Page 95 of Falling For You

He closed his mouth and nodded, allowing me to continue. I knew he didn’t come from a life where he was used to being told what to do. I kept in a smile and exhaled slowly.

“I fell for you. Hard and fast. And maybe that’s part of the problem. I let myself believe that what we had was real. It was something I could count on. But when I learned you were part of the deal that almost ruined my family, it broke something in me. It wasn’t just about the land. It was about trust. And no matterhow much I care about you, I don’t know if I can ever fully get that back.”

The silence between us was thick with regret and unspoken feelings. I could see the pain in his eyes, but there was no turning back now. I had to be honest with him, even if it hurt.

“I can’t do this,” I said quietly. “I can’t be with someone when I don’t trust them completely. My heart can’t handle it. I’ve already been through so much with this, and I need time to heal. Even though things worked out for us the way we wanted, I just can’t go there with you. I hope you understand.”

Owen’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he processed my words. “I do understand, Violet—more than you probably think. I never wanted to hurt you. That’s the last thing I wanted. But I get why you need space. I just… I wish things had been different.”

“Me too,” I said softly. “But we both know it’s for the best.”

There was another stretch of silence, and for a moment, I almost regretted coming here.

Almost.

But this conversation was necessary, as painful as it was.

“I do want to thank you, though,” I said, trying to shift the conversation to something a little lighter. “For the business advice you gave me. You really helped me see the potential in the blog and what I can do with it. I don’t know if I would ever have the confidence to grow it without your input.”

Owen smiled faintly. “I’m glad I could help with that, at least. I’ve noticed you’re already getting comments and views.”

“You’ve checked up on it?”

“Of course. I care about it. I care about you.”

I sighed and nodded. “Are you… are you going to be okay? I mean, you broke the NDA. Will there be consequences?”

He chuckled softly, though there was no real humor in it. “Oh, there will be consequences. My partners are already gearing up to sue me for every dime I’ve got. They’re furious.”

My stomach dropped. “Owen… I didn’t realize it was that serious. They’re going to sue you?”

“Yeah,” he said, his smile fading. “But don’t worry. I was smarter than that. They can try all they want, but they’re not getting a penny from me. I’ve made sure of that.”

I blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

Owen leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Let’s just say I’ve made a few moves over the years to protect myself. I’ve got more than enough to support my family, even if the lawsuit drags on. And honestly, who cares if they did win? Money isn’t what matters to me anymore. I’ve got what I need, and the rest of it… well, it’s just noise.”

I studied him, surprised by how he brushed off the idea of losing everything. He had always struck me as the type who was fiercely protective of his career, his wealth, andhis status. But now, it was like all of that had become secondary.

“So, you’re really not worried?” I asked, still trying to wrap my head around his nonchalance.

Owen shook his head. “No. I used to be. Hell, a few months ago, I would’ve been in full panic mode over something like this. But now? I’ve realized there’s more to life than winning every deal. I’ve got my family, and that’s all I need.” He smiled and nodded. “In fact, my brother is going to pop the question thisChristmas back in Wyoming. I’m looking forward to taking time off and going back there.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It will remind me that I’ll be able to find it one day, too.”

“Find what?”

“That kind of love.” He glanced out the window toward the lake before returning his gaze to me.

There was something about the way he said it that made my heart ache. For a split second, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, I was making a mistake.

He had changed.

There was no doubt about that. But the pain of what had happened between us was still too fresh, too raw. I couldn’t just ignore it.

I had to let myself heal for once instead of rushing to the next thing to distract me. That was the whole point of coming to Buttercup Lake.

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