Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Anah saw the police officer was once again starting to walk towards them. She saw Ethan follow her line of gaze. Knew that he saw the same thing and understood what it meant.
And yet he still kept talking to her, the words drifting to her in a steady stream that was underscored by pain and fear.
"I knew you'd leave me if you thought it would make me happy—-"
(Almost as if)
Nothing was more important than making her understand the truth.
"Because you love me."
Because he loved her.
And as the police officer was about to ask what was wrong, he saw the girl suddenly throw her arms around the man's neck...just as he heard the man whisper something.
Well then...
Those three words said everything, and the last thing the police officer saw before walking away was the man cupping the girl's face and kissing her like she was the most precious thing on earth for him.
(Which she was)
Epilogue
SLADE WAS WALKING TOWARDS the university gates when he spied a familiar figure that had a crooked grin tugging at his lips. Ethan Blackwood was standing next to his pick-up and staring icily at the college boy talking to Anah. The conversation seemed serious enough, with Anah consulting her notes and nodding every so often. But then when one glanced at the college boy and saw the besotted look on his face, it was immediately obvious that the guy had other things in mind.
A moment later, Slade saw Ethan mutter something - most likely a curse, he thought in amusement - just before striding towards his fiancée.
Wonders never ceased indeed, Slade mused as he resumed walking. Like the other guys, Slade had privately thought the younger man a lost cause and doomed to an unhappy marriage with Guilia. And yet just last week, Slade and everyone else in Hartland had the shock of their life, seeing Ethan, Anah, and Guilia having dinner together and all three of them actually looking happy.
If it had been him and Kady, and they were going to have dinner with her ex-boyfriend...
Slade's lip curled.
Not a fucking chance.
The college boy was gone by the time Slade reached his friends. Ethan appeared a lot more relaxed now while Anah, well...the girl's kiss-swollen lips were a dead giveaway, and so was the pinkish blush that still colored her face.
Anah could feel her cheeks turning even redder when she saw Slade's smirk. "You saw it," she said unhappily. "Didn't you?"
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about," Ethan retorted.
"Are you kidding me?" Anah was torn between exasperation and frustration. "Chris and I were just talking about our report!"
"Stop saying that," Ethan snapped.
"Saying what?"
"Our report," Ethan mimicked. "You make it sound like you have a fucking kid with him—-"
It was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard Ethan say, and Anah couldn't help bursting into laughter.
When Ethan heard Slade cough, he said pleasantly, "I forgot to tell you. Kady was here earlier, and she asked me to let you know she won't be able to join us for lunch. She also needs to work on a report."
Slade shrugged. "It happens."
"She had a guy with him, too," Ethan drawled.
Slade stiffened.
"And you know how that idiot was looking at my Anah, didn't you? Well, the guy with Kady was a lot worse. He was staring at her like—-"
Slade had already stalked off before Ethan could finish speaking.
"That was such an evil thing to do," Anah accused him.
"I only told him the truth. You saw how that guy was staring at Kady—-"
"Because he forgot his glasses," Anah protested, "and he could barely see anything."
"Let's stop talking about other men," Ethan dismissed.
"Only if you promise me to stop preten—-" Her voice trailed off when Ethan suddenly took her hand and placed it over his chest.
Oh.
"I'll never lie to you again," Ethan said evenly. "And I meant it."
So this hard, furious beating of his heart—-
"I don't have to pretend I feel jealous about other men."
Anah gulped.
"Because I am jealous," Ethan said simply, "and I doubt I'm going to feel less possessive anytime soon." The past was still too fresh in his mind, and there were still nights when he woke up enveloped in cold sweat, and the only thing that could calm him down was the sight of Anah, curled up against him.
He looked down at Anah, and unlike before, the moment he felt the urge to say the words...there was no longer any need to hold them back.
"I love you, Anah."
But instead of saying the words back, Anah suddenly started fumbling through her tote bag.
Ethan frowned. "Are you missing anything?"
Anah shook her head. "There are people looking at us."
Ah.
"Found it." Anah came up with a book, and his eyes gleamed as she flipped it open to cover her face.
A moment later—-
"I love you, too." Just saying the words made Anah feel like bursting with happiness, and her heart skipped a beat when she felt Ethan pull her close.