Page 137 of Lucas

“Ava, I’m so sorry. That damn photo got leaked, and I couldn’t reach you. I thought you’d be home at that hour, soI drove there. Your bike was missing, or I thought it was, so I went after you. I need to explain?—”

“You don’t need to explain anything,” she says, her voice quivering.

“I do because that picture... I have no idea when it’s from. I don’t even remember that woman. I think it must be from years ago. I swear. I would never do that to you. You know that, right?” I search her face, desperation clawing at my throat.

“Yes.” She nods, her eyes luminous with unshed tears. “I know.”

The weight lifts from my chest, letting me breathe again.

“Of course. You’re under contract. I wouldn’t think for a second you’d do something like that and risk Valeur. I mean, if you get caught cheating, you lose the company,” she says.

“No.” I try to shake my head, but it hurts like a bitch. “It has nothing to do with the company or the contract. I love you more than my life, Ava. You can have the company. I don’t fucking care. I can’t believe I’m saying those words, but you’ve taken that place in my heart. I care about you. Only you.”

Tears spill over, tracking down her pale cheeks. “I was so worried when I couldn’t find you at home. I went out looking for you, and then Cora and Liam joined. And when we found you in that ditch... I thought...” Her voice breaks on a sob.

“I’m okay, baby. I’m here. You were worried about me?” Wonder suffuses me, warming me from the inside out.

She nods, wiping at her face with a shaking hand.

“Why were you worried about me?”

“What do you mean?” She frowns.

“Why were you worried about me?” I repeat, holding her gaze.

“Because I love you. I love you, Lucas, and I thought I’d lost you.” She’s crying now, tears streaming down her face. “I thought I’d never get to tell you. That I was too late.”

I tug on her arm, pulling her to me, crushing her lips to mine. My hand wraps around the nape of her neck to hold her close, pressed against me as I devour her mouth, savoring her taste. My tongue delves inside, stroking hers, and I swallow her gasp. I kiss her like there’s no tomorrow, no yesterday. Only now. Only us and the love between us.

“Don’t cry,” I murmur between kisses, tasting the salt of her tears on my lips. “I never want you to cry again.”

“I’m telling you I love you,” she hiccups, “and you’re telling me not to cry?”

My heart swells, the monitor beside me beeping. I glance at it and laugh. “Worth getting hurt and ending up here to hear you say those words. I can’t believe you love me.” I release her, and she straightens, swiping at her damp cheeks.

“I need to tell you something. Now, before… I’m not sure you’ll feel that way after.” She bites her lip, averting her gaze.

“Nothing will change the fact that I’m in love with you, Ava,” I say it with utter certainty, willing her to believe me.

“My dad did something with the company finances. I think maybe he defrauded Valeur, too, back then. I’ve been trying to figure out what he did with the money for a while now, but he didn’t leave any loose ends. I’m sorry.” She hangs her head, her shoulders slumping.

God. She didn’t know. She truly didn’t know. My heart hammers against my ribs. “Ava.”

She doesn’t look up, her hair falling forward to hide her face.

“Look at me, Ava.” I wait until her amazing green eyes lock with mine, a single tear slipping down her cheek. I brush it away with my thumb. “I know he’s been embezzling. Why do you think this whole rivalry started between Valeur and Gant? I’ve always known.”

“You knew?” She gapes at me, shock registering on her delicate features.

“Of course. He swindled us and almost took down our entire company with him. Luckily, Dad recovered from the blow and rebuilt.”

She shakes her head, disbelief and betrayal mingling in her eyes. “I always thought Valeur were the ones who cheated us. That’s what my father told me. That the whole Valeur empire was built on contracts you stole from us. He said that’s why Gant Construction never succeeded.”

“That’s not true,” I say.

“I’m realizing that now. When you asked for all those financial documents, I started going through them, and the numbers didn’t add up. I delayed submitting them to you because I was trying to understand what was going on, and the more I dug, the more I realized Father was responsible for everything that happened. He wasn’t honest,” her voice cracks, fresh tears welling.

“I thought you always knew. That you were part of the scheme.” Shame fills me at the admission, at how badly I misjudged her.