Page 59 of Cruel Hero

“But what if you get hurt?” I whisper. “What if something happens to you, and I’m left here, alone again? I can’t—I can’t lose someone else I love, Adrien. I won’t survive it. We come from different worlds. I want to be able to walk down the street without looking over my shoulder, without fear for our safety, from my family’s safety. And I know that with you, that’s not possible.” My voice breaks, and I clutch my arms tightly around myself as if I can hold together the pieces of my heart that feel like they’re splintering into shards. “I want a normal life, Adrien. I want to wake up without wondering if today’s the day someone comes for you—or me. I want to build something safe, something stable. But with you… I don’t know if that’s ever going to be an option.”

Adrien’s fingers trace my jawline, a contemplative expression crossing his features. “I understand your fears, Tiffany. I do. Being with me means living on the edge, never knowing what tomorrow may bring. But I’m willing to forsake all that for you. I’ll do whatever it takes for us to be together, even if it means breaking the rules and creating our version of happily ever after.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’ve started moving my company’s headquarters here, to be closer to you. I want to give us a chance, despite the odds stacked against us.”

I stare at him. “You’re serious? You’re relocating your entire company... for me?”

His lips curve into a faint smile. “I told you, Tiffany. I’ve spent my entire life fighting to protect what’s mine, and you? You’re mine. Whether you like it or not, whether you run or stay, you’ve been mine since the moment I saw you. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you. I’ll burn down empires, rewrite the rules, and tear apart anyone who tries to come between us. But I need you to meet me halfway. I need you to trust me, to believe in us. We can build something real, something that’s ours—safe, stable, but still alive with the fire you crave. You don’t have to choose between safety and passion, Tiffany. You can have both. With me.”

I take a step back, my mind racing.

Adrien Leroy doesn’t do things by halves. He’s not the kind of man who makes grand gestures lightly. And yet, here he is, offering me the very thing I’ve been too afraid to ask for—a future.

A real, tangible future together.

“You make it sound so simple. But it’s not. You know it’s not.”

Adrien’s hand drops from my cheek, and he takes a step back, giving me space. His eyes never leave mine, though, their intensity unwavering.

“It’s not simple,” he admits. “It’s messy and complicated and terrifying. It will take years. But it’s also real. And isn’t that what you want? Something real? Something that isn’t just a facade or a carefully constructed lie? You’ve spent your whole life living in a cage, Tiffany. Polite smiles, perfect manners, following the rules—that’s not living. That’s surviving. And I think you’re tired of just surviving. I know I am.”

He’s right. I’ve been surviving, not living. And the thought of breaking free, of stepping into the unknown with him, is both exhilarating and terrifying.

“You don’t know what you’re asking of me.”

“I do. I’m asking you to take a leap of faith. And I know it’s not easy. I know it’s scary as hell. But I also know that we’re stronger together than we are apart. And I’m willing to fight for us, Tiffany. Are you?”

I close my eyes, trying to steady the storm raging inside me. My heart is pounding, my mind racing a million miles a minute. But amid the chaos, there’s a quiet, undeniable truth—I want this. I want him. Despite the fear, despite the risk, I want to believe in the future he’s offering.

I reach out and take Adrien’s hand in mine, my fingers trembling as they intertwine with his. His grip is firm, grounding, and I feel the weight of his promise in the way he holds me—like he’ll never let go. My heart hammers in my chest, the sound echoing in my ears as I open my eyes to meet his gaze.

“I’m scared,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m also tired of it. I’m tired of living in the shadows of what everyone else expects from me. If this is a leap of faith... then I’ll take it. With you.”

A flicker of relief passes over Adrien’s face. His other hand reaches up to brush a strand of hair from my face, his touch featherlight, as if he’s afraid I might shatter under the weight of this moment.

“You won’t regret this. I’ll spend every day proving to you that this was the right choice. That we were meant to find each other, no matter how messed up the path was.”

“I love you.”

I loved him when I didn’t even know what love was supposed to feel like. I loved him when I was too afraid to say the words when I convinced myself that our worlds were too different to ever align. I loved him in the quiet moments, in the stolen glances, in the way his presence could steady me even when everything else felt like it was falling apart. And now, standing here with his hand in mine, the weight of those unspoken words finally breaks free.

“I love you,” I repeat, louder this time. “Even when it it scares me. Even when I don’t know what the future holds. I love you, Adrien Leroy. And I’m done running from that.”

His breath catches, and for a moment, he just stares at me, his blue eyes searching mine as if he’s trying to memorize this moment. Then, without a word, he pulls me into him, his arms wrapping around me so tightly it feels like he’s trying to fuse us together. My face presses against his chest, and I can hear the rapid beat of his heart, mirroring my own.

“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that,” he murmurs. “I love you too, angel. More than I ever thought possible.”

In the stillness of the night, Adrien pulls me close, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that feels like a promise. It’s not desperate or wild this time—it’s tender, deliberate as if he’s sealing the words we’ve just exchanged.

In Adrien’s arms, I am reminded that love knows no limits and that no matter what lies ahead, we will face it together—partners in crime, equals in love, ready to conquer any obstacles that come our way.

Epilogue

Tiffany

Two Years Later

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