Chapter Twenty-four

Serena's heart had broken anew at seeing Rowan after everything she knew he had been keeping from her. She had almost asked her father to send him away and refuse to allow him back ever again. However, as she stood listening to his heartfelt declaration and his apologies, the initial feelings of betrayal and hurt began to melt, giving way to renewed understanding.

He was baring his soul, opening up to her as she had wanted him to do. He had given her his burdens, like she had pleaded with him to do. And she had run from him, turning her back on him when he clearly needed her the most. Even though his secrets had hurt her, he was clearly remorseful. And clearer still was how much it had hurt him to carry and keep such secrets. As she listened to him, she came to understand the depth of his love and the sacrifices he had made.

When he finished speaking, there were tears streaming down his cheeks. After days of thinking that Rowan was nothing but a selfish coward, she was beginning to see him in a different light. She realized then that beneath his guarded exterior was a man of profound compassion and undying loyalty. Rowan had long since put his own happiness aside to ensure her well-being. And he had done so willingly, not because she expected it of him.

"Serena, please," he said. "I need you to know that whatever you might think, I do love you. If you can't believe anything else I have said to you, please believe that. I would do anything to take care of you and to make you happy. I understand that I do not deserve your forgiveness. But should you choose to give it to me, I will spend the rest of my life proving that these things I say are true."

Serena's eyes filled with tears once more, but this time, they weren't tears of sorrow. Rowan's vulnerability and honesty struck a chord with her, and she found herself drawn to the raw emotion in his eyes that was so unlike the cold aloofness that she had witnessed in her first week of knowing him. She was finally seeing Rowan for precisely who he was: a kind, loving man with many emotional scars and a love deeper for her than any ocean in the world. And in that moment, she realized that her own feelings for Rowan had grown deeper than she could have ever anticipated. As she stared at the pleading in her husband's eyes, she knew what she needed to do.

With her tears threatening to spill from her eyes, she reached out, cupping Rowan's wet cheek. He choked back a sob as he nestled his face in her hand, grazing her palm with a soft kiss.

"Rowan, I understand the weight of the burden you have carried and the sacrifices you have made," she said. "And firstly, I wish to thank you. Your unwavering commitment to honouring my mother's memory and protecting my future are beyond admirable, and I am eternally grateful to you for doing those things."

Rowan glanced up at her with reddened eyes, nodding against her hand.

"I only ever wanted to do the right things where you were concerned," he said. "I never dreamed that I could fall so madly in love with you. But now that I have, I cannot imagine ever loving anyone else."

Serena nodded, smiling.

"I believe you," she said with all the sincerity in her heart. "And while I know that our journey thus far has been far from simple, I also believe that the challenges we have faced have only served to strengthen our bond. And I look forward to seeing how we overcome the challenges that await us in our future."

Rowan didn't look up again for a long moment. But as her words sank in, he finally lifted his head from her hand, looking at her with dawning hope and wonder.

"Do you mean that…" he trailed off, a slow smile pulling at the edges of his mouth.

Serena nodded, moving closer to her husband, and gazing up at him lovingly.

"I mean that I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you," she said. "Not as your obligation, but as your doting wife. I love you, Rowan. I also had no way of knowing that we would end up sharing such a deep, complete love. But now that we do, I cannot imagine anything better in the whole world."

Rowan wrapped his arms around her, planting kisses on top of her head until she couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, darling, you do not know how happy it makes me to hear you say that," he said. "I was so sure that I had lost you. I was so afraid…"

Serena pulled away, cupping his face in both her hands that time and shaking her head gently.

"That is all behind us, my love," she said, laughing even as more tears spilled from her eyes. "I understand you now. I know what you were thinking and why you did the things you did. I know you would never hurt me intentionally in any way. I love you, and I forgive you."

Rowan laughed, taking her in his arms once more and giving her a sweet, passionate kiss.

"I love you, my darling Serena," he said. "And the promise I made you is one that I am happy to keep. Every single day for as long as I live, I will do everything I can to make you happy."

Serena nodded, kissing his jawline and then his chin before resting her head on his chest. It felt like there was no better place in the world for her to be than right there with Rowan exactly as they were.

"And I will do the same for you," she said.

Rowan chuckled again, kissing her forehead before looking into her eyes again.

"Then start by telling me about your hopes and dreams," he said. "I want to know everything you desire. Big or small, immediate or in the distant future. Tell me everything you want, darling, and I shall make it yours."

Serena smiled up at him, her heart bursting with joy.

"You have already given me much of what I most desired," she said.

Rowan looked at her, puzzled.

"Oh?" he asked, keeping his arms locked tightly around her.

Serena nodded.

"All I have ever wanted was to share my life with someone with whom I was deeply in love," she said. "I saw the way that my mother and father loved each other, and I saw other couples who were much the same every time we would go into town. Finding a match with someone who truly cared for me was so important to me."

Rowan looked at her, some of the guilt returning to his eyes.

"That is why you were so horrified at the thought of marrying me," he said.

Serena kissed the tip of her finger, then put it to his lips.

"It is true," she said. "However, the more I got to know you, truly know who you are beneath all the ice you projected to the world, the more I realised that I could love you. And eventually, I realised that I did. So, even though we were married as an arrangement, I understand now that it was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Now, what I want is to build a life together, filled with love, laughter, and companionship."

Rowan's expression was uncertain as he gave her a tentative smile.

"Do you mean it?" he asked.

Serena beamed at him, smiling.

"And do you wish to know what it is that I want now?" she asked coyly.

Rowan's smile widened, becoming surer.

"Of course, darling," he said, nodding eagerly.

Serena pulled him closer to her, staring up at him.

"I want to reign as your loyal duchess, loving wife, and blissfully joyful mother of your children," she said.

Rowan nodded, and she watched as understanding slowly dawned in his eyes.

"You… want children?" he asked, incredulous.

Serena giggled and nodded.

"I want as many as we can have," she said. "The one thing that was just as important to me as finding true love was having a loving family. I adore children, and I could hardly wait to become a mother."

She paused, holding her breath. She had never opened up to Rowan in such a way before. And as the marriage was, indeed, the product of an arrangement, they had never discussed having children. Serena knew that it might be her responsibility to birth an heir for Rowan. But with the way their marriage started and the way he had seemed so repulsed by her presence, she had begun to think that even that would not happen. What if he had no desire to have children?

The grin on his face told her that her worry was for naught. He kissed her on her forehead, his hazel eyes sparkling with love and mischief.

"Well, I am quite certain that can be arranged, my love," he said with a wink.

Serena shivered, giggling. Her cheeks grew warm and as Rowan gave her another passionate kiss, her blood warmed. Serena had discovered a love that grew from the seeds of duty and sacrifice, transforming into a deep, genuine love that held the power to heal old wounds and create new beginnings. Her family and Olivia had been right, after all. She had found true happiness with Rowan. And now, she would be able to share that joy with him for the rest of their lives.

It seemed like something straight out of a storybook. And Serena vowed to cherish and protect their love and to face whatever challenges awaited them in the future as partners and soulmates. She knew they would be bound forever by the unbreakable ties of their hearts. And she could not be happier.