Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Because the day after the Lucent Summit, your office started sending me profiles of prospective brides.”
“I would never—”
Understanding dawned, and his lips twisted in a humorless smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“By the time Ada realized what she had done and called my office to let me know that the emails I were reading were meant for someone else...it was too late.”
Was that why he had been trying to talk to me all this time?
“I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, but I’m going to ask it anyway.”
I started shaking my head.
“I’m sorry for hurting you—”
No, no, no.
“I’m sorry for being a coward all these years—”
I took a clumsy step back.
“—and wasting so much time in the process.”
“I love you—”
The moment I realized what he was saying, I made a run for it.
But of course he was too fast; humans like me never stood a chance when running way from preters like him.
“I’m sorry, Maryah. I’m sorry.”
He hauled me into his arms and wouldn’t let go even when I started to cry as I started kicking and pounding his chest with my fists, doing anything I could to be free of him.
“Forgive me—”
“Please let me go,” I choked out.
“I can’t.”
And then he was cupping my cheeks and forcing my tear-stained gaze to meet his.
“All these years, I ignored you in hopes of making my own feelings go away.”
Was he...was he saying that just like me—
“I also forced myself to pretend that I didn’t notice yours.”
A broken cry escaped me. I couldn’t remember feeling so ashamed, so humiliated—
“But this time, I’m done pretending. I’m done running and hiding. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and that’s why—”
I nearly stopped breathing when Nicolo bent down on one knee.
“Be my mate, Maryah. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to wake up every day, knowing that you’re the first thing I’ll see. I want to go to bed knowing that you’re safe in my arms. You are my heart. My soul. My everything. And this, I want the whole world to know—”
Oh, Nicolo.
The walls of the conference room suddenly lit up, and that was when I realized that everything that had happened...everything he had said...
It was being broadcasted live.
It was Nicolas offering his heart on a platter, and he was leaving it all up to me whether to stab it—
I was crying too hard to manage speaking. All I could do was tug his hand, but it was enough. He rose to his full height in one fluid motion, and then he was pulling me into his arms, and as his lips covered mine—
“I love you.” I couldn’t stop crying even as I gave him the words that I had to hide in my heart for so, so many years.
Nicolo’s hands shook as he cupped my face. “I know I don’t deserve you,” he said hoarsely, “but let the whole world be my witness as I make my promise to you now. I will love you for the rest of my life.”
To hear such words from a man who didn’t have a single romantic bone in his body was just...
Oh, Nicolo!
As I surrendered myself into Nicolo’s kiss, I dimly heard Prince Alexei saying, “Ah, perfect timing, Ms. Bones. I’d like a word with you in my office. It seems you’ve landed yourself in hot water once again.”
“Am I going to get fired?” Ada asked in a small voice.
“If I can help it—absolutely yes.”
Epilogue
Iwas married.
To my stepbrother-slash-alpha.
My Nicolo who was also my perfect 98.7% compatibility match despite all the misunderstandings we had to overcome.
Nicolo Celestini, whom I had been in love with since I was eighteen years old...was finally my husband.
The wedding had been beautiful, and the guest list—as one society reporter put it—preternaturally star-studded. Even Prince Alexei himself had deigned to attend, his presence causing a ripple of whispers and stunned stares that the Atlantean royalty didn’t even seem to notice.
All of that felt distant now, with my husband having entered our honeymoon suite, and only at this moment did I realize...
It was finally happening.
This night I had secretly dreamed of for years.
Nicolo Celestini was going to make me his...or at least that was the plan, if I could just prevent my brain from short-circuiting with overthinking.
“You look nervous, Maryah.”
His tone was gentle, but no way was I buying it.
“Ha.”
I wasn’t his former stepsister for nothing, you know.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
His gaze gleamed. “Perhaps.”
Hmph.
I planted my hands on my hips in an attempt to show him just how serious I was. “I’ve been reading up on human and preter bonds. There are factors to consider—”
“I agree.”
He definitely has something planned if he says that.
“And that’s why—”
Gasp!
That was literally all I could do with Nicolo using a burst of preternatural speed; one moment he was just across the room, another moment, and he was standing right in front of me, and aaaargh!