The Rose He Showed Off Is Putting Down Roots in a Garden of Her Own novel Chapter 214

"Zane, it's just that I'm not worth it," Elara explained, her voice dropping to a quiet murmur.

"I'm past my prime. My ability to even have children is a giant question mark. Julian and I tried for years without success. It's highly possible I can never conceive."

"And my family's status is crumbling. Your family has paved the perfect path for you; you should listen to them."

Zane grabbed her shoulders and forcefully rolled her over so she had to look him in the eye. "Why don't you get it? I don't want Nadia Neville."

Elara argued, "Feelings are fleeting. Who can guarantee they'll love someone forever?"

"Even though I used to love Julian so much, look at me now. I can stare his mistress in the face without a single ripple of emotion, manipulate him into signing a loan agreement, and then stand on the moral high ground to condemn him."

"You see? Love is an illusion. Only cold, hard interests are real."

Hearing her say this left Zane feeling a twisted knot of joy and devastation.

He was thrilled she was entirely over Julian's hold on her.

But it broke his heart that she no longer believed in love.

Zane gently cupped her face. "If I were truly capable of falling for just anyone, I would have remarried and had kids years ago, right after my divorce from Jocelyn."

"In this lifetime, I have only ever loved one person. You."

Tears rapidly welled in Elara's eyes. They were both at an age where every decision was a calculated weighing of pros and cons. Yet here he was, clinging to an unapologetic, pure devotion. She admired him for it, and she felt profoundly honored.

"I honestly don't know how to ever repay this kind of love. But I also can't convince myself to just be your paramour. So, please, walk away."

"Why would you even think that?" Zane's brow furrowed in distress. "I'm not going to marry Nadia."

Elara let out a shaky sigh. "I don't want you to ruin your business with a foolish capital injection, and I certainly don't want you to ruin your personal life by making a foolish marriage choice."

"So you'd rather be my mistress?" Zane asked, his voice dropping an octave.

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