Page 47 of The Rancher's Jilted Bride

Help me.

People actually started clapping after Micah's words, but what stunned Heaven was the flash of guilt in the other woman's eyes, and that was when she realized two things.

One: Micah's cruelty in the past had stemmed from her own pain, which her drinking problem had magnified.

Two: without alcohol to numb her senses, Micah could no longer escape her conscience, and so...

By hurting Heaven, Micah was also hurting herself, and as soon as Heaven realized this, she knew such thoughts could only come from one source.

Oh, God.

Heaven felt like laughing and crying again. His answer was clear as day while His peace allowed her to see how hard Micah was trying (but failing) to bask in everyone's adulation.

The other woman didn't know it yet, but God had already marked her as His. And whether Micah wanted it or not, she had no chance of stopping Him from changing her heart.

Just like Heaven had no chance of changing hers...when Hale strode into view.

Panic had Micah trying to block his way, but Rush gently pulled her back. "It's over, Mikey."

Hale's chest tightened in pain at the way Heaven seemed to shrink away at the sight of him.

Heaven braced herself for the worst. Memories of Hale's cruelty were still vivid in her mind, and that...that was agoodthing. The shock of his anger would therefore be minimized, and so whatever he...he...

What in the world?

Hale had sunk to his knees in front of her, and the sight had their audience squirming in discomfort.

"Forgive me."

Heaven started to cry.

They were just two words.

Two words, oh God.

Just two words spoken hoarsely in a voice ravaged by remorse.

But it worked better than any command could.

"I know I don't deserve it," Hale said hollowly, "but please..."

His voice cracked, and the sound of it was the final nail in everyone's coffin. It convicted them in the way no accusation could, and forced as they were to remember their own callous enjoyment of Heaven's suffering—-

"Forgive me, Heaven."

Everyone walked away in shame as they heard their boss's voiceshake,and while none of them knew this yet, it was also at that moment God had marked them as His.

"I'm begging—-"

"Don't,"Heaven choked out. "Please don't."

Hale felt as if his world had stopped spinning with those two words.

It's over. I'm too late. You fucking idiot. Did you really think—-

—-Heaven would suddenly start tugging your hands as if asking you to stand?

God.

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