Page 26 of Earn Me

Memories of how childish I had acted during our marriage make me wince, and I think...I think it's time I owned up to that.

"Keiran?" My voice comes out softer than I intended.

Smoky gray eyes turn to me. Cool. Assessing. Unyielding. The late afternoon light from the windows casts half his face in shadow.

"I'm sorry." The words feel inadequate on my tongue.

"For what?" He sets his glass down with deliberate care.

"For making you feel like my parents were more important." I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warmth of the apartment.

"They were." His tone is flat, final.

I can see he really believes this, and it hurts. The ache settles beneath my ribs, familiar and sharp.

"We've never talked about it," I hear myself say unevenly, "but I was seven when they adopted me. Since then, they made me feel like I had to earn their love. And their approval. So, my whole life, since becoming a Quinn, that was all I wanted. And that was why...when I married you—-"

"It turned out to be the biggest mistake of your life?" Keiran asks mockingly. He moves closer, close enough that I can smell his soap, see the tiny scar near his temple I used to trace with my fingertip.

I slowly shake my head, my eyes never leaving his. "Marrying you was the only time I disobeyed my parents. And I just felt so guilty over that I just wanted to make it up to them. They've given me everything—-"

"Stop lying to yourself," Keiran bites out. His jaw tightens, a muscle jumping beneath the skin. "They didn't give you anything."

"Keiran—-" I reach for him instinctively, my fingers stopping just short of touching his arm.

"If they really gave you everything, then why did they make you feel like you had to pay them back?"

My lips part, but no words come out. I feel like I've been struck, not with violence but with truth.

I really thought I had it all figured out by now.

But just like before—-

Keiran is always the one to open my eyes to the truth, no matter how uncomfortable.

"You're right," I hear myself whisper. "You're absolutely right." My heart shatters at each word, but it's the reality I have to face. "My parents did make me feel like I owed it to them to be the perfect daughter, and that's why marrying you made me feel so guilty."

"If it's any comfort," Keiran says tauntingly, "I'm sure they'll be singing a different tune this time, now that I'm no longer a pauper—-"

I'm shaking my head again, and his lips tighten into a thin line.

"I didn't feel guilty about marrying you because you weren't rich." My voice trembles but grows stronger with each word.

"There's no need to pretend," Keiran says impatiently. "You have no other reason—-"

"I felt guilty about marrying you because my parents knew...the moment I disobeyed them." My eyes fill with tears I refuse to let fall. "T-They knew..."

"Knew what?" Keiran demands.

"T-That I loved you more than I ever loved them, and always would."

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