Page 338 of Hateful Games

“Can I have a word with you?” His expression is sobering. “Alone.”

“I’ve already said my piece, Nova.”

“Please, Rose.” His voice cracks. “I won’t take long.”

“You don’t have to, Ro,” says Bianca.

Funny. A year ago, I was uttering the same words to her. Our gazes lock and she must see the same feeling that she felt in that moment. She tilts her head in understanding and grabs Iris’s hand.

“Let’s give them some privacy.”

Raghu lingers and warns before leaving, “You have ten minutes.”

No sooner are we alone than his mask slips. He closes the gap in two long strides, as if he can’t bear to stay away. The sight of my broken arm makes his features pull taunt. “Are you feeling better? You shouldn’t be staying alone. What if you forget to take your meds?”

“I’m okay and my friends will be staying with me.”

He nods but the concern isn’t gone. I watch his restraint vanish when his gaze roams over my face. He gives in to the urge, grabbing the back of my neck and running soothing circles. His voice is pained as he whispers, “Rose.”

“You need to stop hovering around.”

Nova

Those words absolutely crush me.

I expected them, but they still sting. Nothing hurts more than the sight of her yellowing bruises on her cheek and broken arm. I don’t drop my hand, knowing I might not get a chance for a long while.

I have a long battle of earning her trust and making her mine ahead of me.

Divorce is out of the fucking question.

“Did you hear me, Nova?” she stubbornly says. Lifting her head to touch me but then dropping it at the last second. “This isn’t respecting my wishes. Why are you making this tough on me?”

“Because it’s physically impossible for me to stay away from you. Because I love you. Because you’re wife. My heart that beats outside my chest. Because I don’t want to be anywhere else besides with you. Most importantly, because I have no intention of letting you go without fighting tooth and nail. I would rather spend an eternity chasing you than without you.”

“What about what I want?” she counters, lips trembling as if she’s trying not to cry. “You fractured my heart, Nova. Tore it into shreds and stomped all over it. Being around you is a constant reminder of that. I don’t want to feel broken anymore. I need time and space. Why don’t you understand that? If you love me at all, then let me go. Please.”

Losing the fight, she breaks down and rests her forehead on my chest.

Loud sobs rack her small frame, bleeding me dry.

Even though it goes against every instinct in my body, my soul screaming in agony, I give her what she wants. Kissing her forehead, I murmur, “Shh… Okay. I’ll stay away for as long as you wish. Just don’t ask me to divorce you. I can’t do that, Rose. Let me live with the hope, even if it’s false, that one day you’ll be mine.”

If loving her from afar is all I’m allowed, then that’s what I’ll do.

Whether or not she’s ready, I’ll be back to beg her for another chance.

I’ll keeping coming back until she says yes.

Tilting her head back, I brush the saltiness away and commit every contour of her angelic beauty into my memory from this close. Breathe in her scent and the shape of her soft curves. I’ll need it if I want to survive the next few months.

“Okay,” she whispers. “I won’t.”

“Take care, Rose,” I roughly say and caress her curls one final time.

“Goodbye, Nova.”

I back away and find the strength to walk out without looking back. She loves me still and needs time… I remind myself. It’s enough for me, for now.

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