Page 60 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

"All I wanted was to hurt you...which I did." Lucius waited for her to say something -anything!- but his wife only stared up at him, crying.

"I love you."

Tassy shook her head.

"I'm not lying," he said fiercely. "I love you—"

She looked at him helplessly. "You d-don't. You c-couldn't have been. Because don't you see?" she whispered painfully. "If you r-really l-loved me, you wouldn't keep having c-cold feet. So please...let's just end this."

Lucius couldn't remember feeling this hollowed out. His wife was right in front of him, her delicate features ravaged by the pain he had caused her...but Tassy was looking at him as if she could no longer see him.

"Don't do this.Please." He had never begged in his entire life. But he would beg for all eternity if that was what it took to have her take him back. "Don't give up on me."

Her only response was silence, and Lucius grabbed her shoulders, terror gnawing at his heart. Why did it feel like she was about to disappear any second?

"I love you," he gritted out. "Do you hear me? I love—-"

"If you really did," Tassy said jerkily, "then you c-could never..."

His wife's voice broke, and Lucius' own heart shattered because he knew exactly what she was thinking.

And it was him with Fontana...on the same night he had broken her heart.

"Nothing happened between us—"

"I don't care—"

"Don't fucking say that. I hurt you—"

"I've forgiven you—"

"I'd rather you hate me instead," he snarled savagely, "if forgiving me means you're also choosing to cut me out—"

"I have no choice," Tassy choked out. "Can't you see I h-have no choice? I'm so tired of crying, Lucius. I don't think I can bear hurting like this—"

"Then take me back," he urged.

"I can't."

Lucius could already feel his wife slipping farther and farther away from him, and torment like he had never experienced before threatened to devour him from within. "Ask me anything, Tassina—-" Lucius struggled to keep his voice steady. "Ask me anything, and I'll do it."

Hearing the anguish in Lucius' voice hurt, but there was nothing she could do. "I d-don't need—-"

"Don't fucking say that."

Tassy's chest felt as if it was to explode in pain. It hurt, oh God. It hurt so, so bad to hear Lucius so frantic. But all she could do was shake her head, her loose hair now framing her tear-streaked face. "I'm s-sorry—-"

"Stop acting like we're over," he bit out.

"I'm sorry—-"

Lucius couldn't stop himself from shaking her. "Listen to me. I'm begging you. Just please fucking listen to me." This time, it was his own voice that broke. "Please."

And his voice that was now hoarse and ragged as he realized that maybe he really was too late.

"I love you."

Maybe he had lost her for good—

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