Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
And there she is. The love of my life. Alive. She’s alive. Tears begin to pour down my face. There are tubes in her arm, and her face is so pale she looks like a ghost, but she seems peaceful. My heart lurches. I’d nearly lost her. I nearly lost everything.
Unable to process the enormity of what could have happened if Tom had not come upon the murder scene, I collapse on the chair by her bedside. For the longest time, I simply gaze at her, thanking God for saving her. For not taking her away from me. And then I apologize to her because all of this is my fault. I’ve been so blind. So blind to something that should have been so obvious. As if Sara would not notice how desperately I craved Amelia. Any woman would have intuitively known. I reach out and hold her hand.
Her fingers are cool, but she is alive. Thank God, she is alive, and her pulse is steady under my thumb.
“I’m here,” I whisper, my voice raw, leaning close, my forehead brushing her hand. “I’m so sorry, Amelia. I didn’t know… I didn’t know Sara could do something like this.”
My eyes burn as tears slip free and hot against my cheeks. I don’t care who sees, don’t care about the world outside this room.
“I love you. And I’m so sorry. Needless to say, my marriage is over. You’re mine from this moment on in every way. I don’t give a damn if they call us brother and sister. To hell with them, with all of them. You’re my everything, and I’m not losing you again.”
She doesn’t respond, but I have no intention of moving. Not till she opens her eyes and I confirm that she is alright.
Hours pass, the clock ticks its way into two o’clock in the morning. My body aches, but I don’t move. I can’t. My hand remains locked in hers.
I close my eyes and pray until a soft stir pulls my eyes open. Scared out of my mind, I watch her lids flutter. And then her eyes find mine. She widens her eyes as if she can’t focus properly. It takes a while for her to register my face, and then when she does, a weak smile curves her lips. My chest cracks open, joy and relief spilling out.
“Max,” she murmurs, her voice faint, scratchy, but it is hers. She is freaking alive. “You’re here.”
“Always,” I say, squeezing her hand, my voice thick. “Always, Amelia. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you, Amelia. I love you, sweetheart."
Her smile widens, faint but radiant. She shifts and winces. Her fingers tighten in mine. “Why are you apologizing? It wasn’t your fault."
"It was," I argue, but I don’t want to stress her out, so I resolve to not say anymore.
"Max,” she says, her voice stronger now, “Sara..."
"Yeah, I know," I say. "I can’t believe it either. She’s gone insane, but don’t worry. She won’t get away with it. I swear it. I will make her pay. And ... Amelia, for the record, I don’t care what anyone says. I don’t care what they think. I never want to live a single day away from you after today. I don’t care if you’re my half-sister. All that matters is you are mine. That I am with you, that I fall asleep with you, and wake up to you. I know now that for you, I’d burn down to ashes everything I’ve built—my company, my name, everything. No one’s tearing us apart again. I swear. Please accept this promise. Please accept me."
Tears fill her eyes. "Max," she says. "There’s something I must tell you."
"Tell me what?” I ask, my nerves in a knot.
"I'm so sorry I didn’t tell you before, but we’re not brother and sister. Dad lied. He told me before he died that he made it up to keep us apart. You’re not my brother. You never were.”
The words hit me like a shockwave. I stare at her in disbelief, my breath stopping. “What?” I choke out, leaning closer, searching her eyes. “What? What are you- What? We're not related?"
She nods.
I can’t believe it. “You’re serious?" My heart wrenches with shock, astonishment, and wild joy. "Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her gaze softens, tears glistening. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t want to ruin your life, I didn’t want to ruin your family. Jason… Sara. But now, there’s no reason to hold back anymore. Sara… I can’t believe who she is. Not just what she did to me but with Jason.”
My blood runs cold, then boils.
“Max, she’s been hurting him. I thought she was just strict, but I think she’s borderline cruel to him. So much that it makes him… she even makes him lie for her. She scares him into silence. That’s why he’s so quiet around her, so withdrawn. She actually forced him to take the blame for ruining my painting, and that’s why I went to confront her.”