Page 205 of Divine Obsession

He straightened as soon as he saw me, his sharp black suit uncharacteristically out of fashion with everyone else’s autumn coats and scarves.

“Happy birthday,” I spoke softly, approaching him.

He smiled, a small breath of amusement escaping him. “Thank you, Natalia.”

I raised an eyebrow, stopping in front of him. “September first. Did you think I forgot?”

“I mean…”

“I would’ve told you this afternoon but you didn’t leave a lot of room for talking.”

His smile was somber. “I know. I’m sorry. I had to talk to your father.”

I nodded. “How did you know I’d come here?”

“I didn’t,” He admitted, his voice low and rough. “But I hoped.” His dark eyes softened, and he held out the bouquet, his fingers brushing mine as I took them. “I know these don’t fix anything but–”

“Thank you. I love them.”

He blinked, his midnight eyes searching mine, obviously taken aback by my softness and lack of anger. When he reached for my hand, I didn’t stop him.

“I messed up, Natalia,” He began. “Not just this once, but so many times. I should have never helped Zach. I knew how much Maria meant to you and I still acted out of loyalty to him, without considering how it would hurt you. I betrayed your trust, and that’s not something I take lightly.”

I opened my mouth to interject, but he squeezed my hand, grabbing it in both of his rough palms and bringing it up to his chest.

“Please let me finish, baby,” He murmured. “I’ve kept things from you because I thought it would protect you. I told myself I was sparing you pain, but I was just a coward.”

I stared at him, my grip tightening on the stems of the flowers.

“I’m not asking you to forgive me right away,” He continued. “But I am asking for another chance to show you that I can be better. For you. Because there’s nothing –no one– more important to me than you, Natalia. I love you,” He rasped, pressing my palm to his chest even harder, and I felt the thundering organ beneath. “I can’t do this without you, baby.”

“What?” I breathed out.

“Everything.None of it matters if you’re not with me.”

The sincerity in his voice unraveled something inside me, the tight knot of frustration and sadness loosening with every word. I sighed, shaking my head, though there wasn’t much anger left in me anymore.

“I understand why you did what you did,” I started, my voice softer than I intended. “Zach’s your brother in every way but blood, the same way Maria is my sister. I would’ve done the same for her.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t loyal to you. I should’ve told you the truth.”

“They both told me the entire situation was not black and white. It was complicated for everyone,” I said simply.

Relief flickered in his expression. “Does that mean you think you can forgive me?”

“I think I already have. I just didn’t want to admit it so quickly.”

A small, cautious smile tugged at his lips. “Really?”

I shook my head, a small smile of my own forming. “Don’t think you’re off the hook. If anything happens again–”

“It won’t,” He interrupted, his voice firm. “I swear.”

I raised a brow, skeptical but amused. “We’ll see.”

He stepped closer, his presence warm and grounding in the cool night air. “I haven’t kissed you properly in twenty-six hours,amai. It’s been torture.”

I rolled my eyes, the corner of my lips lifting in amusement. “Don’t push your luck–”

---