Page 91 of Falling for the Wife

“That’s not true!” she loudly objected as tears threatened to spill from the rim of her eyes. “You left! You didn’t even wait for me to grasp the entire situation. You just fucking left! It’s as if it’s that easy to just drop me and you fucking go on living your life as if you didn’t ruin mine!” she somberly stated. “Do you know how it feels every time you walk out on me?Do you?Not only did Rose chip away at my guilt, but she also managed to make me jealous. I was consumed by it. But instead of trying to talk me out of it, to help me heal from the pain she caused, you just up and leftagain. I’m of so little value to you…” She started crying—hard, deep, racking sobs. “You’ve hurt me so much. You terrify me, but I just realized I’m so terrified of fully losing you that I’m willing to risk you never talking to me. I hope it’s not too late to work things out. I want to stay married to you, and if Rose is in the picture and if she’s pregnant…If you still love me, I’m willing to accept your child as a part of you, too. I’ll love the baby as if it’s my own. So, please don’t judge me too harshly…I am learning and making countless mistakes. But here I am, ready to make amends, baring my heart to you, hoping you’ll love me again.”

Her lengthy explosive confession tilted my axis. Not only was I speechless, but I was rather dumbfounded that she had bloody convinced herself I was having a child with Rose. Her imagination sure worked overtime. And as for the rest, I loved her, but she terrified me, too. But as she pointed out, maybe it was the wrong decision to walk out on her when she was obviously in pain that night. I was reeling from her divorce announcement, so consumed by pain and anger it was impossible to see past all the agonizing haze our confrontation evoked.

“Gisele, I don’t know what else to say…This is all too much…”

Fresh tears renewed, and she shuddered as she wiped the tears away. “It’s okay,” she hiccupped. “It’s okay. You’re busy and all, so I should get going.” Her eyes flickered towards the folder before she gripped her purse and sprinted towards the door.

“That’s it?” I yelled after her, stopping her from taking another step.

Ever so slowly, she turned to face me. “What do you mean by ‘that’s it’?”

“After all you’ve just said,youthen decide to leave?”

Gisele grimaced. Although the heavy stream of tears had halted, moisture remained in her sullen gray depths. “I’m giving you space. You look so affronted. I don’t know if you hate me or if you still love me or are just indifferent, or maybe I’m just saving us from another awkward goodbye.”

My eyes trained on her as I progressively meandered over to her frozen form, contemplative. Stopping my tracks upon reaching her, my eyes ablaze as I gazed down on the woman who had wrung me dry. “Do you mean that, Gisele? About loving my child as your own?”

She meekly nodded. “With all my heart.”

“And what of Dexter?” I warily asked, eyes holding her firmly, never letting her off. “Where does he fit in this?”

“You totally misconstrued what happened this morning. I left him a voicemail the other day, asking if I could interview him. It’s for school. He’s a lawyer, in case you’d forgotten…There’s nothing going on, Jared.” She paused, closing the gap between us. Placing her palm on my chest, she then gazed up at me, beseeching. “I’m not a soulless person. I care about the people I love. I want to keep them, to protect them. As for being vindictive…I never considered myself that way until you came along. I’m appalled I’ve stooped so low, but loving you isn’t an excuse to turn into a despicable person. I’m sorry for that. Like I said earlier, I’m learning. Take a chance on me. I won’t disappoint you.”

I’d given her an opportunity to take it all back yesterday, but it seemed she hadn’t come to her senses until this morning. I was glad she had before everything was set in motion. Was I relieved? Beyond words. Was I wary? Quite. But we both were at fault here. We had begun this relationship without intending for it to be real. But here we were, falling in love with each other.

“I wish I could take it all back, erase it all away, but wishing for the impossible wouldn’t solve anything. There is no baby, no Rose. I’m fucking in love with you, Gisele. I do…with all of me…with everything in me. I passionately love you. I’m ready to be the man you deserve to have. I’m ready to be your lover, your best friend, your champion, but above all, I’m ready to be your husband. We’ll give us a chance. We’ll give our marriage one last try—just you and me like it was supposed to be from the start. No more other people. No exes…just us working it out, fighting, making love, compromising, and hashing things out. If loving you means dealing with all of this, then I want all of your crazy. I’m ready, kitten.”

She brought our foreheads together, her hand cupping my cheek. “Are you sure? I’m sorry for putting us here when we were in such a good place. I’m so young, and I have so much to learn. I’m going to make a crazy load of mistakes, and when that happens, promise me not to walk out on me. I love you. I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember…and I doubt I’ll stop loving you. I’m yours—all yours—and if you’ll have me, I’m going to love and worship you until the very end.”

“Of course, I’m going to have you. You’re my wife,” I passionately stated with my all.

“Say that again.” She grinned with her eyes closed.

“You’re my wife,” I teased as my lips softly brushed hers, overwhelmed by the profound, intrinsic love radiating out of my system, out of my pores. I was intoxicated by it all.

“God, you have no idea how hearing you say that turns me on.” She wrapped her arms around my neck before the minx launched herself at me, jumping as she hooked her legs around my hips, clinging onto me as she laughed with a childlike, gleeful enthusiasm. “I suppose Papa knew what he was doing. I can’t thank him enough for giving me you.”

Pressing her body against the wall, I devoured her lips. “I thank him every day.”

“You do? Since when?” She let out a whimsical sigh, gazing at me with her hallmark aroused look—half-closed lids, parted lips, and her tongue toying with her bottom lip.

Bloody hell. “The moment you started driving me crazy!” I growled as I led us back into my bedroom before throwing her onto the mattress. She looked wild, wanton, and free. “My little sexy freak,” I gritted out, yanking the towel away from my hips, quite ready to consume the nymph. “Hope you’re ready to be ravished, Mrs. St. James. After this morning, you know I won’t be gentle.”

“Then where’s your belt to tie this bad girl up?” She arched her brow, challenging me.

I let out a guttural groan, beyond enchanted that she was indulging in my sexual depravity.

The gala could wait. Ravishing my wife couldn’t.

CHAPTER35

The St. James’ Epilogue

JARED

On one spring evening,right after dinner, Gisele insisted we take a quick stroll towards the garden.

We had intended to do leisure walks when I came home for dinner, which happened twice a week. Soon, I had to start setting things up so I could work from home. Then I wouldn’t have to hear Gisele’s complaints of abandonment issues. It was all done in jest, of course, but I never wanted her to feel as though I was never around.