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The two billionaires would have been at each other’s throats if Serenity had not cried out for them to stop.

They froze, their heads snapping towards her, but she forced herself to keep her gaze on Acheron, only on Acheron. “Thank you for your help,” she whispered.

Willem heard himself ask, “What are you saying, Sere?” He had to ask, even though the way she spoke, the way she couldn’t even goddamn look at him, already told him the answer.

Still not looking at him, Serenity said shakily, “That I choose him.”

She was about to take a step towards Acheron when Willem was suddenly blocking her way, and she gasped when she found herself staring straight into eyes filled with as much pain as hers was.

She tried looking away, but the billionaire didn’t let her, his hands capturing her face as he demanded hoarsely, “Think about what you’re saying, dammit.”

“I am thinking about it,” she whispered. “I’m thinking I’m so tired of competing, of worrying—-”

“But there’s no need for any of those!”

She trembled at the way Willem actually shouted the words out. This was not like him. This was not him at all, and she didn’t want him to be like this because of her. “Willem—-”

“No!”

She furiously blinked back tears at the way the billionaire was looking at her. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say that, dammit. Don’t say it like—-”

“I don’t think I have to,” she said brokenly. “Because you already know what I want to say, don’t you?”

He whitened. “Don’t do this, Serenity.” His voice turned desperate. “I told you I love you, didn’t I? That I’ve changed? You just have to—-”

She looked at him.

And the words died in his throat.

“You’ll never trust me, will you?” the billionaire said dully.

“No.” It was a lie. “I won’t e-ever trust you a-again.” But in truth, it was herself she couldn’t ever trust again.

She thought it was over.

She thought he would leave.

But he did not.

Instead, he shattered her heart anew when she saw him take a deep breath and then dig into the package he held in his hand.

A small, silver box—-

Her breath caught. “No, Willem, please.” Her voice came out a strangled sob.

But the billionaire still opened the box.

The people around them gasped, and the sound made her jump in shock, reminding her that they were far from alone. So many people around them, and Willem had to know about them, too. He had to know they would see him propose, had to know she would have to turn him down.

“Please, Willem.” She begged him with her words, with her gaze. Because even if she could no longer trust herself to be with him, it did not mean she had stopped loving him. “Please don’t do this.”

“Then say yes,” he said rawly. He took the ring out of the box, and she bit back a sob as he sank down on one knee. “I love you, Serenity Raleigh. I didn’t know this until it was too late, but I have loved you since you were fourteen years old, and I will love you for the rest of my life.”

She clapped a hand over her mouth to keep the sobs back.

“Will you marry me?”