Page 46 of The Rancher's Second-Choice Wife

“No. Of course not.” But he was lying through his teeth, and he had a feeling she knew this.

“I think I’ll take it back—”

His whole fucking being bristled the moment he heard her say the words. “Fuck no.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

Valerian knew the way he was acting made no sense at all. But he didn’t give a damn. “You can’t take them back.”

“B-But—”

“You already said what you said,” he spelled out grimly. “So just learn how to fucking deal—”

Poppy suddenly cupped his cheeks. “You got it all wrong.”

“Did I? Really?”

She nodded vehemently. “I’m taking the words back because I realize I don’t think I’m in love with you—”

His chest tightened upon hearing this. Was he actually feeling...hurt?

“Rather, I’m sure of it. I am in love with you.”

Fuck.

“But don’t worry,” she assured him. “I’m not expecting you to say it back. I just wanted—no, I just needed to say it.”

His wife laid her head against his chest, and even though she didn’t say anything else, he heard her heart saying it all the same.

I love you.

And that was why he was fucked.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

It didn’t make sense at all when he thought of how he only had marriage to his ex in mind for the past eight years.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

It was like he had learned nothing at all from Camelia’s betrayal.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

But with his wife in his arms, there was no escaping the truth.

He might be in love with her, too.

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