Chapter 76
The realization hit me like a tidal wave.
The coincidence, the twist of fate that had brought us together again, was overwhelming.
And then, in the midst of our conversation, Rolin’s expression grew serious.
His eyes bore into mine as he spoke the words that would change everything.
“Elizabeth,” he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, “I have to tell you something. All these years, I’ve watched over you, helped you in any way I could, not just because I owed you, but because… I love you.”
My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Rolin’s confession hung in the air between us, a truth I had never anticipated but couldn’t ignore.
Ron’s confession left my mind spinning, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that I couldn’t quite sort through.
He had looked at me with such intensity, his eyes brimming with love, but then again, Rolin always had a way of making anyone feel like the center of his world.
Could I really trust what he said? Or was it just another one of his charming ways?
“Elizabeth,” Rolin’s voice was soft, almost pleading as he noticed my hesitation.
“You don’t have to decide right now. I can wait. I’ve spent most of my life waiting for the right moment, so what’s a little more time?”
He reached out, gently taking my hand in his.
His touch was warm, steady, and when he leaned down to kiss the back of my hand, I felt a jolt of something unfamiliar.
It was tender, almost reverent, and it sent a shiver through me.
