Page 188 of My Ruthless Opponent

“Let go of what?”

She takes a step forward. She touches my chest with her index finger. “This fear inside of you. You need to let it go”

I narrow my eyes. “What fear? What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I am talking about. You and I hate this world. That’s why we never committed to anyone in our lives. And now that you have fallen in love with Hannah, it’s frightening you.”

“Shut up.” I swallow and avert my eyes.

“You are scared because you think she might leave you.” She pauses. “Just like Damian did.” Her voice is quiet.

“Enough, Summer.” I meet her eyes, silently begging her to stop.

She places a hand on my shoulders and squeezes. “We both loved Damian. He was our savior. When he left with his new family, he promised to keep in touch. He didn’t.” Summer’s eyes turn hard. “It cut us deep. So much so, that we vowed to never let anyone close. But life is unpredictable, Raleigh. Life can make you do things you thought you would never do. Or force you to break the vow you made in childhood.”

“I…” She places a finger on my lips and smiles. “I’ve seen the way you look at her. And I have seen howshelooks at you. You guys must be blind but I am not.” Her smile disappears, her eyes turn grim. “Love is a blessing, Raleigh. A rare gift that is lying on your doorstep. It’s up to you if you want to open that door and be happy or ignore it and be sad for the rest of your life.”

I stagger back, a broken breath leaving me.

“You killed that child in you who always wanted to be loved. Now that he is finally getting it, you fear that she will break your heart.”

Summer is right. She boldly said things I was too scared to admit.

I love Hannah. I fell in love with her courage, with her tears and smiles. I fell hard for her strength.

Everyone calls her Ice Queen but she is the woman who feels the most. Her heart wasn’t cold. I was lucky enough to see it.

She opened her heart to me. I got to see how beautifully broken her soul was. Just like mine.

I couldn’t stop myself from loving her. I intended to snatch the promotion from her but ended up handing her my heart.

It was like the entire universe conspired to make me fall in love with my opponent.

When I went down on one knee for Hannah, that’s when I knew in my heart that I was in love with her. But I didn’t tell her.

I managed to express my feelings through my words, though. I meant every word then.

I loved her and the knowledge was scaring me. I didn’t tell her because this way, I would never have her. And if I don’t have her to begin with, I would never lose her. That was a fucked-up logic, I know. But I couldn’t imagine having her as mine and then losing her one day.

Because I saw my foster brother leave and it killed a part of me.

I avoided relationships like plague because I didn’t want to go through that pain again. I was alone since I was born, so when I form attachments, it is for life. Summer knows that.

I want a family so badly that I am too scared to take the first step into making it happen.

Summer groans before grabbing me by the lapels of my tux. “For heaven’s sake own up to your feelings before I hit you with something!”

“I love her,” I murmur then stare at Summer. “I love Hannah.”

“Why can’t you—” she pauses, her eyes widening. “Wait, what?”

I flash her a grin. “I love Hannah. And I am going to tell her now.”

I start for the door when she grabs my hand. “Not now! It’s bad luck to see your bride before the wedding!”

I narrow my eyes. “I don’t believe in that bullshit.”

“I do!”

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