Chapter 192

Zane's POV

"I'm sorry, Belle," I whispered, the weight of my words heavy in the quiet of the night. "I'll leave you be for now. I didn't mean to make things worse."

My voice sounded hollow, even to me, and I hated how much it felt like defeat. But what else could I do? I had already done enough damage. I turned away from her, my heart pounding as I walked toward my room. Each step felt heavier than the last, like I was trudging through mud.

The VIP section was eerily quiet, more than usual. It was a stark contrast to the storm raging in my mind. Maybe that's why I noticed it-how still everything was. It gave me too much space to think, to question whether I'd said the right things or if I had just messed up everything even more. Did she hate me now? Had I pushed her too far, saying things that made sense only to me?

I reached my door, fumbling with the key card, trying to slide it into the reader while my thoughts swirled in chaos. I told myself that I'd just pretend to sleep, maybe get some rest, but I knew better. I wasn't going to sleep tonight. No, I'd be keeping an eye out, just in case. What if she decided to run while I was asleep? The thought clenched my gut like a fist. I couldn't let that happen. Not again.

As I was about to turn the door handle, I heard her voice, small and fragile, like it was breaking apart.

"Zane… wait."

I froze, hand still hovering over the knob, my heart skipping a beat. I wasn't sure if I'd heard her right, so I stayed still, waiting, the door forgotten. Slowly, I turned my head, still unsure if I had imagined her voice, but there she was, standing in the dim light of the hallway.

I looked at her, still gripping the key card, trying to act like I hadn't just felt the earth tilt on its axis. Her eyes were on me, shimmering in the low light. She was trembling, but there was something more in her gaze now.

"I love you," she said, her voice trembling but clear. It was like a bomb going off in my chest. My hand stilled on the door as I processed her words. Did I hear that right? She loved me?

"I… what?" I muttered to myself as my heart skipped a beat. I must've misheard her. How could she say that? I'd made her cry just moments ago. How could she love me when all I did was hurt her?

"I love you, Zane. I've loved you for so long, and I-" Her voice came stronger this time, but trailed of towards the end. Her words felt like music, sweet and endless, like I could listen to her say them forever. But it didn't make sense. How could she love me?

I took a step toward her, my eyes searching hers for some kind of answer, and she kept going, her words tumbling out, her emotions pouring out in every syllable. Cuting me off to express all she wanted to before she thought against it.

I stopped in front of her, and when she finally paused, giving me room to speak, I asked, "Why didn't you tell me before?"

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at me, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because I was scared. Scared that you wouldn't feel the same way, scared that I would lose you if I told you the truth."

I stood there, rooted in place, my chest tight. Her confession made something inside me snap into place. All the confusion, all the doubt-it made sense now. She'd been holding back just as much as I had, too afraid of what might happen if either of us dared to admit the truth.

Without thinking, I stepped closer, gently pulling her into my arms. She leaned into me, her small frame trembling against my chest, and it all clicked. It was like the final piece of a puzzle snapping into place, and suddenly, everything made sense.

I pressed my lips against her hair, inhaling her familiar scent. "Was that why you left that day?" I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. "When I told you I wasn't capable of love?"

She nodded against my chest, sniffling. "Yes."

I exhaled a shaky breath, cursing under my breath. Fuck me! "Belle… I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I didn't realize."

She pulled back slightly, looking up at me with those tear-streaked eyes, and I felt my heart twist. How could I have been so blind? "I didn't mean to hurt you," I said, my voice low. "I never wanted to make you cry."

"I know," she whispered, wiping a tear from her cheek. Her fingers brushed mine, and I held her hand gently, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. She was so fragile, yet so strong. And I… I had no idea how to fix this.

She looked up at me again, her eyes searching mine. "How about now, Zane?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Do you still feel like you can't love me?"

The question tore through me. I cared about her. I knew that. Hell, I cared more than I ever thought I could. But love? Could I really love her? Did I deserve to? I had so much baggage, so much darkness in me. My hands were dirty, stained with too many mistakes. And Belle… she was pure. A dove. Untouched by the kind of filth I carried with me.

"Is that how you see me?" she asked quietly, and my eyes snapped to hers. I realized then that I'd spoken my thoughts out loud.

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out at first. My throat felt tight. I wanted to tell her the truth, but I also didn't want to scare her away. She deserved better than me-someone who could give her everything. I wasn't sure I could.

"I care about you, Belle," I began, my voice strained with the weight of my emotions. "More than you know. And from now, I'll be honest with you… I don't know if I can love you the way you deserve. I'm willing to show you who I really am, though. Every part of me. And if you don't like what you see-if you want to run-I won't stop you."

Before I could finish my sentence, Belle tiptoed, closing the distance between us, and kissed me.

Her lips were soft, sweet, and everything I never knew I needed. All the words I had, all the doubts, melted away in that moment. Her kiss was gentle, yet it spoke louder than any words could. She wasn't running. She wasn't going anywhere.

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close as I kissed her back, feeling every bit of her warmth against me. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not my past, not my mistakes. Only her. Only Belle.

And maybe, just maybe, I could learn to love her the way she deserved.