Chapter 18

Eighteen

Natalie

The fundraiser had been a success, but the day was far from over. Jess and I were among the last few left at the park, overseeing the cleanup as the evening air cooled slightly, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves as we worked.

"Well, that went off without a hitch," Jess said, grinning as she packed away the last of the decorations. "I think we might've outdone ourselves this year."

"Yeah," I responded, flashing her a smile that barely masked the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind. Jess picked up on it immediately. "You keeping it together?" she inquired casually, but the underlying worry was unmistakable.

I nodded, though the reality was far from simple. "I'm hanging in there. Just trying to wrap my head around everything," I admitted.

Jess gave me a knowing look before breaking into a teasing grin. "Looks like you'll have to do a bit more processing when you deliver that painting to your mysterious billionaire."

I blinked, momentarily confused, until she handed me the bid sheet. There, in bold numbers, was Ethan's name next to a $10,000 bid for the painting of Cedar Cove.

"Ten thousand dollars?" I whispered, a mix of surprise and disbelief coloring my tone.

"Seriously, Nat," Jess quipped, her smirk growing wider. "Who wouldn't jump at the chance to be with a billionaire? And let's face it, the guy's head over heels for you."

I felt my cheeks heat up, not quite sure how to respond. The thought of facing Ethan, of dealing with whatever came next, made my gut clench.

"Why don't you head home and rest before you take the painting to him," Jess suggested. "You've had a long day."

I shook my head, determination settling in my chest. "No, I'm going to see Ethan now. I need to know the truth."

Jess nodded, giving me a supportive smile. "You know where to find me if you need anything."

With that, I took a deep breath and made my way to the van where the painting was stored. The drive to the Cedar Cove Inn was short, but it felt like an eternity as a thousand thoughts swirled through my mind.

When I arrived, I parked in front of the quaint, two-story building and walked inside, the painting still in my arms. The clerk at the front desk looked up, offering a friendly smile.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Hi, yes," I replied, my voice steady. "I'm looking for Ethan Sterling. Could you tell me what room he's in?"

The clerk smiled politely before glancing at her computer. "May I have your name, please?"

"Natalie."

She tapped a few keys, then nodded. "Mr. Sterling is in room 204. He's expecting you."

"Thank you," I said, forcing a polite smile before heading toward the elevator. My heart pounded in my chest with each step as I approached his door.

Before I could knock, the door swung open, and there he was, standing in the doorway. His tailored clothes were gone, replaced by worn jeans and a simple t-shirt. The sight of him like this, back to the man I thought I knew, stirred something inside me.

"Natalie," he said softly, his eyes searching mine. "I was hoping you'd come."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. "You were expecting me?"

"The desk clerk told me you were here." He stepped aside. "Please, come in. We need to talk."

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded and stepped inside. The room was simple but elegant, with large windows overlooking the town. Ethan closed the door behind me, and as I turned to face him, I felt the distance between us physically and emotionally. I set the painting down on a nearby table, crossing my arms as I waited for him to speak.

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to find the right words. "Natalie, I know I've hurt you, and I'm so sorry for that. But I need you to understand why I did what I did."

I remained silent, my gaze unwavering.

He took a deep breath. "When I came to Cedar Cove, I was running away from my real life. I needed a break, a chance to clear my head and figure out what I wanted. The truth is, I didn't count on falling in love with you."

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my expression neutral. "So, what? You decided to pretend to be someone else. To lie to me."

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," he said, his voice pained. "I thought I could keep my two worlds separate. But then I met you, and everything changed."

I shook my head, the hurt and anger bubbling up inside me. "You lied to me, Ethan. You made me believe you were someone you're not."

"I know," he admitted, his shoulders slumping. "And I hate myself for it. But, Natalie, I didn't tell you because I was afraid. I've been burned before—too many times. Women only wanted me for my money, for the lifestyle I could give them. And I didn't want that with you. I wanted something real, a relationship where I wasn't being used or played. And to be honest, the guy you knew is really me down deep. I was not being fake. I just wasn't showing you the whole picture."

His words hung in the air, and I could see the sincerity in his eyes. But it didn't erase the pain of his deception. "So you thought lying was the answer?"

"I was wrong," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I see that now. But I didn't know how else to protect myself. And by the time I realized I wanted more with you, I was already in too deep. I didn't know how to tell you the truth without risking our relationship."

I let out a shaky breath, my heart aching as I processed everything he was saying. "You should have trusted me," I whispered. "You should have believed I wouldn't care about your money."

"Perhaps," he said, stepping closer, his eyes pleading. "And I'm sorry, Natalie. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant for any of this to happen. But I'm here now, being as honest as I can be. I don't want to lose you."

His vulnerability caught me off guard, and I felt my resolve wavering. This was the Ethan I'd fallen for—the man who could be strong, confident, open, and sincere. But the betrayal still stung.

"You've hurt me, Ethan," I said, trembling. "I don't know if I can trust you again."

He reached out, gently taking my hands in his. "I understand that. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust back. But you need to know that I'm serious about us. I've never felt this way about anyone before. I love you, Natalie."

The words hung in the air between us, their weight almost too much to bear. My heart swelled with emotion, but the fear and uncertainty held me back. "I don't know if I'm ready to forgive you," I admitted.

He nodded, accepting my hesitation. "I'm not asking you to forgive me right now. I want you to give us a chance. Come to Dallas with me, see my world—meet the people who matter to me. Let me show you who I really am, not the person I pretended to be."

I held his gaze, the sincerity in his words chipping away at the walls I'd built around my heart. But as much as I wanted to believe that things could go back to how they were, I couldn't ignore the fact that we both had our own baggage.

"I haven't been completely honest either," I admitted, my voice wavering. "It's not just about you and your deceptions. I've been carrying my own fears and insecurities, and maybe I let them get the better of me."

Ethan looked at me with a mix of concern and curiosity. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, my eyes drifting to the open laptop on the desk, surrounded by scattered papers and files. " You know, Jason… my ex. He really messed me up. I thought I was over it, but when I discovered the truth about you, all those old wounds opened back up. I've been so afraid of being abandoned again for someone or something else that I didn't stop to think about what you might be going through."

Ethan's expression softened as he listened, and I could see he understood. "Natalie, I wish I could take away that pain, but I'm glad you're telling me this. It's important for us to be honest with each other if we're going to move forward."

I nodded, the weight of my own admission bringing a sense of relief. "I know I should have called you back when you tried to reach out. I was scared, angry, confused… and maybe a little selfish. I was so wrapped up in my hurt that I didn't stop to think about your reality."

Ethan's grip on my hands tightened slightly, his gaze intense but filled with understanding. "I get it, Natalie. Believe me, I do. But you need to know that I wasn't just ignoring you."

He glanced over at the open laptop and the files spread across the desk. "This project is for one of my best clients, Charles Whitmore. My sister, Sophia, is brilliant, but I didn't feel she could handle this one alone. That's why I had to leave Cedar Cove so abruptly. I didn't want to go, but I had to. My work—it's not just about the money or the success. It's about responsibility, about keeping the promises I've made to people who trust me."

I blinked, really seeing him for the first time since I'd walked into the room. He wasn't just the man I'd fallen for—he was also the CEO of a massive company, a man who bore the weight of decisions that could impact hundreds, maybe even thousands of lives. His world was so much bigger than the small-town life I was used to, and I realized that I hadn't fully appreciated that before.

I took a step closer, my heart aching at the vulnerability in his voice. "But you're not just another rich guy, Ethan. You're the man I fell in love with—the one who worked on cars, who made me laugh, who cared about the people in this town. That's who you are to me."

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "And you're the woman who made me realize there's more to life than only work and success. You made me want something different—something real."

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back. "So where do we go from here?"

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Natalie. But I do know that I don't want to lose you. I'm returning to Dallas in a day or two to wrap up this deal. Now that school is out for the summer, please come with me. See my world—meet the people who matter to me, understand why I do what I do."

I hesitated. The thought of leaving Cedar Cove and stepping into his world filled me with excitement and fear. "I don't know, Ethan. That's a big step. I don't want to give up my preschool. I've worked too hard to walk away."

"I understand, and I don't blame you," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "Just for starters, I want you to see I'm not just a billionaire CEO. I'm still the same guy you got to know here in Cedar Cove. The only difference is that I won't hide anything from you anymore."

I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there, and I knew that he meant every word. He was offering me a chance to be a part of his life, to see the whole picture and not just the parts he'd shown me before.

"That sounds like something I should do," I finally said, my voice steady. "I'll go with you to Dallas. But I need you to promise me something, Ethan."

"Anything!"

"Promise me that from now on, we'll be honest with each other. No more secrets, no more half-truths."

Ethan nodded. "I promise, Natalie. No more secrets."

I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, the strain that had been building between us beginning to dissipate. "Then let's try to make this work," I said, smiling a little.

Ethan winked, a look of relief dawning over his face. He reached out and pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. "We'll make it work, Natalie. I promise."

As I rested my head against his chest, I felt a sense of peace I hadn't felt in days. Yet, for the first time in a long time, I believed we were on the same path—together.

Ethan released me gently, then walked over to the table where the painting of Cedar Cove rested. He lifted it, his eyes scanning the familiar scene. "This painting… it'll always remind me of my time here with you, no matter what happens."

My heart swelled at his words, and for the first time since all of this had started, I thought we could find our way back to each other.