Page 26 of The Greek Billionaire's Email Bride

"Let me drive—"

"I can't even bear to look at you!"

The words were already out of her mouth before she even realized what she was saying.

No. No. No.

"I see."

The pain in his tone was impossible to ignore. But she was just hurting too much to hurt for him, too.

"I can't let you drive. You understand that, right?"

Hope nodded.

"My driver will take you wherever you want. At least let me do that."

She nodded again, and with her gaze downcast, she saw his fists clenching hard until his knuckles had turned completely white.

"Hope, please. I love—"

No!

She turned and walked away, not wanting him to finish the words in her hearing.

No, no, no.

How could he say he loved her when he had thought being with her would turn him into a laughingstock?

****

Everything was already taken care of when she arrived at the hotel. A suite booked under her name. Room service already waiting when she got to her room. A private butler to take care of her every need.

It was all very thoughtful of him, but this only made her curl up on the carpeted floor as sobs started rocking her body. Didn't such actions indicate guilt, not love? Colin felt bad, so of course he wanted to make it up to her.

Hope eventually cried herself to sleep, and it was already dark outside when she woke. Her head pounded dreadfully, and it took her an eternity to get to her feet.

Oh.

When she stepped out of the bedroom, the first thing she saw was the box of medications already waiting for her on the coffee table. She wished she could convince herself this was the butler being thoughtful, but she knew in her heart this was Colin's doing, too.

A new selection of food had also been delivered, and of course it contained all of her favorites. Colin must be feeling terribly guilty, but realizing this only made her feel worse.

Something else on the coffee table caught her eye.

A Bible.

The kind that was always supplied in hotel rooms. Distributed by the Gideon Society if she wasn't mistaken.

She sat on the couch, legs folded under her, and reached for the Bible. Its weight was both familiar and unfamiliar, reminding her of the days she was a little girl, and she had talked to Him all the time. But she had eventually stopped, having convinced herself that God was too busy for someone like her.

I'm sorry, God.

Because somehow, despite this gnawing pain inside of her, she felt His presence more keenly than ever. She opened theBible, and Hope found herself reading the Book of Judges, Chapter 6.

"If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me."

She knew this story. And the person speaking was what the society was named after.Gideon.He was chosen by God, but because he had a hard time seeing past his inadequacies to realize God's greatness, he had asked for a sign.

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