Page 120 of The Substitute Fiancée

I pull her close. Very gently. She struggles to break free, but without conviction. When she stops resisting, I wrap my arms around her.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur into her hair. “So sorry.”

My voice breaks and tears slide down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” I repeat. “None of what I said to you is true.”

Her body trembles against mine. She cries.

And my heart cracks a little more. I tighten my hold. It’s all I can do. Hold her while she breaks, because I’m the one who did this to her.

“You never trusted me,” she sobs against my chest.

“I know.”

“You punished me for her mistakes.”

The words tear into me.

“I know.”

“Tomorrow… tomorrow I have to…”

Her voice breaks.

“I know. Emelyne told me.”

I hold her tighter.

“And you’re going to nail it. Do you hear me? You’re going to walk into that room and show them how extraordinary you are.”

“I can’t. I don’t have it in me anymore—”

“Yes, you do. Because your worth has nothing to do with me. Or with us. Or with that jealous asshole who humiliated you today.”

I frame her face between my hands.

“You’re Sam. The one who sees the world in colors I don’t even notice. The one who turns pain into beauty. And no arrogant asshole can ever take that away from you.”

She stares at me, eyes shining.

“You are an arrogant asshole.”

“I know.”

“I hate you.”

“I know.”

“Then why… why are you the only person I want to see right now?”

Her voice breaks.

I don’t have an answer. So I stay silent.

I just hold her.

When her sobs finally ease, I lift her and carry her back to the bed.