This was only the beginning.
And it was.
Several townsfolk came up to them while they were waiting for the poet to complete his haiku, and Anneke introduced Marcus to everyone as her husband. To the billionaire’s credit, he took everything by stride, expressing his thanks when he received greetings of felicitations and good-naturedly acknowledging people’s ribbing when theBeastsarticle was inevitably brought up.
After, she kept chatting nonstop, not allowing him another word edgewise. She was scared that if she did – he would tell her what she was doing wasn’t working, and she had to let him go.
They had lunch at Alfred’s, just like before, and after she asked him if they could drop by the local museum.
Marcus’ gaze turned inscrutable.“Of course.” It was the place they were supposed to meet over a decade ago. Everything had come full circle now, and he knew it was time.
Both of them were quiet as they took the elevator all the way to the private hall in the fifth floor, and she bit her lip hard when Marcus entered the passcode on her behalf.He remembered.After all these years, he remembered.
That had to mean something.
Didn’t it?
As they started down the hall, she told him a little about the paintings gracing the walls. Some were painted by their ancestors while others gifts were from de Konigh husbands to the women they loved.
When they reached the end of the hallway, she gestured to the door to their left. Swallowing hard, Anneke said unevenly, “That’s where I was waiting for you twelve years ago.” Turning to him, she said wistfully, “If you had shown up back then—-”
Marcus’ jaw clenched. “Don’t.”
Her eyes widened.
“Don’t wish for the impossible.”
“I’m not. But I just can’t help thinking how things would change—-”
“Who I was then is the same person I am now, Anneke.” His voice was harsh. “I’ve been cursed from the start.Dirty—-” He stopped when she started shaking her head vehemently.
“You don’t understand.” Tears clogged her throat, making it harder for Anneke to speak. “I do wish that you had taken me back then—-”
“Anneke.” His voice was ragged.
“Because if you had,” she choked out, “then I could’ve loved you sooner, and I could’ve shared your pain—-”
His arms snapped close around her. “Dio.” His own eyes squeezed closed as the full import of her words struck him, andDio,how they humbled him. Looking down at her, he cupped her face, and his chest tightened at the way her tears were rolling down her face.
Her tears were for him, but this time he understood it was not out of pity.
This time, he understood it was because -—his dream had come true.
She accepted him inside and out.
And she loved him despite everything.
“I’d never have asked for a divorce,” she whispered painfully, “if I had known—-”
He laughed hoarsely. “I’d never have granted you one. I’d always have figured a way to keep you from winning.”
“And y-yet—-” Her voice wobbled. “Last night, you looked like you were willing to give me up.”
“Only because I didn’t think you could ever accept me,bambina.Only that,” he swore fiercely.
“And n-now?”
His chest heaved just before Marcus asked hoarsely, “Could you forgive me for what I did?”