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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Seb

The moment her hands find their way to my waist, steadying herself, everything else in the world fades away. It’s just her and me on the ice, surrounded by the quiet hum of the city, the stillness of the early morning, and the rush of adrenaline surging through my veins. Her fingers tighten, and it’s a simple touch – nothing too overt – but it sends a jolt of electricity through me, a reminder that she’s here, with me, in this moment.

I don’t think. I just act.

I lean in, my lips grazing hers before I even know I’m moving. The world narrows to the press of her mouth against mine, soft and warm. It’s everything I’ve wanted during the quiet moments when my mind drifts – her body against mine, the way she fits, the way her breath catches as I pull her closer. There’s nothing rushed about it – just the steady, inevitable build of something that’s been waiting to happen for so long.

Her lips part beneath mine, and I deepen the kiss, a surge of heat flooding my chest. She sighs softly, her body leaning into mine, and I feel it – the trust she’s placing in me, the willingness to let me in. It’s all I can think about as I move my hand to the back of her neck, gently pulling her closer. The feel of her skin under my fingertips, the way her breath mingles with mine – it’s everything I’ve been hiding, everything I’ve longed for.

But as I feel her warmth, something shifts. Something unspoken passes between us, and I know, deep down, that this is it. She’s not just the woman I’ve been drawn to for years. The forbidden fruit of my best friend’s little sister. She’s something more. Something real.

I pull back just enough to look into her eyes. For a second, I almost lose myself in them – the vulnerability, the uncertainty mirrored in my own. But this time, I don’t want to run from it. I want to embrace it. I want to give her everything – everything she needs, whatever I can be for her.

I drop to one knee.

The rink feels impossibly still as I settle onto the cold ice in front of her, my heart thundering against my chest. Her expression changes – shock, surprise, confusion – her emotions playing across her face, a mix of everything. But I can’t back away now, not when everything inside me is screaming that this moment is meant to be.

“Elle,” I say her name, steady, but with a tremor I can’t control. “I don’t know how to make this easy, how to make it make sense. But I do know that I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Every part of me, Elle...every part of me is yours. I’ve been fighting it, but I can’t anymore.”

I pause, my breath catching. I can’t believe I’m doing this, that I’m actually on one knee, but it feels right. Everything about this feels right.

I take her hand, my thumb brushing lightly over the smoothness of her skin. “Elle, I know this arrangement hasn’t been simple – for either of us. But I want to make it work. You’ve challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, made me rethink what I want out of all this. You’re not just fulfilling a deal for me; you’re helping me see things differently, in a way no one else ever has.”

I pause, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the ring I’ve carried for days. “This is me, showing you I’m committed. That I want to see this through with you – not just for the contract, but because I think we can build something good together.”

Her breath hitches, her eyes flicking between me and the ring in my hand. For a moment, everything is still, and I wonder if I’ve lost my mind.

But then, she blinks up at me, her eyes glistening with something I can’t quite decipher, and she smiles. A smile so beautiful it takes my breath away.

“Seb,” she whispers, her voice trembling as if she can’t quite believe what’s happening. Her lips part, and for a moment, I think she might refuse, that the weight of everything we’ve been through will hold her back. But then, her gaze locks on mine, and I see it – a flicker of trust, of hope.

“I…” Her voice falters, and I hold my breath, my entire world hanging on this one moment.

Finally, she nods, a tear slipping down her cheek as her lips curve into a soft, shaky smile. “Yes,” she says, barely louder than a whisper. Then, stronger: “Yes, Seb. I will. I’ll marry you.”

Relief crashes over me like a tidal wave, and before I can think, I’m sliding the ring onto her finger. My hands tremble as I do it, the cool metal catching the light, glinting like a promise I don’t ever intend to break. The moment it’s in place, I rise to my feet, pulling her into my arms, and she lets out a soft laugh that sounds more like a sob. Her arms wrap around my neck, her face burying into my chest as if she’s trying to hide from the enormity of what we’ve just done.

When I kiss her again, it’s different. It’s not just heat or passion – it’s something deeper, something that feels like a beginning. Her fingers curl into my jacket, holding on tightly, and I pour everything I feel into the kiss – every unspoken word, every unacknowledged fear, every silent hope.

And when we finally pull apart, her breath is as unsteady as mine, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glistening.

But then reality edges back in, bringing with it the weight of what I have to say next.

I rest my forehead against hers, my voice low. “Elle, there’s something we need to talk about.”

She pulls back slightly, her brows furrowing. “What is it?”

I hesitate, the words sticking in my throat. “We’re having dinner with my father tomorrow,” I say finally. “We need to sign the contract before then. He can’t know the truth – not yet.”

Her expression changes instantly. The warmth in her eyes cools, replaced by something harder, more guarded.

“Tomorrow?” she repeats, her voice sharp and disbelieving.

“Elle, I know it’s a lot,” I say quickly, desperate to keep her with me in this moment. “But it has to be done. My father?—”

“Your father,” she cuts me off, stepping back, her arms falling to her sides. “Of course. This is about him, isn’t it? About his expectations, his approval, his control.”

“Elle, no,” I say, reaching for her, but she steps out of reach, her eyes blazing.

“What happened to all that talk about building something real?” she snaps, her voice trembling. “Because this – this feels like just another one of his moves. And I won’t be a part of it.”

Her words hit me like a slap, and I realise too late that I’ve ruined everything.

“Elle, please,” I say, my voice raw. “This isn’t about him. It’s about us. I’m trying to protect you – to protect what we’re building together.”

She shakes her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “I don’t need your protection, Seb. I need honesty. I need to know I’m more than just a pawn in your father’s game.”

“You are,” I say fiercely, my voice rising. “You’re everything to me, Elle.”

Her voice cracks as she whispers, “Then why does it feel like I’m the only one risking anything?”

Her words slice through me, leaving me raw and exposed. I want to tell her she’s wrong, that I’m risking everything for her. But the truth is, she’s right. I’ve been holding back, letting my fear of my father dictate too much.

She stares at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. And then, slowly, she shakes her head.

“I can’t do this, Seb,” she says, her voice soft but firm. “I can’t keep pretending this is something it’s not. Love doesn’t come with contracts and deadlines and fathers pulling the strings.”

“Elle—”

“No.” She cuts me off, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I need time. Time to figure out what I want, who I am in all of this. Because right now? I don’t know if I can trust you. I don’t know if I can trust in us.”

Her words hit me harder than I thought possible, and I can feel my chest tightening, my throat closing up. But I don’t stop her as she steps away, her arms wrapping around herself like a shield.

“I’m sorry, Seb,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “I need to go.”

And before I can find the words to stop her, she turns and skates away.

The weight of the ring on her finger feels heavier now, like a reminder of everything I’ve just lost.