Page 57 of Broken Princess

Everyone is frozen in place as they turn to look at me. I see shock register on Amelia's face first before it quickly transforms into something else.

Anger?

Hurt?

I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it isn't good.

"Lorenzo," Stefan says warningly, but I'm not paying attention to him.

I'm focused solely on Amelia. Her eyes are bright with unshed tears, and her chest is heaving as she takes a step back from me.

"What the hell are you doing?" she hisses, her voice echoing through the church sanctuary.

It's a good question. WhatamI doing?

I should be up there, marrying the woman I love.

I told myself I wasn't going to do this. But when I realized the morning of the wedding there was no possible way I could go, I bailed.

My father texted me all morning, increasingly furious about the fact that I wasn't there, but I didn't care. I knew if I went, I was going to cause a scene because no matter how hard I had tried to convince myself it was the right thing to do while I tossed and turned all night, I couldn't.

In the end, I couldn't let her go through with this. At least not until I had spoken my truth.

So instead, I did the only thing I could think of. I came here, to the church, and interrupted her wedding.

And now everything is about to fall apart, but it already has, so what does it really matter?

"Lorenzo," Dad says from behind me, his voice tight with anger. I can tell he's furious, but I don't care. All I can focus on is Amelia.

"I'm sorry," I say to her, keeping my eyes fixed on her.

God, she's beautiful.

I've never seen anything or anyone more beautiful in my life. Even though she's staring at me like I've lost my mind—and fair enough—she looks heartbreakingly perfect in every way. Her dark hair is cascading around her shoulders, her dress is simple but elegant, and those tears in her eyes make my heart ache.

"This isn't what you want," I tell her desperately. "I know it isn't. You don't want to marry him. And I won't let you. Not until you look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me," I say, stalking down the aisle. I can feel everyone's eyes on me, including my own fiancée’s, but I don't care. There’s no turning back now.

"Lorenzo," Amelia cries out as I reach for her, trying to step back, but I grab onto her arm, refusing to let her go. "Let me go," she demands, trying to pull away from me, but I hold on tighter.

"No," I tell her firmly. "I'm not going to let you marry him. Not when I know you love me."

"You're insane," she tells me, her voice breaking as she starts to cry, but that only makes me want to hold her closer. "You're completely insane. I don't love you. I never have."

"You’re lying," I tell her, shaking my head. "I can see it in your eyes."

"Enough," Stefan snarls, coming forward and trying to pull Amelia out of my grip. "Let her go, Lorenzo.”

"No," I growl, refusing to back down. "She's mine. I don't give a fuck if she's carrying your baby," I say, turning back to Amelia. "Do you hear me? I don't care. It doesn't change anything. I'll love this kid and raise it as my own, because it'syours, and I love you, Amelia. Every part of you. And I don't care what it costs me, even if it's everything—because everything is nothing if it means losing you. If it means not having you. Holding you. Protecting you. That'smyjob, not his, and you know that as well as I do."

Amelia just stands there in stunned silence, looking like a stone statue in all her ethereal beauty, too perfect to be real.

I convinced myself that I was going to regret this, but the moment I stepped up onto that stage, I knew. I have a lifetime of regrets, but this isn't one of them.

Even if she says no, even if she shoots me down in flames, I'll never regret it because for once—for once in my fucking life—it's the truth.

And I can't keep living a lie.

Not anymore.

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