Page 85 of Legacy

I had to make it right.

“I don’t understand any of this. I want to trust you.” Her voice broke as she swallowed down her tears.

Seeing her so heartbroken and wounded wrecked a part of me I never knew existed until her.

Each time she looked away, as though the mere sight of me was too much to stomach, I felt as if I’d fallen into the most bottomless pit of hell.

But I couldn’t fight her on this. I couldn’t fix something I had no hand in.

Ozias.

It was the only explanation. He took my mother from me, and now he wanted Avra.

Over my dead body.

“Can you tell me what the recording said?” I reached out to take her hands, but she crossed her arms, refusing my touch.

I replayed her heated words, trying to understand what could have turned her against me.

Then I remembered her asking,“How could you make me love you knowing that you would destroy my world and take everything from me?”

Why would I do any of those things?

That was bullshit.

Lies and nonsense.

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “I want a futurewithyou. I don’t want to ruin or steal anything. I’ll never rob you of anything.”

Her green eyes shined bright with so much doubt.

“I’m committed to our marriage.” I held up the hand with the ring she slid on my finger at our wedding.

“So long as your father deems it necessary.”

Fuck. Ozias.

I fisted my hand and lowered it. I would never forgive Ozias for destroying everything I built with Avra. “I won’t be a part of anything my father is trying to accomplish.”

She snorted and looked away for a second. “Until you get your child. Then you’ll get rid of me.”

How could she believe that bullshit?

I lunged forward, taking her hand. She stiffened and then tried to jerk out of my hold, but I held firmly and tugged until she was near me.

“Let me go,” she hissed.

“Not until you hear me.” I glared down at her. “And by hearing me, I mean listening to my words.”

She blew out a frustrated breath and muttered, “Just say it.”

“That thought”—I lowered my face to hers, staring straight into her eyes— “never entered my mind.”

She parted her lips, gazing at me so openly as if she wanted to accept my words.

But the doubt remained, burning bright.

These wounds she believed I had caused festered so deep. All I could do was give all I had to heal them.

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