"Ethan, you're only looking at me through the rose-tinted glasses of our past. You need to take a step back and see the bigger picture. There are so many incredible women out there. You shouldn't limit yourself to a childhood crush."
She didn't want to make things heavy or depressing. He was far too remarkable a man for that.
He deserved a beautiful marriage and a happy family, not to waste his precious time on her.
Ethan Leigh offered a gentle smile, burying the quiet ache deep within his heart.
He couldn't let her carry this burden, nor did he want to be the source of her guilt.
He refused to let his feelings become her emotional prison.
Pushing down the welling sense of loss and masking the loneliness in his eyes, he maintained his calm, affable demeanor.
"Quinn, I'm not going to give up. But please, don't go out of your way to avoid me either. That wouldn't be fair to me."
Her gaze remained open and sincere, entirely devoid of any false modesty. "I won't avoid you because of this. You're still the twins' Daddy."
She closed her eyes briefly, turning to look out at the distant river view. "But you should have a normal life, instead of pouring all your time and energy into me and the kids."
He knew exactly what she was worried about. She feared that having two children would drag him down.
But he didn't see it that way at all.
He adored the twins. Sometimes, biology wasn't what made a family; blood didn't guarantee love.
Look at him and Alastair Sterling—they were flesh and blood, but what good did that do?
His father had still tried to force his mother to get an abortion back in the day.
"Alright, I promise you. If someone introduces me to a woman, I won't immediately reject the idea. I'll try to get to know her. But you can't force me to accept someone just for the sake of it."
"I have feelings for you, but you don't need to feel burdened by them, nor should you feel like you owe me anything for what I do for the kids.
Loving you is my business. Choosing is yours."
A sudden heat rushed to Quinn's eyes, her chest tightening with an aching sweetness.
It was the first time she had ever heard someone speak of love so lightly, yet with such profound sincerity.
No demands, no emotional blackmail, no pressure.
It turned out that true affection wasn't about saying, *'Look at everything I've done for you, now love me back.'* It was simply, *'I love you, but you are still entirely free.'*
A thousand thoughts lodged in her throat. She pressed her lips together, unsure of what to say.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she murmured, "I won't force you."
"Thank you, Ethan."


Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: She Walked Away With His Twins While He Begged the Ground She Walked On
Lol.. this guy is a complete fool , I dont know how he is the top predator , he rather believes Jade than Doctor's diagnosis 🙄 he is rich , if he didn't believe that particular doc ,he cud take her to another doctor. N he says he thinks of her as sis I mean no brother is this obsessed with his sis ,he does have a bio sis, he doesnt behave with her like that....
Whats wrong with grandparents in this kind of stories? They force the wife to stay even if she is miserable bcos they believe their grandson loves her but never tell how a married guy shud behave just enabling his behavior. 😏...
He can be friends with Jade with no boundaries but she cant be friends with Ethan? Such hypocrisy. So he does know the way he is being with Jade is wrong and still does it...
This guy brought the kid against her mom's wishes and he doesn't even respect her n when her kids are hurt she can't even fight? What gives him the right? He is just plain disgusting...
Why does he have authority over other kids? Why wud he send his assistant to bring the kids over against their mom's wishes? This guy is just stupid ,it's like a mad n stupid dog sitting on money n just doing whatever he feels like without an ounce of respect for others....
You are just a snob and holier than thou person....
His aristocratic upbringing stopped him from losing composure? Seriously , his aristocratic upbringing is not that great , he got no morals , only using underhanded tactics on a helpless individual . He got money ,so it's a viable sophistry when his heart is rotten. When the winter's family is in the wrong ,why is he scared of them attacking his wife and the winter's family doesn't even give him a shot n he still acts like a dog for them. Please don't make him the endgame for her....
It's for her own good . He is afraid of Arthur Quinn ? I mean what use is he as a husband when he's afraid of someone will ruin his wife's career n already had done once and he still doesn't have the guts to stand up for her? He can only show his power n abuse on innocent ones with no background like his wife? How disgusting is he? N he thinks he's above everyone and even when he looks down upon someone bcos she is a maid's daughter , when he is this spineless?...
Why only one episode uploading for the last 2 days?...
I would have accepted the jerk husband ending up with the heroine if he’s only powerful, intelligent but he’s so powerless and so stupid....