Page 199 of My Ruthless Opponent

He pins me with a serious gaze. “How do you know that?”

“I heard him…” I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t love me and I can’t force someone to fall in love with me.”

“Sometimes, things aren’t how they seem. You should talk to him.”

I wipe my tears on my long sleeve and shake my head. I clutch the strap of my messenger bag in a vice grip.

“You should’ve seen that man, Hannah. You broke his heart down there. I may not know him personally but I can recognize deep misery when I see it. Because I have been living in it for years now after my Greta.”

I stare at him with brimming eyes.

I am a pawn for him. I can’t unhear those words. “It’s too late, Victor. We can never be together. I am going to give him what he wants then walk away from his life.”

Victor’s eyes are sad as he regards me. I wonder what he is seeing right now. A grown woman who is breaking piece by piece.

“Is that what you really want?”

“No,” I whisper. “But it’s the right thing to do.” Clearing my throat, I speak again. “I am sorry. For lying about…” I look down at my feet. “Everything.”

He sighs. “Your actions may not be morally correct but I understand.”

I look up. “Do you forgive us?”

He smiles. “The way you saidusinstead ofmeshows how much you love him.” His smile turns somber. “I forgive you both.”

When Victor watches me with saddened eyes, I give him a sad smile. “Thank you so much for everything, Victor. You are a great man. You have forgiven us, that shows how big your heart is.”

I extend a hand. He takes it. “It was a pleasure knowing you. I am sorry again for lying to you.”

Victor gives me a hug. Without words, he accepts my apology and grants me forgiveness.

When he pulls back, he stares at me. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind about Raleigh?”

I take a long breath. “I am walking away not because I don’t love him any less or that I want him to realize his mistakes. I am walking away because I respect myself.” I blow a hard breath from my mouth and sniff before looking back at him. “I don’t deserve to be anyone’s pawn because I am the fucking queen of my game.”

With that, I turn and leave.

???

One week later

Ipour a glass of water for Dad. “What should we do today?”

I turn and carry the glass to him and bring it to his mouth to help him drink it. Dabbing his lips with tissues, I sit on the chair opposite him.

“We can go for a walk.” I turn my eyes to the window of his room in the home care.

By walk I meant me pushing his wheelchair around the garden to give him a change of scenery. “The weather is great. Or… we could play a board game?”

I grin at him. He stares at me as usual but he doesn’t reallyseeme.

I took the week off work and spent every day with Dad.

I still stand by my decision of quitting. I am just too much of a coward to submit my resignation. I considered resigning via email but that wouldn’t look good. I am going to stop by the office today.

Before going there, I decided to see Dad and draw some much-needed strength from him.

I have things to explain to my team. I don’t know how I am going to do it. They need to hear it from me about the merge of the two departments and… about why Raleigh was jilted at the altar by me.

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