Page 151 of Legacy
“No lies, no expectations. Right?”
She nods.
“Right.”
“Let's start with the first one. We start over by putting it all on the table.”
My throat tightens.
“I told you what I did. I had you followed for five years. I meddled in your life. I protected you—”
Her brow lifts, one delicate arch of skepticism.
“In my way,” I amend, jaw tightening.
I don’t flinch. I won’t flinch.
“And then you forced an arranged marriage.” Her voice is quiet, but the words cut clean.
“And then I forced an arranged marriage,” I repeat, steady.
Her eyes gloss over, but her face doesn’t crumble.
Not this girl. Not anymore.
“Why?” she breathes.
A muscle jumps in my jaw.
I look down at my hands for a second, like they might hold the answer. They don’t.
“I did everything wrong,” I say finally.
She stills.
Her brows draw together.
Her lips part, the air between us charged.
“When you were trying to explain yourself in that hallway, outside the conference room—I didn’t let you.”
“Youdidn’t.”
“I didn’t,” I echo.
“I let my mouth speak before I could think. Before I gave you a chance.” I exhale sharply, the shame clawing up my throat.
“And then, instead of calling you. Texting. Hell, even showing up like a man—I sent my men.”
“To follow you. Watch you—”
“Stalk me.”
The word lands hard.
My jaw clenches.
My chest coils tight.
