to go and I have to go.”
My arousal flares through me but I push it down. Leo is right. We need some space.
“I’ll have a guard always watching you so you’re safe in case Matteo tries anything. But I haven’t heard anything on him in a few days. He must be in hiding. Gabriel and I will handle him. I promise.”
“I know. You’re good at keeping your promises.”
