Chapter 195 So much to forget

Chapter 195 So much to forget
"Yes," I answered. We both kissed Ellie's little cheek, and Spencer handed her to Mum. 
"We won't stay out late," Spencer said, but Mum laughed and replied, "You stay as long as you want. Ellie likes being with Nana, right?" 
She looked at Ellie, who laughed and said, "Yes." 
Spencer headed toward the door, and I followed him. He opened the car door for me, which made me smile, then he got in the car as well. 
"I expected you to wear jeans and a tank top," he said, and my smile widened. 
"I found this in my wardrobe. I can save the jeans and tank top for another occasion." 
He sighed, shook his head, and turned on the engine. 
"Even if I'm disappointed, I have to tell you that you look gorgeous." 
I chuckled. "Thank you." 
As he drove on, I was surprised when he took me to a restaurant on the beach. It wasn't fancy at all; it had a lovely atmosphere. We could hear the sound of the sea, which was calming, and the view was beautiful. 
The hosting staff led us to a table, and we ordered drinks. We sipped on them while checking the menu. I finally chose a seafood plate, while Spencer opted for his favourite steak. 
We both skipped the appetiser but decided to order dessert. We started off chatting mainly about our company, then moved on to Ethan and his girlfriend, and finally talked about Ellie. However, we soon ran out of things to say and decided to take a walk along the seaside. It was sunset, and the reddish colour of the sky combined with the sound of the sea created a romantic atmosphere. 
We hadn't walked for long when I felt Spencer's hand slip into mine. I didn't pull away. 
"Cora!" Spencer called my name. I looked at him. 
"Yes?" 
He sighed, stopped, and turned to face me. He struggled to find the right words but finally said, "You know that I still love you." 
"I know," I replied. 
"I did horrible things to you and Ellie. I can't turn back time to erase the past, but I want to make it up to you." 
I sighed and lowered my head. 
"I just need to know if you will let me." 
I looked at him. "What do you expect from me, Spencer?" I asked. For a moment, fear flickered in his gaze, as if he worried I would give him a negative answer. 
"I just want to ask you to give me a chance. We can take it slow; I won't rush you. I want a chance to get my family back." 
I smiled bitterly. 
"Well, there is a lot to forget, and you'll need to work hard to make it up." 
"I know, but I don't care how long it takes for you to forgive me. I can wait. Please reassure me that I still have a small place in your heart." 
I bit my lower lip, pretending to think. 
"And what about the fact that people know me as your sister? What about the public's opinion? Don't you worry about that?" 
He shook his head immediately. 
"No. As long as my family is with me, I don't care what others think."
"Don't you worry that this might ruin your reputation?" 
He shook his head again. "No, I don't care about that either." 
I sighed. 
"Spencer, I won't lie to you. You hurt me deeply." 
"I know, and I wish I could undo the things I’ve done," he said. 
"You gave up on me, then you got together with Carla. You visited me drunk that horrible night, and you refused your daughter. You said terrible things that I thought I would never get over." 
His expression changed; the pain was evident on his face, and now the fear of my rejection was apparent. I looked at him suddenly. 
"But you are my child's father, and she loves you." I smiled a little. "And you are the only man on Earth whom I have ever loved, and I am still in love with you." 
His expression shifted to one of hope. 
"I think we can give it a try," I said, which made him smile at me and pull me into his embrace. 
"Thank you," he whispered, and after a few seconds, he moved away just enough to reach my lips, and we started kissing. 
There was so much in that kiss. We had longed for each other for so long, unsure if we would ever meet again. The years we spent apart left a lasting mark on both of us, but I believed our love was strong enough to withstand it all. 
We kissed for a long time, and even though he was the last man I had been intimate with—almost making me forget how it felt to be held in the arms of my beloved—I felt a sudden need. 
It took him a long time to let me go, and even though I didn't want him to stop kissing me, I tried to hide my excitement. 
We continued walking hand in hand until he embraced me, and I enjoyed his strong, protective arm around me. I couldn't describe the happiness I felt. There was a time when I thought I would never get back together with him; when I believed he would marry Carla and never see me as anything but someone who worked on the streets and gave birth to the child of one of my customers. For a long time, I honestly thought I would have to bear the pain of him believing horrible things about me while living happily with someone else. But now we are here, walking together again. Both of us have become different people, yet I know we can be a happy family in the end. 
After a while, he led me back to his car, but he looked frustrated as he tried to delay our departure. 
"What is wrong, Spencer?" I asked, and he smiled when he glanced at me. 
"I just wondered if you were rushing back home." 
This side of him hadn’t changed, revealing that he longed to be with me just as much as I longed for him. 
"Not really. Mum said she would take care of Ellie." 
His frustration became more obvious, as apparently, he didn’t dare to ask me the question. 
"Where do you live?" I asked with a smile. 
"I rent an apartment in the city. Would you come up for a drink?" he asked.