Chapter 72 Chapter 72
Adele
After Amelia’s call, I scrambled to make sure everything would look convincing if Maxwell came here. I quickly called Maria, one of our not-so-close friends who worked at my family’s hospital, just to check if she was on duty. When she confirmed she was, I told her she might see me soon.
Just as I finished the call, the doorbell rang downstairs. My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and definitely not Amelia yet—she hadn’t even started getting ready. I dropped my phone on the bed and hurried downstairs to see who it was.
When I opened the door, Rafe was standing there, holding flowers and gift bags, grinning that irresistible smile at me. “I’m here to apologize,” he said, presenting the flowers.
“With your favorites, of course. And a few gifts as well. I hope, soon, you will decide to forgive me.”
Even as I tried to keep my composure, my heart couldn’t help but flutter. His handsome face, the charm in his smile, it was impossible not to feel drawn to him. Every day, I felt myself falling for him a little more, even when I tried to deny it to myself.
It had been a week since the last dramatic outburst at my doorstep, and yet Rafe hadn’t missed a single day. Every day, he brought flowers, expensive gifts, always showing up without fail. And every day, I took them, smiled politely, and shut the door in his face.
But today, seeing him standing there again, I couldn’t deny the pang of excitement that shot through me.
“Thank you for the gifts, Mr. Blackthorn,” I said as I took the flowers and gift bags from him.
He nodded politely and turned to leave, but something in me shifted, and I stopped him.
“Maybe today really is your lucky day after all.”
He paused and looked back at me. “Come in,” I added, stepping aside before I could change my mind.
Once inside the living room, I brought the flowers to my nose and inhaled their familiar scent, trying to calm my racing heart. I turned to face him. “What about Jenna?” I asked quietly.
He stepped closer, and instinctively I raised my hand, stopping him. I knew exactly what his touch did to me, and I needed my head clear right now.
“I broke up with her the night I met you, i told you.he said calmly. “About the night I came here and left in a hurry in the rain. She called me and said her car broke down in a dangerous area, so I went to get her. She stayed the night at my place because she lost her belongings, but nothing happened between us.”
I shook my head slightly. “She lost her things, but not her phone and she could still call you. And why did she come to your office announcing she was pregnant if you weren’t sleeping with her?”
His expression hardened. “Because Rowan put her up to it. He knew you were in my office and that I was trying to fix things with you. He sent her, and out of her own selfish interest, she agreed. I have blocked her from coming to my company, and if she shows up again, I will get a restraining order.”
He took another step toward me. “Jenna is not pregnant for me. I haven’t touched her since we broke up months ago. The only woman I want is you, Adele. I mean that.” He reached for me gently, pulling me closer.
I exhaled slowly, my emotions tangled. “It’s hard to trust you with all this drama going on,” I admitted. “I still can’t get past the fact that you allowed your brother to take me out. I kissed him thinking he was you. That idiot even defended me against my ex that night.”
He gently took the flower from my hand and placed it on the table. Then he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.
My body reacted instantly to the closeness, every nerve alert, every breath suddenly shallow.
“I’m so sorry,” he said softly. “I should never have agreed to let Rowan take you out on that date.”
I nodded slowly. His voice dropped to a whisper as his forehead rested against mine. “I have missed you so much. I want to kiss you right now, can I?” He searched my eyes, waiting.
I bit my lip hard, fighting the rush of emotions, then nodded. That was all the permission he needed. His lips brushed mine in a slow, gentle kiss at first, almost careful, as if he was afraid I might pull away. Then the kiss deepened. His tongue slid into my mouth, and what started calm quickly turned intense, a heated clash that left me dizzy until I finally surrendered to him.
When we pulled apart, we were both breathless. He rested his forehead against mine, his hands cupping my face. “The past few weeks without you have been hell,” he admitted quietly. “Being away from you made me realize how much you mean to me. I promise I will never take you for granted again.”
His thumbs brushed my cheeks as he continued, “I swear to make you happy. I will be a man you can trust completely—no more exes, no more drama.”
My heart softened. I leaned in and kissed him again, slower this time, fuller. We moved without thinking, from the middle of the room to the couch, kissing, holding each other, whispering promises and soft words that made everything else fade away.
Then reality hit me like a slap, I was supposed to call Amelia, My phone was still upstairs.
I pulled back suddenly and asked Rafe for the time. When he told me, my eyes widened, it was already two hours past when I was supposed to call Amelia.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath. “She’s going to kill me.”
Before he could ask what was wrong, I rushed upstairs to grab my phone, my heart racing for a very different reason now.