Page 287 of In Love with a Cruel Billionaire

She could only cry harder, body shaking, throat tightening to the point of pain. The raw agony in his voice was unbearable, but it was hearing him say her name the very first time that ended her.

I'm done for, Saint M.

She was his to fool, his to possess. She was...his.

Matthijs slowly drew her into his arms, and it was like finding his way home when he felt her cheek press against his chest. But her tears still fell, wetting his shirt, and his arms tightened around her.

"I'm sorry," he said hoarsely. "I never wanted...I'd never want to hurt you—-"

"Then why did you?"

He heard the fragile catch in her voice, and his chest threatened to cave in under the weight of his self-contempt. Lips brushing against the silken crown of her head, he whispered, "You know why, my darling."

The endearment made Diana press closer, and feeling his lips brush against her hair once again was a painfully sweet pleasure.

Please God. Please let this last.

"You're the first...the only one I've ever liked this way."

"It's no different for me." His voice turned rough.

Diana wished she could believe him. But she couldn't. And even worse, she realized that she no longer cared. Now that she was in his arms, it was no longer possible to hide from the truth, no longer possible to pretend that she would do everything just to keep him in her life.

She slowly pulled away, and his arms gradually slackened its hold. She slowly looked up, heart in her throat. "If I promise..." She swallowed hard. "If I p-promise to never make you choose between me and your career...if I promise never to say or do anything that might cost you your job..."

Matthijs couldn't bear the tremulous plea in her voice.

God.

That he was making her of all people beg...

It just showed how little she knew him, just showed how little she understood the strength of his desire for her, that she would think some university policy was enough to keep him away.

"Diana—-"

Terrified he was about to say goodbye and even more terrified how that would completely break her, she found herself clutching his shirt, found herself crying and begging, her pride completely forgotten.

"I'm not asking you to marry me. We don't even have to date if that's too much of a risk. But just please...please..." Diana's voice cracked. "Could you please just promise you won't push me away again?"

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