Swan of Snowy Trails (Book 2 of Swan Trilogy)

Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Sweet Surrender

Lumabas muna ko ng ice rink, pinalitan ang suot kong ice skating shoes ng flats. Suot ko ang skin tight one piece na itim at stockings, emphasizing the curves of my waist and slim body. Nahuli ko siyang nakatingin sa akin habang sinusuot ang cardigan ko.

I sat beside him with a straight back and my legs crossed. He's still looking at my slender thigh and prosthetic leg until I snapped my fingers to steer his attention back to me.

"May dapat pa ba tayong pag-usapan?"

He cleared his throat then nodded his head.

"Charlotte, can we please talk about this before making any drastic decisions?" Tyler pleaded before holding my hand and squeezing it.

"There's nothing to talk about."

Tyler leaned his elbow on his thighs with a heavy sigh. "You know what I'm talking about."

"Sigurado ako sa desisyon ko. Hindi ako papayag na uupo sa trono dahil hindi iyon ang para sa'kin."

"If you don't want the crown, I understand. But that doesn't change the fact I still love you."

My heart somersaulted from hearing those words but I needed to stay firm.

"What if your love for me will hold you back?" I said.

"You don't ever hold me back." He clenched his jaw while staring back intently at me. "You pushed me to become a better man."

Mas lalo akong nahihirapan kung ganito siya sa akin. Sumisiklab ang damdamin ko dahil sa kanyang mga salita na may malalaking impact sa puso ko.

"I want what's best for you. Hindi dapat ako maging sagabal sa'yo at ang nararamdaman mo para sa'kin. Habang maaga pa, mas mabuti pa kung—"

"Stop," nailing si Tyler sabay napahilamos sa kanyang namumutlang mukha. "Not this again."

"Ayokong maging hadlang at hatakin ka sa pangarap mo." Umiwas ako ng tingin dahil mas lalo akong nasasaktan tuwing nakatingin sa mata niya pero naramdaman ko ang kamay niya na humawak sa baba ko para iharap ako sa kanya.

"Is this what you really want?" Umarko ang makapal niyang kilay, anticipating my reaction. "Ito ba talaga ang sinisigaw ng puso mo? Ang maghiwalay tayo? Ang iwanan ako?"

"Alam ko ang dapat kong gawin. Kailangan natin maghiwalay."

Nilapitan niya ako para mabawasan ang distansya namin hanggang sa maramdamam ko ang haplos ng mainit niyang hininga sa labi ko. "Baka iba ang totoong binibigkas ng iyong puso?"

Hindi ako nakaimik dahil alam ko sa sarili ko na ayoko siyang iwanan, ayokong makipaghiwalay pero kailangan kong gawin para sa kabutihan niya.

Tyler is willing to throw away his crown and throne for me but I can't let his dream go to waste if he wants to be King. He already made a promise to her grandmother, Queen Anais, in front of his brothers and me and to himself.

Parang tuloy nakikipagtalo siya sa sarili niya, kung uupo ba siya sa trono ng Hari o habulin ako. I don't want him to chase after me. I just want to see him accomplish his goals.

He had supported my dreams. He gave me an art studio and materials for crafting a masterpiece. He gave me a chance to spark my passion in ice skating.

Now, I have to be the one to let him become the kind of man he desired to become. A man who can command an army at will and make the world surrender and kneel on the ground to hear his powerful voice.