Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
"I'm sorry," he grits out. "I'm sorry for hurting you, but I want you to know everything's changed since then. That night was when I realized I wanted to marry you. I wanted to marry my Acacia. Be with you and our daughter for the rest of my life."
He pulls back so he can cup my face and make me look at him. His hands tremble as he wipes away my never-ending tears.
"When I see you now, I just see you and no one else. I see the girl who never spoke a single word against the people who hurt and abandoned her. The girl I will never deserve...but I'm hoping will still be foolish enough to take another chance on me."
I shake my head, knowing it's not foolish at all, but Ronan seems to misunderstand this as rejection, with the way his features turn ashen.
"Give me a chance to explain," he urges. "Please. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Lena the moment I realized how it started between us. I thought I had all the time in the world to find the right words to explain...but I was wrong."
He takes my hands in his, and it hurts to feel how badly his own hands are shaking.
"Forgive me, Acacia," Ronan says raggedly. Take me back. In whatever way you're willing to. I just want to be with you. Please—"
My lips start to tremble, and agitation flashes in his eyes.
"Please don't—-"
I can't bear it any longer, and I feel him stiffen in shock as I throw my arms around him.
"I love you, too."
A powerful shudder rocks his body.
"So, so much."
Ronan's arms close around me like chains, and his body is still shaking, as if he's unable to believe what's happening.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Ronan doesn't say the words out loud, but I hear it in the way his arms tighten around me. I hear it just as clearly as I hear that other voice. The one that has always been with Me, and the one that always says the perfect things at His perfect timing.
Your parents also caused you pain.
But not once did it cross your mind to give up on them.
Because you knew the truth.
The people you love are not perfect.
No one is.
And that's why forgiveness must follow every mistake, for despair to transform into hope, and the love you have for each other will never die.
Epilogue
ACACIA STOOD AT THE railing of the yacht, the warm summer breeze caressing her face as she watched her six-month-old daughter being passed from one adoring arm to another. Azalea's peals of laughter carried across the deck, making Acacia's heart swell with a joy so profound it left her breathless.
"She's a beautiful girl," Joan Nelson said, coming to stand beside her. "I'm honored to be her godmother."
The upper deck of the grand yacht had been transformed for the occasion, decorated with soft pink and white azaleas—a tribute to her daughter's name. Today was Azalea's dedication day, and Acacia couldn't have imagined a more perfect celebration.
Guilt pricked at Acacia's heart as she observed the love in the older woman's eyes. Joan had been nothing but kind to her, even after the messy breakup with Claude. She opened her mouth, thinking that she should tell Joan that Azalea was actually her great-granddaughter, but before she could say a word, Joan suddenly asked in a casual tone, "Have you heard? I've updated my will."
"Oh?" Acacia's hands tightened on the railing.
"Azalea shall be a part of it, but let that be our little secret."
Acacia's eyes widened. Did this mean—-
"Old age does not make one an imbecile," Joan said with a sniff. "I admit that it took a while for me to realize there was more to your breakup with Claude, but by the time I found out, you were gone, and I was not able to protect you."
Acacia quickly gave Joan's hand a squeeze at the regret in the older woman's voice. "You have nothing to regret, Joan. Everything happened the way God meant it to happen. God wanted me in Hartland. And now..." Her eyes brightened with tears. "God also answered one of my prayers." Her voice broke. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you the truth the first time. I didn't want you to force Claude to marry me—"
"And you were right to think that, too," the older woman acknowledged with a heavy sigh. "It was exactly what I would have done. I'm trying, Acacia. But I am still blind to some of his faults. Even so, the moment I saw you and Ronan together, it was clear to me that the two of you were meant to be together." She patted Acacia's hand. "And one day, your parents will see it, too."
"I'm praying for that, too," Acacia said softly as she remembered the looks on her parents' faces when she visited them with Azalea and Ronan. They hadn't even looked at her baby girl, and they had barely been civil to Ronan, whom they thought was a step down from Claude since they only saw him as an "ordinary" doctor while Claude stood to inherit millions.