Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 414

And then the tragedy hit my family. I lost everything. People turned their backs on me, and the last person I expected, Sharon, turned her back on me too. I didn't know which was more devastating: my mother falling sick, or losing everything, or her betrayal. I went after her. I begged her not to leave me. She said I had nothing to offer her. She said I was useless, that I couldn't even recover what belonged to my family.

When my mother's condition got worse and I had nowhere else to go, I desperately went back to Sharon and begged her to lend me something, for the sake of old times. She told me she was broke. But I saw pictures on her social media, of her going on trips, buying expensive things."

He looked at me then, and his eyes were clear. "I'm not telling you all this to make you see her as a horrible person. I just want you to understand that Sharon is someone who could never, ever be in my life again.

After I got back everything I had lost and the news was all over, she started trying to reach me. She had blocked me before. Now she was the one messaging me, on every channel. I blocked her everywhere. I don't know if she was stalking me or how she found out we were standing outside that restaurant. It was horrible timing.

I hadn't physically seen her in a long time, so her presence affected me more than I expected. But Sharon is my past. There is absolutely no way I would ever have anything to do with her again.

In fact, she is the reason I ended up with such a distorted view of women. After her betrayal, I thought the worst of them. I looked at them with suspicion and fear. And then I came to Helix, and I met you.

You were different, Pat. You weren't arrogant. You weren't full of yourself. Even though Helix had gotten the five billion and you were basically the boss, just like Celeste, you treated everyone with kindness and respect.

He reached across the table, and his hand closed over mine. "I'm begging you, Pat. Give me a chance. I know the engagement at your family's party wasn't how you pictured yourself getting engaged. I promise I'll give you a better proposal, one that's more befitting.

You're the only woman I want to bring home. The only woman I want to take to my mother, once she opens her eyes. This isn't out of guilt or obligation. I genuinely want to be with you.

All this time, I couldn't get you out of my head. I kept recalling your voice. I kept seeing your smile. I don't want to get ahead of myself and put a name to what I feel for you. I'm not careless with words. But you're very special to me, Pat. I don't think my life would be complete without you."