Page 138 of Steel Beauty

“I could refuse to give Celeste a cent, let her go through with her threat, let her cost you your job. Then I could giveyouthe two million dollars instead, so you wouldn’t have to worry about finances. But I know you, Magnolia. You wouldn’t take it. You’d never accept that kind of money from me.”

“No, I absolutely wouldn’t.”

“This isn’t only about stopping Celeste—it’s about protecting what matters. And in case you haven’t realized it yet, that’s you. It’s about honoring who you are and everything you stand for.”

I blink back the sting of tears, his words stirring something deep inside me. “I don’t want you spending your money on me, Alex. It’s two million dollars. It’s too much.”

He shakes his head, his gaze steady, unyielding. “The cost doesn’t matter. I’ll pay whatever it takes because I can’t stand the thought of you being hurt by someone like her—someone you’re dealing with because of me.” His hand tilts my chin, his eyes locking on to mine with a quiet intensity that steals my breath. “I love you. And when you love someone, you do whatever it takes to keep them safe.”

His words settle over me like a promise, both steady and overwhelming. I reach up, my fingers brushing his cheek. “I don’t know how to repay you for this. For any of it. You’re doing so much, Alex, and I don’t even know if it’s right to let you.”

The reality of everything he’s done—everything he’s willing to do—settles over me, bittersweet and overwhelming.

He catches my hand, pressing it gently to his lips, his eyes soft yet unrelenting. “There’s nothing to repay. This isn’t a transaction, favorite. This is love. This is what it means to stand by someone, no matter what. You don’t have to do anything except let me love you.”

I swallow the lump forming in my throat, a bittersweet ache blooming in my chest. His unwavering certainty pulls me back from the grip of guilt and doubt. “No one has ever fought for me.”

His gaze softens even more, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint, tender smile. “Maybe that’s because no one has ever loved you the way I do.”

Tears well in my eyes, blurring my vision as I lean forward, resting my forehead against his. The warmth of his presence, the steady rhythm of his breathing, grounds me amidst my overwhelming emotions. “I love you. I love you so much, Alex.”

He pulls me into his arms without hesitation, his hold firm and unyielding, as though he never intends to let me go. I sink against him, feeling the strength and warmth of his embrace, and for a fleeting moment, everything else fades. It’s just us—woven together by love, trust, and the raw vulnerability we’ve finally allowed ourselves to share.

His arms tighten around me, his steady presence enveloping me as I rest my head against his chest. In his embrace, the world feels smaller, safer, as though together we can face anything. His hand glides through my hair in slow, soothing strokes—a silent promise that he’s here, that I’m not alone.

I close my eyes, breathing him in, letting his quiet strength seep into the spaces where fear and doubt once lived. The love between us feels both delicate and unbreakable. Yet even as I cling to this moment, a bittersweet ache takes root in my chest—a quiet reminder that soon I’ll have to let go.

But not yet.

For now, I stay in his arms, letting his quiet reassurance fill the empty places inside me. We hold each other in the stillness, and as sleep begins to pull me under, gratitude and love settle in my heart, mingling with the ache of our fated goodbye.

Chapter37

Alex Sebring

The early morninglight filters through the drapes, casting golden rays over the room. Beside me, Magnolia sleeps peacefully, her breathing slow and steady. I stay still, watching her as if I can capture this moment and keep it forever. The way her hair spills over her shoulder in a messy tumble, the delicate curve of her lashes resting against her cheek—it’s a vision I want to hold on to even as the day threatens to take it away.

I wish we could’ve spent our last night at my place, wrapped up in the comfort of my bed, my space, my world—where I could pretend, even for a little while longer, that she wasn’t about to leave. But she needed to stay in the hotel, close to her coworkers, so she could meet them in the lobby when the airport transportation arrives.

Her mostly packed bags sit by the door, a silent reminder of what today means. My chest tightens at the sight.

My steel beauty. That’s what she is—strong, resilient, unyielding. But beneath all that strength lies a softness, a quiet warmth she shares sparingly. It’s that duality that has completely undone me.

She stirs, her lashes fluttering open, and her gaze meets mine, hazy with the softness of sleep. A drowsy smile tugs at her lips, and my heart clenches. How am I supposed to let her go?

“Good morning.” Her voice is still dazed by sleep.

“Morning, my love.” My voice is soft, but the emotion behind it feels immense. I brush a strand of hair from her face, needing to touch her, even in the smallest way. “Did you sleep well?”

“Not really.” Her hand slips into mine. “Too much on my mind.”

I nod, a sigh escaping as I look down at our grasping hands. “I didn’t sleep well either. Kept thinking about today… and all the things I should say to make you stay.”

Her smile wavers, her gaze dipping briefly before meeting mine again. “Alex––”

We lie there in the stillness, the ache of the day looming between us. Neither of us speaks as if acknowledging what’s to come will make it all too real.

Finally, I break the quiet, trying to lighten the mood. “Want breakfast in bed?”

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