Chapter 76: Blue ring
Rising to his feet, he scoffed and declared, "I have never lusted after your body, not then and not now. Belle, it’s called swaying when the feeling is mutual. I never agreed to never loving you, never did, never will. As long as you are still mine, I will never stop trying to win your heart." His voice was steady, and he stepped closer as he spoke.
"Why are you any different from him if you keep forcing your emotions on me?" She shot back, her words cutting deep. For a fleeting moment, guilt flickered across his face. Why hadn’t he realized how suffocating he had become? Was he truly any better than Quinn?
"Is that truly how you feel about me?" He asked, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.
"It’s not about you," she replied sharply. "It’s men in general. What’s the point of falling for a king who will always put his kingdom before his family? And how could I trust a king who would eventually be surrounded by concubines?" Her voice rose as her frustration spilled out, the words she had buried for so long now rushing forth. Saying them aloud brought a strange sense of relief.
"It must have been hard keeping those words bottled up for so long," he said, surprising her. There was no anger in his tone, only understanding. He reached for her hand, his gaze softening as he continued, "But Belle, we all die in the end. A little risk can’t hurt. If you don’t give me a chance, how will you ever know that not all men are the same?" His eyes bore into hers, and her heart betrayed her, racing in a way she couldn’t explain.
"And what if you fail me?" She whispered, her voice trembling with doubt.
"You won’t need to lift a finger," he said with a faint smile. "Quinn will handle the ’dirty work.’" His teasing tone caught her off guard, and she burst into laughter despite being angry. The tension eased momentarily, but the mention of Quinn lingered like a shadow. That maddening man, he had truly left his mark, even here.
"Belle," Hezekiah said, his voice turning serious as he placed a hand over his heart. "I vow to never betray you if you give me a chance. I swear it on my life and my family’s honor. Should I ever betray you, may we suffer endless pain." His words were firm and resolute, a promise so heartfelt that her chest tightened.
Her heart skipped a beat. Not even Quinn had vowed like this when they were married. How could a man like Hezekiah exist? His sincerity seemed almost too good to be true. Fear began to creep into her admiration, and she quickly pulled her hand from his grasp.