“No. We need to talk,” he says, stopping at the corner of the bed to look down at me.
I’ve decided that this is for the best, and honestly I’m not even a little uncertain anymore. We’ve run our course, and I need to be done now. I’ve learned that life is short, thanks to Nana’s brush with death, and spending my time with a man who has told me in no uncertain terms that he doesn’t love me is not healthy.
I need a new start, and I am quite frankly sick and tired of his attitude.
“I know.” I sigh deeply before squaring my shoulders. “It’s past time to be done. We’re…”
He narrows his eyes at me, shutting me up, and tosses something onto the bed. I don’t move until he nods down, only then dropping my eyes to the coverlet.
My hand is shaking as I reach out to pick it up, and I stop breathing when my eyes finally focus and I am staring at an engagement ring with a diamond that is big but tasteful.
“What is this?” I whisper, sitting as still as a statue.
When he doesn’t answer I force my eyes up to his. His face isn’t expressionless. It’s worse. He’s looking at me with a cold determination that makes me shudder.
“I want what you took from me, Hannah,” he says, taking a step closer. “I’m thirty-two years old. I want a wife and a family. You took that away from me, and now I expect you to give it back.”
“You don’t love me.”
It’s a tortured whisper gasped out past the lump choking me to death.
He shrugs and takes my hand, studying the ring thoughtfully.
“It’s resized.”
“Gregory, this is…”
Not a good idea. Breaking my heart. Not happening.
“You will marry me, Hannah,” he snarls, and I swallow convulsively.
Not because he loves me or wants me or anything that resembles an emotion I can live with. He wants to own me and take revenge for ruining his engagement and the merger I now know would have followed between Lucas and Jeffries Industries.
If he’s just asked…..
I stare at the ring and know what I have to do…
Chapter Twenty Seven
Saying that I know what I have to do and doing it are two totally different things, and as I accept it, I know that getting away from Gregory will not be easy.
I’d managed not to have to accept the ring, by dint of refusing to wear another woman’s ring, but I know my reprieve will be short, and I’ll have to move quickly before he shows up at my door with a ring and the moving van he’s threatening me with.
For this reason I get dressed and demand he take me home.
“I’ll be back to pick you up for dinner.”
I nod and stare ahead, not looking at him for fear he’ll see the guilt and intent in my eyes.
“Look, Han…this is not a bad thing. You’ll understand that soon enough. We’re good together. We…fit,” he says, pulling up in front of my building and turning to me while the car idles.
Yes, somehow, in some strange way, we do fit, and I know it. I just don’t know if that will ever be enough to justify spending the rest of my life chasing a dream with him.
He’s not a bad guy, not even remotely villainous or…I don’t know anymore. All I know is that I love him enough for the both of us to do what I have to, to keep from making a huge mistake.
“I know that, Greg.”
It’s all I can manage to say, but it seems enough for him, as he smiles and leans over, planting a soft, passionate kiss to my lips.
“I’ll see you later.”
A statement, not a question, and I just nod and get out of the car, keeping my head down so he doesn’t see the tears glistening in my eyes. When I get upstairs it’s to find Nana and Chris sharing breakfast and a couple of dirty stories about love won and lost.
“Oh, there you are, dearest. Come, have some breakfast.”
“No thanks, Nana. I need to steal Chrissie for a minute though.”
She shrugs and goes back to breakfast, eyeing the bread with a baleful eye that brings home just how serious the situation with her is. It makes me second guess myself for the briefest second.
Being with Greg would ensure she gets the help and care she needs, but I just can’t put myself in this position—
“You look like shit.”
“Gee, thanks,” I mutter, closing the door and turning to her with a look she has no problem discerning.
“What’s wrong?”
How to say this?
“I need to get out of here for a while, just till Gregory loses interest and moves on.”
Her face slackens before her eyes narrow harshly.
“What has he done?”
“Nothing!” I rush to get out when I see how quickly her temper heats up. “He…asked me to marry him.”