Chapter 123

Chapter 123:

“Winona, please, I don’t want to lose you. I’m not ready to give up on us, either. We just started. I know what I did was wrong. There’s no excuse, I know that, but please—please, I’m not that kind of man. You know that. I didn’t cheat on you or lie to you. I’m not like that. Or at least, I thought I wasn’t. I know I almost did it. The idea of hurting the woman I love destroys me. It makes me feel worthless,” he said, stopping to take a breath.

“Winona, please, don’t leave me. You’re the one who put me back together, and without you, I thought I’d fall apart again. This time, I wouldn’t have been able to recover. I love you, Winona. I really do. It’s only been a few months, but I can feel it. You’re everything to me. You’re the only woman I love. I hope you feel the same way about me. If you don’t, I’ll understand. Just say the word and I’ll leave your life forever. I’ll let you move on. But you need to know that no matter what happens, I’ll never stop loving you,” he finished, breathing hard.

I broke down, sobbing when he stopped. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My heart pounded in my chest. Every part of me still wanted him—only him.

I knew there was no excuse for what he’d done. I understood that. But I also knew Davidson. I knew he wouldn’t have done this unless he felt he had no other choice. It wasn’t deliberate.

Maybe I was foolish to say what I said next, but I wasn’t ready to let him go—not him, not what we had. I couldn’t give up what my heart ached for. Still, I needed to know that if he ever hurt me like this again, it would be the end of us.

“Winona, please, say something,” he begged, his voice shaking with a sob.

I hadn’t even realized I’d gotten lost in my thoughts. When I looked at him, the expression on his face—the pain in his eyes, the worry carved into his features—shattered me. I reached out and placed my hand over his, feeling the tremor that ran through him at my touch.

“Davidson… can you promise me you’ll never put me through this again?” I asked. “Do you promise you’ll never do this to me again? Do you promise she doesn’t mean anything to you? Do you promise everything you’ve said is true—and not just words to keep me from leaving p>

He climbed onto the bed and knelt between my legs, cupping my face in his hands.

“Yes. I can promise you all of that.” His voice trembled. “Winona, I love you—truly, with all my heart. The idea of living without you is unbearable. She means nothing to me. You’re everything to me. I promise I’ll never hurt you again. I don’t want to lose you. When I think about the future—even five years from now—I still see you with me. I still see you in my life, as my wife. My future is you, Winona. I swear it p>

𝘈𝘥d𝗶𝗰t𝗂𝘷𝗲 n𝘰𝗏𝘦𝘭𝘀 on

Tears slipped down his face as his thumb stroked my cheek.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to his, kissing him softly. He groaned against my mouth, clinging to me as he kissed me back with everything he had. When we pulled apart, he barely moved, keeping his forehead against mine.