Page 38 of Steal Me

I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCHtime has passed by the time I'm able to speak...and I'm no longer tempted to throw up every few seconds.

"W-Who are they?"

"People I swore to protect." Sylvain's voice is grim. There isn't a trace of guilt or shame. But should that be reason enough to trust him?

I glance back at the wall. Every face, a story of tragedy and suffering. But even so. I can't stop thinking about it.

Did he marry me...because I looked like one of them?

A girl...who simply needed saving.

"Did you marry all of them, too?"

It's only when Sylvain's gaze snaps at my direction in sharp incredulity that I even realize what I'm asking.

"D-Did you have sex—"

"Non!"His voice is low.Pained.For me. And yet somehow, that only makes feel unable to breathe. I never knew it was possible to hurt like this. "It is not like that!"

The sight of him is suddenly unbearable. But the moment I turn away, he's already next to me, spinning me right back, and I...

Islaphim.

Hard enough to make his lip bleed.

But my husband doesn't even flinch.

"I want to say I'm sorry," I whisper, "but I'm not."

Because all I can think about now...are the clothes I've been wearing. Clothes that I thought he bought for me. But now I know...

When I see his face whiten, I know it's because I've started to cry.

But it's still not enough to stop my heart from cracking.

"Pardonne-moi, je t'en supplie..." Forgive me, I beg you.

I can see that he means every word. That he's hurting for me more and more.

"I am the one at fault. There are things I wish I would have done differently, but..." Sylvain swallows hard. "I cannot change the past. I can only beg for your forgiveness. And ask that you believe me when I say...you are different." His tone becomes fierce and urgent. "I never touched any of them. Never even thought of it."

It's as if he doesn't care about anything except convincing me of the truth.

"You are the only one I wanted. The only one I loved."

He's saying all the right things, but it's just not enough, and my tears simply won't stop falling.

"I want to believe you," I choke out, "but you've just lied to me so many times."

Because Sylvain...

He lied to me about Viktor. Lied to me about these tests. Lied to me about all of these women. Is there even anything about him—about us—that was ever true?

"Liana—"

He reaches for me, I instinctively rear back, and pain flashes over his features.

"I'm s-sorry." I don't want to hurt him, I truly don't.

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