My chest tightened.I took a breath and forced the words out.“I’m sorry.I should tell you the truth.I…I was violated.By random homeless guy.I’m not…clean.”
His expression darkened.His voice dropped to a firm,unshakable tone.“Meredith,do you think that’s something I’d care about?”
He leaned in,cupped my face in both hands and made me look at him gently but firmly.
There was no trace of disgust,only genuine pain and fury.
“I care that you were hurt.I care that Lennon—that bastard—ever let this happen to you.”
My lips trembled.More tears spilled,this time uncontrollably.
And then he pulled me into his arms.
His embrace was warm and strong.For the first time in what felt like forever,I felt safe.
“Whether it’s fair or not,that’s for me to decide,”he murmured,stroking my hair with aching tenderness,“And from now on,Meredith Evans,your tears—if you ever cry again—will only be for me.But I’ll do everything I can to make sure you never have to.”
I rested against him,listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.At that moment,I felt like I could finally breathe again.
He pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head.
“Sleep,”he whispered.“I’m here.I’m not going anywhere.”
After the auction,Lennon brought Winona back to the villa.
She kicked off her heels with a laugh and tossed her sunglasses onto the vanity,flopping onto the king-sized bed with a sigh of satisfaction.
"Finally,I don’t have to pretend to be blind anymore.Babe,Meredith just ran off like that—you didn’t even chase after her?"
Lennon climbed into bed behind her,wrapping an arm around her waist as he pulled her close.
"Let her run,"he said with a sneer."You know how she is—give her a couple of days and she’ll come crawling back,begging for forgiveness.This time,she’s the one in the wrong.I’m done bending over backwards for her.She’s gone now and that means it’s just us."
Winona turned around with a smug smile and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"But what if she doesn’t come back?"she teased.
Lennon scoffed,his voice laced with disdain."She’s tainted—used up by random guy and disgraced in front of the entire city.Who would want her now,besides me?"
Then he leaned in and kissed her.
When I woke up,Lucan took me to the hospital for a full medical exam.
The process was long and draining.I sat quietly,legs swinging from the exam table,while the doctor reviewed the results.His expression darkened as he read.