Chapter 132
Chapter 132
VENUS
61
The thing about hearing I love you from someone you’ve been quietly bleeding for is that… it’s never clean.
It doesn’t just land like a soft kiss; it hits like a collision.
It shoves open doors you’d boarded up, shines light in corners you’ve been keeping dark on purpose.
The me before Gerald happened would’ve been estatic,
Happy that he finally felt the same.
But now? I didn’t feel good enough for anyone.
So I decided that I’d push him away.
I just stood there, my fingers gripping the hospital-issued tote so tight the straps bit into my palms.
The clothes inside suddenly weighed a hundred pounds. Or maybe it was me.
Aaron was watching me like a man who’d just set himself on fire and was waiting to see if I’d throw water on him or walk away.
“I don’t…” My voice cracked. I swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you expect me to do with that p>
He didn’t even blink. “I don’t expect anything p>
“Don’t lie to me.” The laugh that came out of me was hollow, brittle. “Nobody drops I love you like that without expecting something p>
Aaron’s jaw flexed, but he stayed quiet, which only made the silence louder.
“Do you think that fixes it?” My chest rose and fell faster now. “Do you think those words erase the fact that I begged you to believe me and you p>
“Venus p>
-you looked me in the eyes and decided I was lying p>
I didn’t realize I was shaking until the tote slipped a little in my grip. Aaron’s gaze flickered to my hands, then back up to my face.
“I’m not saying it to fix anything,” he said, and his voice was low, almost rough. “I’m saying it because it’s the truth. And I’m done letting fear or ego keep me from telling you”
That word-fear-stuck in my ribs like a splinter.
“You think this is about fear?” My laugh came sharper this time, bordering on cruel. “Fear didn’t make you
20:30 Wed, Jan 14 M p>
Chapter 132
doubt me. That was you deciding I wasn’t worth the benefit of the doubt p>
61
He took that hit like he thought he deserved it. No flinch. No argument. Just stood there in that maddening stillness.
And God help me, it was infuriating how steady he looked while I was coming apart.
“You were right,” he said finally, his voice quieter now, but not softer. “It was your copy. You had every reason to think my suspicion was justified. But that doesn’t change the fact that I should have known better. That I should have trusted you without proof, without conditions. That’s what I regret p>
Something in me buckled at that word again, regret.
“You can regret it all you want,” I said, my voice wobbling, “but it doesn’t take back what it did to me p>
Aaron stepped closer, slow enough that I could’ve moved away if I wanted. I didn’t.
Maybe I was too tired. Or maybe I was waiting for him to make one wrong move so I could bolt.
“I know,” he murmured. “And I’ll carry that for as long as you need me to p>
That was the thing about him, he could say something that sounded so…. irrevocable. So final. Like he’d just decided, and that was it.
I hated how much I wanted to believe him.
I hated it more that part of me already did.
I shook my head, because the alternative was stepping toward him instead of away. “You can’t just… say you love me and expect that to fix the part of me Gerald broke p>
“I don’t expect that,” he said. “I expect it to make things harder p>
That stopped me.
“Huh p>
Aaron’s eyes didn’t waver from mine. “I’m not stupid, Venus. I know you’re going to push back. I know you’re going to question it every time I do something wrong. I know you’re going to test it, maybe even try to break it. And I’m saying p>
He reached out, slow, giving me the space to move. His fingers brushed my cheek, featherlight, like he was touching something breakable.
-I’m saying I’ll still be here. Every time p>
It should’ve felt like a promise.
Instead, it felt like a dare.
“You’re going to get tired of me,” I whispered, more to myself than to him.
20:30 Wed, Jan 14 M…
Chapter 132
His hand moved to the back of my neck, warm and sure. “You think so p>
61
“I know so.” My throat was tight now. “You’ll get tired of the nightmares, of me freezing up when you touch me sometimes, of me lashing out when I’m scared p>
“Good,” he cut in.
I stared at him. “Good p>
“Good,” he repeated, his voice like steel wrapped in velvet. “Because I want all of it. The nightmares. The panic. The sharp edges. I don’t want the easy parts of you, Venus. I want you p>
The worst part? My stupid, traitorous heart lurched like it had been waiting to hear exactly that.
But my mouth still moved before my brain could stop it. “You say that now. You didn’t exactly prove you could handle the hard parts before p>
Aaron’s grip didn’t tighten, but it held. “I didn’t. And that’s on me. I won’t make that mistake again p>
I searched his face, looking for even a flicker of doubt, of hesitation. There wasn’t any.
Just that steady, unshakable focus like he’d decided exactly how this would go.
“You’re too sure of yourself,” I said, my voice thin.
He gave me a ghost of a smile. “Only about this p>
I wanted to throw the tote at him. I wanted to kiss him until my head spun. I wanted to tell him to leave. 1 wanted to tell him to stay.
I wanted too much, and all at once.
So instead, I sank onto the edge of the bed, the tote sliding to the floor at my feet.
Aaron crouched in front of me, resting his forearms on his thighs so we were eye level. “I don’t need you to tell me you believe me. I don’t even need you to tell me you love me back. I just need you to stop telling yourself that you don’t matter to me. Because that’s the one thing I will never let you convince me of p>
My throat felt like it was closing. “You don’t know what you’re signing up for p>
He leaned in, so close I could see the faint shadow of stubble along his jaw. “I’ve been signed up since the day
I married you. The only difference now is that I’m not lying to myself about why p>
God.
How did he do that? Just… take my breath and make it his without asking?
I broke eye contact first, staring down at my hands. My nails were short, still brittle from weeks of IV drips and antiseptic soap. “I can’t give you what you want. Not right now p>
“I’m not asking for it right now.” His voice was steady. “I’m asking for a chance p>
20:30 Wed, Jan 14 M
Chapter 132
When I looked back at him, there was no demand in his eyes. Just that same unyielding… presence.
And it was terrifying.
Because I realized in that moment-I wanted to give it to him. The chance. The trust. The parts of me I’d hidden under lock and key.
But wanting and being ready were two different things.
“I can’t promise I won’t hurt you,” I whispered.
His lips twitched like he almost smiled. “I can promise I won’t run when you do p>
And damn him, part of me believed that.
AD
Comment
Send gift
No Ads
61
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.