I shut my eyes, wishing I could shut out the memories. Wishing I could rewind the moment I screwed everything up by not taking the ring immediately from his outstretched hand, sliding it onto my fourth finger, and flinging my arms around the neck of my new fiancée.
I tried to accept.
I swear I did.
But for some incalculable reason, instead of sayingyes, of course I’ll marry you!what came out of my mouth was a mumbled,I need some time to think about this. Instead of making Oliver happy, I watched in horror as all the light faded out of his eyes, as his jubilant expression clouded over with bitterness.
So that’s it,he’d whispered haltingly.You’re saying no.
I’m not saying no!
Well, you’re not saying yes.
Ollie, it’s just so fast!
We’ve been together almost a year.
That’s fast!
Who cares? If we want to be together...
This isn’t just about us. Our families—
Your parents love me. I already feel like I’m part of the Valentine clan.
And what aboutyourparents?
They’ll adore you!
How do you know?
Because I adore you.
Oliver…
Just say yes, Josephine.
I can’t! Okay? Not right now. Not yet.
There was a long beat of silence, the air thickening with unspoken accusation.
This is because of him,Ollie hissed. Isn’t it?
Who? Archer?!
He’s got your head all confused.
This has nothing to do with him!
Whatever you say.
Please… Can we just talk about this?
Not right now. I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.With that, he’d closed the box with a snap that made me flinch, set it on the counter, and walked out of the kitchen without a backward glance. His parting words hit me like a bullet as he paused briefly at the threshold.If you want to talk about this tomorrow, we can. But… maybe I’m not the one you need to be talking to, Josephine. Maybe the clarity you seem to be looking for has to come from… someone else.
I didn’t even have time to respond before he vanished down the hallway. Heart in my throat, I stood in the empty kitchen, listening to his leather loafers traversing the atrium, ascending the stairs. Carrying him as far from me as he could get within the confines of Cormorant House.
Even now, hours later, I’m haunted by his words. Much as I want to dismiss them as nothing but jealous speculation, I cannot deny their ring of truth. Oliver is right — I cannot give him an answer. Not until I’ve heard an answer of my own from Archer. Not until he’s explained what he meant yesterday.