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This was what she wanted, wasn’t it?

Wasn’t it?

Her lips parted.

“I want to stay.”

And as soon as the words were out, she realized that she did mean it.

She wanted to stay.

For better or for worse.

Because...because she would always love him.

And she was so, so, so tired of pretending she did not.

Willem was suddenly walking towards her, and she stiffened. When he reached her, Serenity’s body stiffened even more at the rage that glittered in his eyes. His fingers snapped around her wrist, and she knew any moment now he would start dragging her out of his place.

“Please.” She choked the word out.

His head jerked up, and in her gaze, he saw terror.She knewwhat he was about to do. She goddamn knew – so why the hell wouldn’t she leave instead of forcing him to toss her out?

“You—-”The minute he spoke, he saw the way she swallowed and stiffened, knew that she was preparing herself for the worst. But there was no resistance in her body, nothing that indicated fight.

She would take whatever he dished out.

She would not leave him.

His eyes closed.

Goddammit to hell.

He had hurt her, and she had hurt him back.

So what now?

Slowly, he opened his eyes. “You have to trust me one day, engel—-”

A sob racked her body.

His heart aching, he raised a hand to her face, and as he carefully smoothed the strands of hair away, he said rawly, “You either trust and forgive me...or you complete what you came here to do. You finish what you’ve started the day you allowed me back into your life. Avenge yourself—-”

Tears streamed down her face, and Serenity’s lips parted in a silent cry.

He pressed a kiss on her forehead, whispering, “Or let me love you again.”

With a heaving sob, she threw her arms around his neck, and he swept her up in his arms. He carried her to the bedroom, Serenity still crying in his embrace even as she frantically sought his mouth with hers.

She kissed him as she cried, and the billionaire tasted all the tumultuous emotions that tried to tear her apart into different directions. Pain, misery, confusion, vengeance, and underneath it all, love.

Laying her on his bed, he undressed her slowly, running his mouth over every inch of skin he exposed. Her hands rushed over his back, almost demandingly, but he didn’t let her hurry him, taking his time as he removed her clothing.

When she was completely naked, he cupped one breast and sucked on her nipple. Serenity moaned, her body arching from the bed and pushing her nipple deeper into his mouth. Her nipples dug into his back as he sucked her nipples, one after another, and she writhed restlessly under the heat of his gaze when he pulled away to undress himself.

“I love you,” he rasped as he sank back into the bed, positioning himself between her legs.

More tears fell down her face as Serenity looked at him, her eyes – still filled with terror and despair – did the talking for her.