Instead of feeling happiness, I felt a surge of heartbreak. I was broken in two, and I hadn’t even left yet. Despair washed over me, but I was forced to ignore it, to pretend it never happened at all. “I love you too.”
He kissed my forehead before he gently pulled out of me, taking his time so he could secure his deposit inside my slit. He liked knowing his come was sitting inside me all night long while we both slept. That was the kind of possession he liked to take.
He finally pulled out of me then got comfortable in bed, his powerful body next to mine. He draped his arm over my waist and nuzzled his face into my neck, the coarse hair rubbing against my soft skin.
I didn’t think I could sleep tonight since I was going to leave tomorrow, but my eyes grew heavy and I fell asleep almost immediately.
“Everything okay?” Crewe checked his black tie as he watched me.
“Yeah…why?” He was about to leave for work, and I was doing my best to pretend everything was fine. Since he was so in tune with my mannerisms and expressions, he probably knew I wasn’t behaving like I normally did.
“Seem a little off.” He grabbed his watch and secured it around his wrist before he walked up to me and kissed me on the mouth.
“Just tired.”
“Alright.” Crewe didn’t press me further and kissed my hairline. “I’ll see you later.”
“See you later.” He walked through the door.
“I love you,” I blurted, unsure how many more times I’d get to say it.
He turned around and smiled. “I love you too.” He shut the door and disappeared.
I felt sick to my stomach. I would spend the day packing and organizing my departure. He had no idea when he walked through that door everything would be different.
I only had one small suitcase, and I threw everything inside, not caring about tidiness. I stole one of his shirts from his drawer and kept that too, knowing I would want it when I was sleeping alone in my apartment.
When everything was put together, I called Joseph.
“What’s up?” he answered.
“I was wondering if I could catch a ride from you later today…” It was hard to talk when I was on the verge of tears.
Joseph heard the sorrow in my voice. “Are you leaving him?”
“Yeah…”
“You’re sure you wanna do this?”
“Yes.”
“I hate the guy, but you shouldn’t let some cunt tell you what to do.”
“I’m not…I just know it needs to be this way.”
“Well, I’m nowhere near Scotland right now. I’m in Russia, actually.”
“Oh…” I assumed he was about to perform the heist that he and Crewe planned together.
“But I can have one of my men pick you up. A very trustworthy guy.”
I didn’t feel comfortable sitting in a car with someone I didn’t know, but I didn’t have any other choice. I just needed to get to the airport. “That’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I’ll have him swing by.”
“Thanks.” I sat on the edge of the bed with my arms crossed over my chest. There wasn’t anything else to say and Joseph wasn’t interested in these types of conversations, but it felt good just to sit on the line with him.
“I don’t want to be insensitive, but I need to go…”
“Oh, I understand.” I knew he was busy with more important things.
“But I still think you should reconsider what you’re doing. If Ariel is willing to hurt him like this, she shouldn’t be in his life at all.”
“I know…but I did a lot of terrible things. I understand why she doesn’t trust me.”
“It’s fine that she doesn’t trust you. But this is hurting Crewe—the man she’s supposedly loyal to.”
“Joseph, I appreciate what you’re doing, but this is how it has to be.”
He sighed. “Whatever you say.”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
“Alright. Love you.” I hardly ever heard him say anything remotely sweet, so I knew he meant it.
“I love you too.”
When five o’clock came around, my heart shattered.
This was the most difficult moment of my life.
I had to let him go even if he didn’t want to let me go.
Crewe walked inside and immediately peeled his jacket off, but he halted when he saw my roll-aboard suitcase at the end of the bed. “Is this a hint that you want me to take you on a vacation?”
I stood beside the suitcase and couldn’t meet his gaze. It was too difficult. In a matter of seconds, I would hurt him more than I hurt right that second. “I’ve been doing some thinking…”
Crewe stiffened noticeably. I could see the movement in my periphery since I refused to look directly at him.
“I don’t think I can sacrifice my whole life to be with you. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor and practice medicine, but I can’t do that here. My friends are back in New York. I can’t give up everything just for you. And a life of royalty…it’s just not for me.” I held back the tears up until that moment, but I wouldn’t be able to hold back the dam much longer.