The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 82

The Heiress He Underestimated

Chapter 82 An Obsession

When he reached her, he didn’t say anything. He just pulled her into his arms, holding her so tight she could barely breathe. She felt him shaking.

“You,” he said into her hair, his voice rough. “You’re her. You’ve been her this whole time.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she whispered back. “I wanted to. Gosh, I wanted to so badly.”

He pulled back just enough to look at her face. His eyes were wet. “You built those cathedrals for me. Every word. You were building them for me before we even met.”

“I was building them for me too,” she said. “For everyone who’s ever felt trapped or alone or like they had to hide who they really are.”

“I can’t believe I got to marry you,” he said, and there was wonder in his voice. “Twice. I married you once as the brilliant doctor who saved my life. And now I get to marry you again as the writer who saved my soul.”

Elera was full–on crying now, not caring that there were hundreds of people watching, that cameras were recording every second of this. “We’re only legally married once,” she managed to say through her tears.

“Technicality,” he said, and then he surprised her and kissed her.

9

It wasn’t a performance kiss, not like the polite peck at their actual wedding. This was real. Deep and desperate and full of everything they’d been holding back for weeks. The crowd around them went wild. cheering and whistling.

When they finally broke apart, both breathless, Elera became aware of how many people were trying to get to her. Reporters. Fans. Other authors. It was a stampede.

Frost appeared at their side like a guardian angel. “We should move,” he said calmly. “Before this gets out of hand.”

“Agreed, Drakonius said, not letting go of Elera’s hand. “Back exit?”

Is it though?” Xan took a step closer, ignoring Drakonius completely. “Because I’m starting to think I didn’t know you at all. This whole time, you were this brilliant, accomplished, fascinating person, and I was reating you like a trophy. Like something to be displayed and then destroyed.” He laughed, but it sounded bitter. “The joke’s on me, isn’t it?”

Sarah’s hand tightened on his arm. She was staring at Elera like she was trying to set her on fire with her nind.

The joke’s on both of us,” Sarah said, her voice soft and eerie. “You thought you were so clever, hiding all your little secrets. But secrets have a way of coming out. All of them. Eventually.”

It was a threat. A very clear threat.

Drakonius moved, putting himself partially between Elera and the two of them. “This conversation is over. Move.”

I loved you, you know,” Xan said, and there was something raw in his voice now. He was looking at Elera ike he was seeing her for the first time. “Or I thought I did. I loved the version of you I created in my head. The helpless girl who needed saving. But this version.” He gestured at her, at the award still in her hand, at he confidence radiating from her. “This version is actually worth loving. And I threw her away. Planned to destroy her. How’s that for irony?”

Elera felt ice run down her spine. “You’re not in love with me, Xan. You’re in love with the idea of possessing something you can’t have. That’s not love. That’s an obsession.”