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“Talk.”

This time, she didn’t even think of hedging.

She talked.

As she unburdened herself, she could feel her mind becoming more chaotic, and she hated it. This was not her – this terrible, shaking, terrified, helpless mess – she didn’t want to be like the old, weak, selfish Serenity again.

When Serenity finished speaking, Willem said harshly, “Don’t cry.”

She bit her lip hard.

Everything in him wanted to haul her into his arms and tell her it would be okay. But he knew if he did, he would be lying. “He was harassing you, Serenity.” She whitened at his words, but he didn’t let it get to him. “And you were letting him.” She let out a small cry, but he didn’t let it get to him either. “Don’t hide from the truth, dammit.”

The anger in the billionaire’s voice made Serenity want to curl into a ball and weep. “I’m s-sorry—-”

“You should be.” He clenched his fists in an effort to keep his hands to himself. “Because the next time, I might not be there to put a stop to things.” Images tormented him, of Serenity suffering a worse fate in another man’s hands, and he sucked his breath in sharply. “I need you to listen to me very carefully, engel.”

Blue eyes made blurry with shock and pain met his.

“You must make a choice sooner or later, and I think now’s the best time to make your decision.” Before she could ask, he said heavily, “You need to choose if you really want to live or not.” Even as Serenity jerked at his words, he forced himself to continue. “I know what you’ve been through, and I know that a part of you still blames yourself for what happened to your father.”

He took another deep breath. “But I also know you’re not stupid enough to believe that you really are at fault. He made his own decisions, and they were the wrong ones. He chose to turn his own child into a pawn to further his own dreams. He chose to kill himself instead of facing up to his mistakes. He chose to abandon you.”

Slowly, Willem took the girl’s hands in his. They felt small and cold, and the chains that he had wound around both their souls tightened at the knowledge. “It’s your turn now, Serenity. Whether you like it or not, every time you choose to let someone walk all over you, every time you let someone turn you into a victim, you’re choosing to give your life away. You’re choosing to let your father still dictate your life all the way from the grave, and if that’s how things will always be – then why the hell did you even break your own leg in the first place?” He tightened his hold on her hands, and his voice turned low and savage as he demanded, “Why in hell are you even asking me for help if you’re only going to throw away your life over and over?”

She didn’t answer him and instead bent her head in silence. A few seconds later, and he felt it, her tears falling onto their clasped hands.

“I’m sorry.” But this time, the words weren’t just an apology. They were a promise that she would live.

Willem’s chest tightened. Pulling his hands away, he tipped her chin up, and something inside him ripped open at the sight of her tear-streaked face. He wiped the tears away with care, conscious all the while of the way Serenity stared at him like he was...everything. The knowledge was both a burden and a treasure, and Willem couldn’t help thinking that he, too, had made a choice today. He wasn’t fucking sure what it was or what it meant. The only thing he knew was that it was damn important because...this girl had become important to him.

Too important for their own good.

“Will you promise me something,” he heard himself ask.

A fragile nod.

“If you ever choose to leave me, don’t just...go away. Let me know. I won’t ever stop you, but just...tell me.” As he spoke the words, Willem knew then that a part of him had accepted it could not always be like this between them forever.

“I will.” And it seemed that Serenity had realized the same thing.