Chapter 45
“Likely story,” I snort, trying to stand. But Arthur grabs my wrist and pulls me back down.
“I’m serious, Iris. I only ever loved you. I was going to tell you everything, but you ran off and I couldn’t find you, no matter how
hard I looked. I thought you took money and went and had an abortion.”
For a moment, I’m just stunned to find out the truth. I want to assume that Arthur is lying, just trying to manipulate me, but
when I look into his eyes… I see nothing but sincerity. Still, his assumptions about me hurt. I never took any money. And I never
even dreamed of having an abortion. I wanted Miles from the moment I found out I was pregnant.
I swallow hard and murmur, “Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning that you were planning on making this arrangement
with her?”
Arthur
stares at me “u”
“I was going to.”
“But not soon enough,” I reply quickly. “You should have consulted me before agreeing to it. I might have considered it back then.
if only I had been kept in the loop.”
”
He keeps staring at me, and I go on, “I only left because I was hurt. Because you broke my heart. And for what it’s worth, I left penniless. If it weren’t for Brian and Liam’s help, I would have been homeless. It’s only thanks to them that I survived, got my degree, and earned enough money to support myself and Miles.”
As I say this, though, my heart turns bitter again. I press my lips into a thin line and continue, “After five years of working my ass off just to be able to stand on my own two feet, I thought that my art career was finally taking off in a big way. But you are the
‘anonymous patron‘.”
I can’t decide if I wish he’d remained anonymous or not.
“Iris, I only wanted to be your patron to apologize,” Arthur cuts in. “It was Selina’s family who tried to shut down the gallery, and I wanted to make it up to you because I know how hard you worked. It was never meant to bribe you.”
I grit my
teeth and look away. No matter how logical his excuse seems, it still doesn’t feel like enough. He still thought his
apology was best given in the form of cash, just like how he tried to offer me money to get back together with him.
But then Arthur adds softly, “It’s only you and Miles who hold my heart. Never Selina. Come back to me, Iris.”
For a moment, just a moment, the thought of us being together again thrills me. All I ever wanted was for us to be a happy, loving family. To be with my mate and give my son two parents who loved each other.
But I can’t. I won’t.
Shaking my head, I stand, and this time I don’t let him pull me back down even though my legs are still wobbling.
I
“No, Arthur,” I assert firmly. “Maybe five years ago, I would have agreed to something like this. But I’ve changed. I’ve grown up. And I won’t be the human woman who will only ever be viewed as a homewrecker. Furthermore, I won’t be content with being
1/2
loved in private while you and Selina display your affection in public, no matter how fake it is.”
20 Bonus
Arthur looks up at me, his brow furrowing with what I can only describe as pain. But I hold my ground, knowing that I’ve made ther
right decision. No matter how much it hurts to say goodbye to my mate for a second time, I simply can’t accept being Arthur’s
secret family.
I can’t do that to Miles.
“Goodbye, Arthur,” I say, and this time, I hope I won’t have to say it ever again.
Arthur doesn’t stop me as I turn and hail a cab, although he follows me and opens the door for me. I hardly look at him as I slide
into the seat, not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t
As the cab drives away, I can’t quite tell if Arthur’s form fading behind us is from the tears in my eyes or the distance.
He still loves me, even after all these years. He never stopped loving me. Or so he says.
In a strange way, I’m glad to know the truth now. But even so, I can’t help but wonder if returning to Ordan was a mistake after all. I’m not sure if it was better to go the rest of my life believing he didn’t love me, or to know that he does still love me but still
chose the worst outcome for our relationship.
Would I have been happier not knowing at all, and going the rest of my life hating him?
