Chapter 77 Flaws and All

Chapter 77 Flaws and All
My stomach flutters at the memory.
“He's trying, Mum." My voice grows smaller. "I'm just scared those darker parts of him will always be there. Or that one day they'll become bigger than the man I fell in love with."
Mum is quiet for a long moment. Then she reaches over and covers my hand with hers. "Love has never been simple, sweetheart," she says softly. "And people don't become perfect overnight. But what matters is whether they're willing to face the parts of themselves that hurt others."

I listen to my mum.
"From what you've told me, Lawrence isn't pretending those parts of him don't exist, or running from who he is. He's trying to become someone better because he met you. And that matters."
She squeezes my hand gently. "You don't have to ignore your fear, Scarlett. You just have to decide whether the man in front of you is someone you believe is truly trying to grow."
My throat tightens.

"And this love I feel between you and Lawrence..." she continues, her voice warm, "it's strong. It's the kind that asks two people to become better versions of themselves.”
I don't even realize a tear has slipped down my cheek until Mum reaches over and gently wipes it away.
"You see, when two people are willing to grow together," she says quietly, "love has the chance to become something extraordinary."
She searches my face. "Are you willing to help him grow?"

A watery smile spreads across my face as I wipe at my eyes.
"Yes," I whisper, nodding. "Yes, I am."
My mother smiles, like she'd known my answer all along.
Then she asks quietly, tilting her head with a smile.
"So why are you here... instead of with him?”

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Getting upstairs is almost effortless. The security guards greet me by name, and I still remember every code needed to access the private elevator. No one questions why I'm here. To everyone in this building, I belong.
I just hope Lawrence is home.
Even if he isn’t, I’ll wait.
As the elevator climbs, my pulse seems to rise with it.
I wonder what he's doing.
Probably working, buried beneath multiple computer screens with coffee.
The thought makes me smile.
Then another ridiculous thought follows.

What if he believes we shouldn't be together? What if he thinks he's too wrong for me?
Don't be stupid. My mind scolds. He obviously wants you back.
I don't think I've ever been this nervous to see him.
The elevator hums beneath my feet, and I draw in a slow, steady breath.
I don't need Lawrence to become a perfect man.
I just need him to keep becoming a better one.
And I want to be there for that journey.

The elevator door finally stops at his floor with a subtle ding, and I step into the quiet living room, looking around, but it’s empty.
“Lawrence?” I call, dropping my purse on the chair as I shrug out of my trenchcoat. “Are you home?”
A few seconds later, he saunters out of his home office wearing only casual ripped jeans, his torso bare.
Green eyes widen when he sees me.

“Scarlett?” He sounds stunned as he walks toward me. “What are you… Is everything okay?”
“Yes.”
He draws near, watching me closely, because my turning up at his place so spontaneously is strange.
“I went to see Jay,” I blurt, fidgeting with my dress. It's one of the clothes he got for me from Louis Vuitton the other day.
A grey and black mini dress made from expensive silk.
His eyes soften. "Okay.”

“I got the closure I needed,” I whisper.
“Okay,” he says again, still watching me.
His eyes look exhausted even behind his glasses, but fuck, he still looks so good, and I've missed him so much.
Quiet slowly descends between us, but there's also a gradual tension building in the air. His hand flexes into a fist at his side, and I can tell he's holding himself back.
All he needs is a subtle sign from me, giving him the go-ahead, and I'm sure he'll absolutely fucking devour me.

His eyes hungrily wander to my lips, then go back to my face.
I swallow hard. “I… I don’t want space anymore, Lawrence.”
“Me neither,” he says almost instantly, his voice rough.
“I've had time to think," I whisper. "About everything… what you did and who you are.” I pause. “Who you're trying to become."
I take a slow breath before continuing. "And I've realized something."

Lawrence remains quiet, his shoulders extremely tense at what I'm about to say.
If I reject him, I'm pretty sure he's going to throw the world's most heartbreaking tantrum.
"I still choose you.”
A small smile finds my lips as I take both of his hands in mine.
Lawrence's chest rises and falls with heavy, uneven breaths. His face is a mask of emotions I can't read.

“Flaws and all,” I whisper, moving even closer. “I love them all.”
His fingers tighten instinctively around mine. “To me, you're perfect.”
His mouth twitches. "Did you just quote Chris Brown?"
An unexpected laugh leaves my mouth. "I'm surprised you listen to him enough to know that."
He shrugs, the corner of his mouth lifting. "I might be serious and uptight ninety percent of the time..."
His eyes sparkle. "...but there's still that remaining ten."

"Mhm?” I gaze into his beautiful eyes, lifting one hand to his cheek. “I love the brilliant parts of you…”
I continue, and the teasing smile slowly leaves his face, replaced by something more vulnerable.
"... and the broken parts."
My chest feels tight as I pour out my feelings.
"The parts that scare me..."
I hold his gaze.
"...and the parts that make me feel safer than I've ever felt with anyone."

Another soft smile spreads across my face. "I love all of you, Lawrence Moore."
He gulps hard.
"To me, you're worth choosing every single time."
“Scarlett,” Lawrence calls, his voice raspy. “Fuck, that was so beautiful.”
I shrug. “Just wanted you to know.”
"You're my fucking life,” he says with all seriousness. “And I want us back together."
A warmth spreads through my chest.
"That's good to hear," I reply in my teasing tone again, but Lawrence isn't having any more jokes.

"Can I kiss you now?" He asks impatiently, his eyes searching mine one last time.
A grin tugs at my lips. “Yes, you…”
He crashes his mouth to mine before I can finish, groaning deeply as he pulls me against him.
Our mouths war for a minute, tasting and claiming and trying to make up for lost time. He sucks my tongue into his mouth, groaning in pleasure while his hands wrap around my waist.
My own goes up to his soft hair, which I've missed running my hands through.

Lawrence pulls back from the kiss to look into my eyes. “Is this real?” He asks.
“Yes,” I whisper.
He smashes his lips back to mine and starts ruthlessly tongue fucking my mouth.
He grabs my chin and sucks on my bottom lip, pulling it back with his teeth.
I moan softly, the ache between my legs growing stronger.
I love how Lawrence kisses me.