Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 86

The next morning, I sit quietly in the garden, the sun warm on my skin, but it feels distant, like I'm still trying to pull myself out of the fog. Everything's changed, and I can't stop thinking about it—what Rafe did, what it means for us.

I hear footsteps behind me, and before I can turn, Rafe's there. He doesn't say anything at first, just stands behind me, like he's waiting for me to speak. But I don't know what to say.

Finally, his voice breaks the silence, low and soft. "She tried to kill you," he says. "And I don't feel guilty."

I close my eyes, exhaling slowly. There's no surprise in his words, just the cold, simple truth. "Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, my voice quieter than I meant it to be.

Rafe steps closer, sitting down beside me, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Because you asked me not to hurt her," he murmurs, his voice filled with something that almost sounds like regret. "You didn't want me to do it. And I couldn't say no to you."

I turn to him, a small, bitter smile tugging at my lips. "Couldn't say no to me?"

"I love you, Teresa," he whispers, his voice barely holding together. "I love you so much it scares me. Every day, all I can think about is what would've happened if I hadn't been able to save you. If I'd lost you... I would've followed you."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I feel my heart clench painfully. "Don't say that," I whisper, reaching out to grab his hand. "Don't ever say that."

He shakes his head, his eyes full of something dark and desperate. "I'm not saying it to scare you. I'm saying it because it's the truth. Without you, I'm nothing. You're everything to me, Teresa. I'll do anything for you. I'm not... I'm not like other people. I can't just lose you and be fine. I would've gone insane if you had died."

My breath catches in my throat, and I feel the tears welling up behind my eyes. There's something so raw, so painfully real in his words that it cuts deep. He means it. Every word.

"Rafe," I whisper, my voice breaking as I pull him into a hug, wrapping my arms tightly around him. "Don't ever say that again. You can't... I can't lose you either."

He holds me tightly, burying his face in my shoulder, his body trembling against mine. "I can't live without you," he breathes. "You're all I have. I need you."

I close my eyes, the tears slipping down my cheeks as I hold him closer. I don't know how we got here—so broken, so lost in each other that we're willing to do anything, no matter the cost. But as twisted as it is, I can't walk away. I can't let him go.

We sit there for a long moment, holding onto each other like we're afraid to let go. And in that moment, something shifts. The anger, the pain, the confusion—it fades, just a little, replaced by the only thing that's ever been constant between us: our love.

It's not perfect. It's not healthy. But it's ours.

I pull back slightly, looking into his eyes, my hands still holding onto him. "I forgive you," I whisper, my voice shaky but sincere.  

Rafe lets out a shaky breath, his eyes filling with relief. "Thank you," he whispers, pressing his forehead to mine. "I'll never stop trying to make it right."

I nod, feeling the weight of everything starting to lift, just a little. "We'll figure it out," I say softly. "Together."

He smiles, the tension in his body finally easing as he leans in, kissing me softly, his lips gentle against mine. I kiss him back, my heart pounding.

But then, just as I'm about to pull away, he shifts, and before I can fully process what's happening, he's getting down on one knee.

I freeze, my breath catching in my throat as I watch him kneel before me, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that sends my heart racing. My mind spins, trying to catch up with what's happening. Is he really...?