Page 166 of Divine Obsession

He looked down at me, jaw clenched like he was holding something back. There was a sadness there that made my chest ache in ways I didn’t want to acknowledge. “I promise I’ll explainlater,” He said softly. “Tonight, I just want us to enjoy being together again.”

“That’s not fair, Trevor.” My voice trembled despite my best efforts to keep it steady.

“I’m not a ‘stupid college jock’ anymore.” He smiled slightly, and I did too, remembering our bickering back then. “I won’t make the same mistakes. I’m a man that’ll keep you safe now.”

His words wrapped around my heart like a vine, pulling tight.

God, I wanted to believe him.

But the ache of his absence was still there.

My breath caught as I looked into his eyes, so full of something I couldn’t quite bring myself to name. Around us, the music swelled, the steady rhythm of the bass echoing the thud of my heart.

“Let’s see if you’ve earned it by the end of the night,” I said finally, pulling back just enough to remind myself I still had control.

A slow, amused chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Fair enough, baby. Fair enough.”

I turned back toward the stage, pretending to focus on the band. But his presence next to me – warm, steady, impossibly familiar – made it hard to think of anything else. And I hated how much I wanted to believe him.

Two hours later, conversation was light and comfortable, and our plates had been cleared. I leaned back, excited for the dessert we’d just ordered.

I glanced at Trevor with a teasing smile. “You sure you don’t want anything? This is your last chance.”

“I’m sure.” He smirked. “Don’t worry,amai. I’m not about to steal yours.”

I raised a brow, knowing better. “Good. Because I don’t share pancakes. Not even with you.”

His chuckle was low and easy, and I hated how much I loved the sound of it.

The waiter set down the plate in front of me, and I reached for my fork, eager to dive into the fluffy stack drizzled with chocolate and strawberries.

Something caught my eye on the white plate.

Words written in elegant loops of dark chocolate.

Will you be my princess?

My breath caught, and I froze, fork mid-air. Slowly, I looked up at Trevor, who was watching me.

“Trevor…What is this?”

His smile was soft and sincere. “Just my way of letting you know where I stand.”

I blinked at him, my throat tightening. The sweetness of the gesture warred with the bitterness that still lingered in my chest.

Setting the fork down, I turned my body towards him. My eyes got glossy again. “Why did you leave?”

His smile faltered, and for a moment, he looked almost… Raging. He leaned closer, resting an elbow on the table, his other arm still around me. “You deserve the truth. It’s complicated, but I’ll try to keep it short.”

I waited, my heart pounding, as he drew in a deep breath.

“Gìovanni and your father… Planted information to make it look like you were helping them with the cyberattacks against my family. Remember, me asking you in the car?”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. “What?”

“They made me believe you were actually in love with Gìovanni. That you’d used me to help him,” He continued, his voice tense but heavy with regret. “I’m sorry I believed them. I was a heartbroken idiot.”

I felt my eyebrows draw in with hurt and confusion.

---