Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
And she succeeded, Pippi thought dully.
"She's gone now."
But for how long?
Because it was completely clear to her now.
She was wrong about him.
"Pippi, I love you."
A hysterical laugh escaped her. "You don't."
He loved Amelia, not her.
"I love you. I've always loved you—-"
"Stop lying."
"I'm not. I love you—-"
"How can you love me," she choked out, "when all of the risks you've taken in your life were for her?" And just like that, all her pain came pouring out. "Anthony Nolasco could've killed you just for wanting her, and yet you still ended up falling in love with Amelia. She nearly cost you your whole business, but you still took her back in! And I...And I..."
God, just thinking about it hurt so damn much.
"I g-gave you e-everything, and you left me—-you couldn't even take a single risk—-"
The pain in her voice devastated him. "I was scared. I thought I was doing the right thing, leaving you so you wouldn't suffer the way Millie did. I didn't want others to hurt you—-"
"So you decided it was better for you to hurt me instead?"
"I'm sorry."
"Baby, I'm sorry."
"Pippi, please."
"I love you."
"Please, baby."
He begged her on his knees, begged her for hours, begged until his voice became hoarse and ragged - he begged and begged until he realized...she was right.
He had never taken any risks for her.
And it was time to change that.
Twenty-Eight
"YOU MISS HIM," ASTRID said knowingly over breakfast two weeks later. "It's written all over your face, so don't bother denying it."
Eyes that were both blue and bloodshot at the same time glared at Astrid. "I admit to not being over him, but I also believe it's just a matter of time before I learn to move on and forget about him."
No one bothered correcting Pippi, but the looks her family exchanged among each other spoke volume. They didn't believe her at all, the traitors!
On her way to work, Pippi did her best to clear her mind of all things that had to do with him, but it proved impossible. Her family might think she didn't have it in her to forget him, but she couldn't let herself lose hope like that. She had to find a way to get over him - or die trying.
Gareth Evans was already at the office when she arrived, and she couldn't help shooting him a suspicious look, saying, "It's not like you to be early, sir."
"It's not like you to come to work looking like you've been run over by a truck either," her boss pointed out dryly, "but that's life for you."
Sheesh. Pippi rolled her eyes. "Touchy much?" But she was grinning as she said the words. The one good thing that came out from her breakup was that it had somehow granted her immunity to the opposite sex, and she was now able to handle Gareth Evans' occasional flirtations without getting flustered—-
"If you're the one doing the touching...by all means."
Like now.
"Ha ha ha, Mr. Evans. Very funny."
Gareth released a sigh of mock regret. "You're no fun these days, Ms. Jones. You used to blush so easily."
She noticed him glancing at his watch as he spoke and frowned thoughtfully, trying to recall if they had any important meeting scheduled for today. Mm. She reached for her appointment book and flipped to today's page. Odd. There was nothing scheduled for today so—-
A phone alarm suddenly sounded off, and Pippi jumped in surprise.
"Finally," she heard Gareth mutter just before reaching for the remote control to switch the TV on.
Oh no.
The last time he had done this, she had ended up with a broken heart.
"Are you waiting for today's stock report?" she asked hopefully. Please say yes. Please say yes. Because if this ended up being about him again -
"Actually," Gareth drawled, "there's this indie movie I've been looking forward to watching."
"An indie movie?" She would never have thought him the type.
Gareth grimaced. "You make it sound like I'm incapable of appreciating the arts."
"Well—-"
"Don't bother answering that," her boss grumbled. "Just grab a seat and watch this with me."
"But—-"
"It's an order, Ms. Jones."
"In that case - very well, sir." She sat back down, back straight, hands on her lap, and gaze pinned to the TV. She worked hard to keep her face expressionless as well, wanting to hide her thoughts.
An indie movie, of all things!
The credits started to roll, and Pippi sent a quick prayer to God to keep her awake. It would be horribly embarrassing if -
Wait.
Her eyes widened when she realized she was staring at her face - on the TV.
She rubbed her eyes hard.
But when she returned her gaze back to the TV, she saw that it really was her still - and it appeared to be from the CCTV footage—-
"This was the first night I met her."
It was his voice, doing the narration for the movie.
"The woman I will love for the rest of my life, although at that time I didn't know it yet."