Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 79

Every time Hannah lowered her pride and got turned away, the sting felt sharper. Embarrassment, shame, a gnawing humiliation all tangled inside her.

Lawrence has been living at home these last few weeks. That has to mean something, right? He wants to be here... wants his family back... doesn’t he?

Hannah looked up at him, her eyes red and glossy. “Am I not attractive enough for you?”

Lawrence felt a mess of emotions rise up in his chest. He pressed his fingers to his brow, trying to collect himself. “Can you not do this right now? My parents are still up. I don’t want them worrying.”

She gave a twisted little smile, then walked over and shut the door behind her. “Is it because I’m too skinny? Too flat? Too many scars? My feet are ugly and my legs are just a bunch of muscle with no shape?”

His back was to her, shoulders heavy and defeated.

“Or is it because after I had our child, I’m just... different, down there?”

“Hannah,” Lawrence said quietly, pain running through his voice. “Stop putting yourself down like this.”

But Hannah was clinging to her last thread of pride.

“So what is it? That I’m not as pretty as Bonnie? My body can’t compare? I’m not as young, or maybe I just don’t matter to you as much as she does?”

Her voice wavered. Still, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, gripping tight, feeling the solid tension in his stomach and back. She knew this body—had loved this body for years, since Lawrence changed from a gangly teen into a real man.

But now she couldn’t ignore it. This body felt absolutely nothing for her.

He tried to pull her hands loose, but Hannah wouldn’t let go. His hand skimmed the scar on her forearm, and that single touch filled him with a weighty, helpless ache.

“Stop imagining things. I’m tired, that’s all.”

Hannah just shook her head. She knew better. When a man wants a woman, whether it’s love or just plain desire, his body always reacts. She remembered it from before, remembered it so clearly it felt seared into her bones.

She flashed back to that one summer.

She’d come back from rehearsal, not even through the door, when laughter from inside floated out to greet her.

It was just a kiss, but the need on Lawrence’s face, the way he looked at Bonnie like he wanted to climb inside her skin—that look had burned itself into Hannah.

Bonnie couldn’t meet his eyes. Instead, she pinched his chest in fake protest and Lawrence only smiled wider, whispering something into her ear, so low and sweet.

Just from watching his lips, Hannah knew exactly what he called her—Candie.

She was sure they’d done way more than she’d seen. They had to have.

That scene had wrecked Hannah back then. The memory still hit its mark now, slicing right into her chest—hot, raw pain that wouldn’t stop.

“If that’s not the reason, then why haven’t you touched me in three years?” Hannah asked, her voice trembling.

Lawrence said nothing, the silence stretching between them.

Hannah hugged him tighter, refusing to surrender, her words hard and sure. “Lawrence, I want you to want me.”