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"I have hed harshly "Yes, you do And it's quite clear that you value itof your faht it easily "Even if you didn't nore the slash of pain that simple sentence struck in his chest "Even if you didn't marry me, you could have taken the money and locked me out of your life"

She shook her head "You would have had too much control over me"

"How? The money was yours A bank draft I had no way to take it back"

"You would have punishedit and notin his heart turn cold "Is that the sort of man you think I am?"

"I don't knohat sort of man you are!" she burst out "How could I possibly? I don't even knoho you are"

"Everything you need to know about the sort of man I am and the husband I'd be, you know already" He touched her cheek, allowing every emotion, every last bit of love to rise to the surface His soul was laid bare in his eyes, and he knew it "You know me better than anyone, Elizabeth"

He saw her hesitation, and in that instant, he hated her for it He'd offered her everything, every shred of his heart, and all she could do was hesitate!

He swore under his breath and turned to leave But he'd only taken two steps when he heard Elizabeth call out, "Wait!"

Slowly, he turned around

"I'll marry you," she blurted out

His eyes narrowed "Why?"

"Why?" she echoed dumbly "Why?"

"You've refused e of heart?"

Elizabeth's lips parted, and she felt her throat close up in panic She couldn't get a word out, couldn't even fors, she'd never expected him to question her acceptance