Page 94 of Falling For You

Everything would be okay.

I needed to get this off my chest despite my heart pounding wildly behind my ribcage.

Between his going radio silent, then betraying me in a way I still couldn’t fully comprehend, followed by today’s news, I needed this.

I just needed closure.

This conversation would be one of the hardest I’d ever had. But it had to happen. I had to face him, say what needed to be said, and finally put everything between us to rest.

We needed an ending for both of our sakes.

I shook my head and knocked.

Almost immediately, I heard movement inside.

Before I had time to second-guess myself, the door swung open. Standing in front of me, with that same ruggedly handsome face that had haunted my thoughts since the day we met, was Owen.

“Violet.” His voice was soft. His eyes searched mine as if trying to read what brought me here. There was a tension in the air that hadn’t been there before.

I knew we both felt it.

The ease between us had faded into a frenzied dance of apprehension.

“Hey,” Owen said softly, leaning on the door. “What brings you here?”

“We need to talk.”

He stepped aside, gesturing for me to come inside.

My mind immediately flipped back to the kiss we shared here, and I shoved away the thought immediately.

The room was tidy, as if he’d been expecting this moment. I stood awkwardly near the door momentarily before sitting on one of the chairs by the small desk.

Owen watched me with an unreadable expression as he closed the door, walked over, and sat across from me.

I stared at my hands. My fingers twisted together as I tried to gain the courage to start.

After everything, where did I even begin?

“You did the right thing, you know,” I said, finally breaking the silence, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Telling me the truth. I know that wasn’t easy for you, especially with everything on the line.”

Owen leaned back in his chair, letting out a small sigh. “It wasn’t easy, no. But it was the only thing that felt right.”

I nodded, taking another deep breath. “I know. And I appreciate what you did for my family and the town. Withoutyou, I don’t know if we would’ve had the chance to save the land. You could’ve kept quietandlet the deal go through, but you didn’t. That means a lot.”

His eyes softened, and he gave a slight nod. “I didn’t want to see this place ruined. I didn’t want to seeyouhurt, Violet.”

That’s what made this all so difficult. Despite everything, I knew Owen’s intentions were good. He had risked his career, reputation, and more just to ensure my family and our town didn’t lose everything.

It might have been in the final hour, but he still did it.

However, even with that knowledge, the trust between us had been shaken.

“I know you didn’t,” I said, my voice catching a little. “But I can’t help feeling like there’s always more to the story with you. You didn’t tell me the truth from the start. You kept so much hidden, and now… even though you did what was right in the end, I just don’t know if I can trust your motives. I feel like there’s more that I don’t know.”

He frowned slightly, leaning forward. “Violet, I—”

I shook my head, holding up a hand to stop him. “Let me finish, Owen. Please.”

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