I Forgive You

I Forgive You

SARAH

His eyes bored into me, searching, pleading.

“If you promise that,” he said carefully, “I also promise I won’t come after your husband. I won’t threaten his life. And neither will any of the Cincinnati.”

I took a deep breath, knowing what I had to do.

I knew what he’d done was wrong. I knew it down to my bones. But Cullen’s life was more precious right now than my pride, than my anger, than anything else.

“Do you also swear,” I asked, my voice low but steady, “that Ronan will keep his hands to himself?”

My father’s gaze flickered to Ronan before coming back to me. “I promise.”

“Then fine.” My chest rose and fell with the force of my next breath. “If you leave, if you don’t hurt Cullen now or any time in the future, then I forgive you. I mean…” I shook my head, tears brimming, “I’ll need a few days, because I still haven’t come to terms with everything, but… I forgive you.”

Cullen touched my arm, gently pulling my hand so I’d look at him.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said quietly. “I know how much you wanted to have kids, and if you don’t want to see your dad’s face.....”

“It’s okay,” I interrupted him, my voice soft but firm.

“Sarah....”

“It’s okay,” I repeated, more sure of myself this time. “I’m okay. I get to be with you. That’s what matters.”

He stared at me, jaw tight, then nodded as if he was agreeing with himself as much as with me.

“I know,” he said. “I’m gonna help. I guess…”

Then he pulled me into his arms, tucking my head against his shoulder.

“I need to make a phone call,” my father said suddenly, as if he’d been waiting for the right moment.

Cullen shrugged, in a I don't care manner, but I knew he was well alert.

My father walked toward the far corner of the room with his phone. We didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say. The air was thick and heavy with everything we weren’t saying.

Ronan, who’d been leaning against the wall with that permanent scowl, gave me a look that said I won't like what he said next. But before he could do anything more, my father was already back, his presence filling the room again like a storm cloud.

And then he came towards me.

“Sarah.” His voice softened, and that was almost worse. “Angel, I’m so happy that you’re looking at me again.”

He stepped closer. “Do you mind giving Dad a hug? That would really make me believe that you have truly forgiven me.”

My chest tightened.

The truth was, until that moment, I was still mad. Still angry. Still bitter about everything he had taken from me. And it felt like I was being forced into this, forced to give him something I wasn’t sure he deserved yet.

Cullen must have felt my hesitation because he caught my wrist, pulling me gently back.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said softly, his eyes pleading with me. “Please don’t do this if you don’t want to.”

And it was his words, his care, his refusal to pressure me that made me realize this hug didn’t have to be a surrender. It could be a choice.BI wasn’t doing it because I forgave my father completely. I was doing it because I was saving the man I loved. I was making a sacrifice for my happiness, for my future.

So I kissed Cullen’s cheek and whispered against his ear, “It’s fine. He can’t hurt me anymore. He’s already done that my whole life.”

Then I walked toward my father. And I let him hold me. His arms closed around me, solid, protective, overwhelming. And then.....

The doors burst open. Cyrus walked in, his face a storm, followed by his father.

My heart jumped into my throat. For a second, I didn’t know if this was good or bad, if this meant everything we’d just agreed upon was about to unravel.

This was the worst that could happen.

“About time you showed up, Cullen," sneered.

As you can see, nobody needs saving.” Then turned towards Ronan. “And nobody needs backup. So whatever weight you think you're gonna pull at this place, we're all cool.”

Cyrus actually laughed, walked towards his brother Cullen, and pulled him into a hug. Cullen hissed and kind of pushed him back.

Mr. Cincinnati, on the other hand, was smiling. He was smiling at Cullen, and me, and my dad, and there was this grin in his eyes I couldn't read, couldn't understand.

Cullen was the one who finally voiced the question, “What’s going on?”

I wanted to know, too. My chest felt tight, my heart beating too hard. What the hell was going on here right now?

“Oh my God,” I whispered.

Cullen’s hand tightened on my arm like he was ready to shield me if anything went wrong. “Let me call for help,” he said under his breath, his voice sharp, protective.

But Mr. Cincinnati just lifted his hand, calm as ever, as though he was the only one in control.

“No need for that,” he said smoothly. “We are all family here, no? There’s no reason for hostility. I simply came to see this with my own eyes.”

Mr. Cincinnati’s grin widened as if he had been waiting for this very moment.

"That your wife and her father have reconciled things, and that you have finally become a man. That the two of you have finally fallen in love. And now,” he spread his hands slightly, “our job is over.”

“Our job?” Cullen repeated, his voice sharp with confusion.

“Yes,” Mr. Cincinnati said, still smiling. “Our job. Our role.”

The way he said it sent a strange chill crawling up my spine. He wasn’t just talking about himself; he was standing shoulder to shoulder with my father, and it looked like he meant both of them.

I frowned, my throat tightening.

“What do you mean?”

Cullen and I asked the question at the same time, our voices overlapping, echoing in the charged silence of the room.