The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1501

Pam and Knox watched from a distance, catching each other’s eye with a look that said it all. Relief settled in, quiet but deep.

Knox thought, It’s been such a long road for Kenneth. Nearly cost him everything, but he finally got there.

Pam, on her end, felt the same. Emily hung on for years, but now she’s finally with Kenneth. After ten years of quiet longing, the dream was real.

***

Nearly ten hours later, their flight touched down at Cabinda International Airport. Emily had barely slept the past few nights, work leaving her wiped out, so she drifted in and out of sleep the whole way.

“Emily…”

The sound pulled her back. She blinked awake and found Kenneth’s bright face right in front of her.

“Emily…” Kenneth reached for her hand, holding it tight, his dark eyes holding hers. His voice was quiet but steady. “About what you said… you really meant it when you agreed to date me, right?”

“It’s real. Really real. Extremely real,” Emily answered, rolling her eyes. Annoyance crept in. She pushed his hand away and stood, staring at him, frustrated and tired. “You need to chill out.”

The truth was, she always imagined she’d be the emotional one after they made things official—but Kenneth threw all her ideas out the window.

Ever since she’d agreed to date him, he’d checked in almost every hour for the rest of the flight.

“You really agreed, right? You won’t break up with me after Lottie’s happy, will you? Who do you like more, me or Lottie?”

And on and on.

For a moment, he was frozen. Then instinct kicked in. He slid his hand to her chin, took over the kiss, more serious now, bold and sure.

“Emily, I’m only going to ask you this once more.” His lips brushed her cheek, and his voice was low and rough. “If you’re doing this out of gratitude or some sense of obligation, or just acting on impulse… I won’t count what you just said. I’ll keep chasing you, as long as it takes. A year, ten years, doesn’t matter to me.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close but keeping his feelings tightly reined in. His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I’m not like the guy who hurt you. I can’t stand seeing you get hurt, got it?”

“So, tell me. Are you being real with me? Are you with me because it’s what you really want?”

Kenneth’s hand was shaking slightly. He tried to sound calm, but the tension in his body and the worry on his face gave him away completely.

“Yes.” Emily’s back was pressed to the wall, her eyes shining and just a little red. She didn’t hesitate. “I like you. I want to be with you.”