Chapter 29

Twenty-Nine

V ictor's heart pounded in his chest as he urged his horse through the rain, the downpour drenching him to the bone. The carriage was just ahead, its wheels splashing through the muddy road. He had to catch up—he couldn't let her leave. Not like this. Not when everything was finally clear in his mind.

"Christina!" he shouted, his voice swallowed by the storm. He pushed the horse harder, the rain stinging his face as he finally reached the carriage. With a surge of adrenaline, he leaped from his horse and ran to the driver, shouting for him to stop.

The carriage jolted to a halt, and without a second's hesitation, Victor pulled open the door and climbed inside. Christina sat on the bench, her face pale, her eyes wide with surprise.

He sat down beside her on the front facing scene—while Addison and Annabelle occupied the rear facing, taking her cold hand in his. She flinched slightly but didn't pull away. Her fingers trembled beneath his touch, and he held them tightly, as if holding her hand might keep her from slipping away.

"Come back with me," Victor said, his voice thick with desperation. "Please, Christina. Come home."

Christina shook her head, her lips pressed tightly together. "I can't," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I won't be useful to you."

Victor stared at her, his heart aching at the pain in her voice, the belief that she wasn't enough. "You've already been more than useful. Not just to the girls, but to me."

She glanced up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her disbelief evident. "I've only caused trouble. Amelia… she almost…"

"No," Victor interrupted, his grip tightening on her hand. "What happened with Amelia wasn't your fault. It was mine for leaving. You've done nothing but good for them—more than I could ever repay you for."

Christina shook her head again, her tears falling now. "I was supposed to be their mother, but I haven't been enough."

Victor reached up, gently brushing the tears from her cheeks. "You've been more than enough," he said softly. "I married you to be a mother to my daughters and nothing more. But I didn't realize until now how much I wanted you—not just as their mother, but as my wife."

Her breath hitched, her gaze searching his face as if trying to understand. Victor felt the depth of his emotions rise, emotions he had kept buried for so long, afraid to confront them.

"My life without you in it, Christina, feels colorless. Bland. I never realized how much I needed you until I almost lost you." His voice broke slightly, and he took a steadying breath. "After I lost my brother, something inside me broke. I had to be strong for my girls, for all of them. Their mother was already gone, and when Christian and his wife died… it felt like I couldn't grieve. I couldn't feel anything because they needed me to be strong."

Christina's eyes filled with more tears as she listened, her lips trembling.

"I grew distant and unfeeling," Victor continued, his voice softer now. "I was overly protective of them, scared that something might happen again. And then you came along, and you made me feel things I didn't expect. You made me feel alive again. And I was scared of that. Scared of how much I was falling in love with you."

Christina's breath caught, and she shook her head slightly, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "In love?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Are you really in love with me?"

Victor cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing away the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks. "I swear it, Christina. I love you. More than anything. And I'm terrified of what losing you would do to me."

For a moment, everything was still. The rain pounded against the roof of the carriage, but inside, there was only the sound of their breathing, of the raw emotion hanging between them.

And then, with a sob, Christina threw her arms around him, burying her face against his chest. "I love you too," she cried, her voice muffled against his coat. "I love you, Victor."

Relief surged through Victor, a warmth spreading through him that he hadn't felt in years. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding her close, as if by holding her, he could make up for all the time he had spent pushing her away.

They pulled back slightly, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before their lips met in a kiss. It was a kiss full of everything they hadn't said, everything they had felt and been too afraid to admit. Victor kissed her deeply, pouring all of his love, his regret, and his hope into that moment. He felt the tears on her cheeks, felt the warmth of her against him, and knew, without a doubt, that he had found his heart again.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, and Victor rested his forehead against hers, his fingers still tangled in her damp hair.

"Come home with me," he whispered.

Christina nodded, her smile soft, her eyes shining with love. "Yes," she whispered. "Take me home."