Page 62 of The Reluctant Wife

He searches my eyes, and a look of understanding comes into his eyes. “You do... have feelings for him.”

“Gavin, I—” I want to lie to him, but can’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I look away, then back at him. “You’re right. I do."

He flinches. "I suppose, it was bound to happen." His mouth turns down. "I hoped we had a real chance. One where we’d get married and, perhaps, even fall in love." His gaze turnscontemplative. “It didn’t take long for me to realize that I’d never have a chance with someone as beautiful and as bright as you.”

“Oh, Gavin,” I gasp.

I didn’t think he had this level of self-awareness.

He straightens his spine. The expression on his features is more resolute. He looks older. More mature. Not as sniveling. Not as much of a gutless twat that I’d defined him as.

“I kept trying to reach out to you, to find a way to hold your attention. To perhaps, even try to woo you, but I was hopelessly out of my depth,” he rubs at the back of his neck.

I shift my weight from foot to foot, “You shouldn’t blame yourself. We were both pawns in the plan our fathers had to benefit their agendas. I did it for my country. I thought I could put my own feelings aside for the sake of the future of my people, but then, I met Ryot and—” I wring my fingers, not sure how much to reveal. I don’t want to rub in the fact that I have such powerful feelings for Ryot.

Once again, Gavin surprises me, for a shrewd look—one I did not think him to be capable of—comes into his eyes. “He swept you off your feet.”

I blink. “Umm... Uh... It’s just that— “ I hesitate; my training as a princess means I can’t let myself be this heartless.

Yet, I didn’t tell Ryot about my upcoming nuptials. I can tell myself it's because I thought he already knew, but that's just an excuse. I never made sure he knew because it was easier to justify what I wanted to do already.That was so out of character for me.Was I so affected by him that I forgot all of my principles and decided I had to have him, even if I hurt him in the process? How could I have done that?

As I struggle with my thoughts, he holds up his hand. “You don’t have to explain yourself.”

His muddy brown eyes glint with a kind of resolve I haven’t seen on his face before.

I blink at his more confident demeanor. This version of Gavin is a far cry from the complaining, spoiled persona he’s adopted thus far. A frisson of unease crawls up my spine.

“And you...” I observe him carefully. “You’re not?—”

“The lily-levered, blithering, wimp I led you to believe?” His lips twist. “I figured the only way I had of forming a relationship with you was to act weak. I hoped to play on your emotional need to be the one who takes care of me?—”

“—until you were controlling me?” Understanding dawns on me.

“You think you’re so smart. You thought you could go behind my back and sleep with someone else, and I wouldn’t notice? You didn’t realize I was the one who was manipulating you all along. If you think I’m giving up my chance at marrying into royalty and getting a title, you’re wrong.”

Oh, my god. Just my luck that my wimp of a fiancé turns out to be a narcissistic, greedy, ass.

“I believe I might have underestimated you,” I say carefully.

“Enough to sleep with your bodyguard while avoiding my calls,” he says in a hard voice, which is very un-Gavin-like. Strike that. This is the real Gavin. The man who whined and moaned, and acted like he didn’t have a backbone never existed.

The silence stretches. My skin prickles with unease. “I do not owe any explanations to you for any relationships I had before the wedding.”

“Oh?” He looks at me with curiosity, and something else in his eyes that amps up my discomfiture.

“Let’s call off this... sham of a wedding, and I’ll pretend you weren’t disrespectful to me.”

He inclines his head as if contemplating my words. “I have a better idea.” Something in his tone alerts me. My senses snap to attention.

“You do?” I strive for a casual tone.

He nods slowly, then cups my cheek. "Kiss me."

My skin crawls where he’s touching me. "What?" I cough, then take a step back so his hand drops away. "What do you mean?"

"It was a simple request. I’m still your fiancé, and we haven’t even kissed."

It didn't sound like a request.I search his features and find he’s serious. A twinge of discomfort squeezes my belly. I thought Gavin was harmless. Now... I’m not so sure.

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