Page 65 of Marrying Hope

But Beast asks without missing a beat, “And she agreed?”

I nod.

“Are you happy?” Beast asks further.

“I don’t know, but we had a moment when Ray called me Dad.” I twist the knot of my tie suddenly feeling extremely uncomfortable.

“It’s settled, then.” Beast pats Zander’s back, halting my brother as he paces back and forth like a caged animal. “Hope has a way out. Zach is not hiding anything. Let them handle this on their own.” But the way Zander’s lips pinch together, it’s clear he doesn’t like any part of it.

“Are you s-sure?”

“No, I’m not,” I reply to Zane and hope Zander listens too. “But I have never felt this peace as I do with Ray. Maybe all this time, I just needed to protect someone like me.” I gulp the knot forming in my throat, and look at my elder brother in anticipation. I know he is pissed, and he will be for some time, but I want him to understand that this is not a fling. I have thought about this decision. I don’t tell them that I’m at peace finally. The urge, the obsession, the craving is not there for the first time.

Zander gives me a long look and without another word bursts out of his study.

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