Page 75 of The Rancher's Rejected Bride

"I'll give you all the answers you want," he promised curtly, "but right now, I need to focus on Sarah—-"

"Do you really love her, Damian?" Naomi asked painfully.

"I always did, Naomi. From the moment I saw her."

And after that, Damian found himself doing something he hadn't done for years.

He prayed.

TOMMY WAS WAITING FORhim by the steps, and his PA looked as if he had aged in years in the past few minutes.

"Sarah?" Damian asked right away.

"Still in your office, sir."

He gave the younger man a curt nod of thanks. "Keep everyone away. I don't want us disturbed."

"Understood, sir."

But when Damian entered his office, it was to find the room completely empty, and his gaze immediately strayed to the balcony's open doors.He was too fucking late, Damian realized dully. She had obviously outwitted everyone. He should've expected this, should've fucking seen it coming. He had hurt her so fucking much, had hurt her for the last time, that she had obviously decided it was better to risk her neck, escaping through a second-floor balcony, than have to face him again.

A gentle breeze blew in as Damian sank to his knees.

He had lost her for good.

And it was all his fucking fault.

An unfamiliar stinging sensation struck his eyes, and the realization that a man of his age was about to cry had his lips twisting.It was just one of the many things,he thought numbly,that only his little Sarah could make him do.

Only his Sarah.

He felt himself start to shatter from within and he couldn't make himself care.

I love you.

The words felt like the only thing he had left of her, and already his lips were moving at the thought, the words tumbling out.

"I love you so fucking much—-"

"I love you, too."

Damian's head jerked up.

And that was when she saw her standing by the fucking doorway of his en-suite. She was pale and shaking, her eyes swollen with tears, but ah God, when she spoke...

"I'm sorry. I had to pee."

The love she had for him since she was eighteen was in her voice.

Sarah's hands flew to her mouth.

And then she was running.

Falling to her knees.

Wrapping her arms around him.

"Don't cry, Damian."