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“Don’t make random assumptions.”

“I’m trying to understand. If you get bored with me, would you… exchange me?”

“I won’t get bored with you.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“You knew my situation from the start. I was upfront about that.”

He’s right. I can’t argue with that fact. But it does nothing to dull the pain in my chest.

“You don’t get to do that. Make me fall for you when you never planned to choose me.”

Elijah’s brows furrow. “Fall for me? What are you talking about?”

The words tumble out in a rush. “Crashing my date, introducing me to your dad, making me believe you actually cared...”

“You’re not falling for me.” Elijah’s voice is hard.

A mirthless laugh escapes me. “Not anymore. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to care about you.”

A traitorous tear slips down my cheek, and I swipe it away.

“But I do, damn it. You…” My lip trembles. “You are my inspiration for the designs.”

For a long moment, he just looks at me. Really looks. Like he’s seeing me, truly seeing me, for the first time.

“Gem…” He reaches for me, but I slap his hand away.

“Don’t touch me. Just... don’t.” Because if he does, my mind goes blank, and I need to talk to him. I need to get this off my chest.

There’s no use holding back anymore.

“It was the first night we had. Because you made me feel so alive, and today…” My voice cracks. “We even finished the collection. My first thought was to show it to you. But I don’t want to do this when another woman is going to be your wife.”

Elijah frowns. “I need a fiancé. I told you why.”

“I don’t think your father meant this. A loveless marriage.” I blink back tears. “I think your father wanted to see you genuinely happy. To see that in the end, you’re okay because he can’t watch over you anymore.”

He’s frozen, a statue.

“What happened to you? That you’re doing this? That you rather push me away than let me in?”

I search his face for any sign that he feels even a fraction of what I do.

Please, tell me. Whatever it is. Give me an explanation.

Choose me. Please.

Show me any reaction that you care.

Anything.

But he doesn’t. His expression is composed, those stormy eyes betraying nothing.

“I’m done.” My shoulders slump in defeat. “Congratulations on your engagement. I wish you both the happiness you deserve.”

I pivot and walk to the elevator on shaky legs, hoping with every step that Elijah will stop me. That he’ll call out my name and tell me not to go. That we can figure this out together.

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