Page 109 of Bid For Me
Seb
The boutique feels too small,its chic charm suddenly stifling as I step through the door. The bell chimes, and Elle’s head doesn’t even lift. She’s there behind the counter, her shoulders squared like she’s ready to take on the world – or shut it out entirely.
I almost turn back, but the crumpled papers in my pocket dig into my side, grounding me. I owe her this. No – she deserves this.
“We’re closing in ten,” she says without looking up, her voice clipped but professional.
I swallow hard. “I’m not here to shop.”
Her head snaps up at my voice, and I’m hit with the full force of her glare. Anger, confusion, and something raw, flicker across her face before she schools her features into something unreadable.
“What are you doing here?” she demands, her voice low but cutting.
I step closer, my hands up like I’m approaching a wounded animal. That’s how she looks – wounded, but fierce, ready to bite if I get too close.
“I had to see you,” I say, my voice hoarse. “To explain. To make things right, if I still can.”
She laughs bitterly, crossing her arms. “Right. You think you can just waltz in here and fix everything?”
Her words hit me like a slap, but I nod. “I don’t think I can fix it all. But I need to try.”
I reach into my pocket and pull out the folded contract – the one I thought would bind her to me, the one I’ve come to hate. Her eyes narrow as I unfold it, her body stiffening like she expects another trap.
“This,” I say, holding it up, “was a mistake. It’s not worth anything anymore.”
Before she can respond, I tear it in half, the paper giving way with a satisfying rip. Her eyes widen, but I don’t stop. I tear it again and again until it’s nothing but shreds in my hands.
I let the pieces flutter to the counter like confetti.
“And this,” I say, reaching into my jacket for the prenup, “is worse than a mistake. It’s a symbol of everything I’ve done wrong.”
I watch her as I tear that too, my fingers trembling. She doesn’t move, doesn’t speak, but her eyes flicker with something I can’t quite read.
“I don’t care about any of it anymore,” I say, letting the pieces fall to the counter between us. “The contracts, the prenup, the marriage itself – none of it means anything without you.”
Her lips part, but no words come out.
“I’ve been an idiot,” I continue, my voice breaking. “I let my father manipulate me. I let my own fears and insecurities drive a wedge between us. And I hurt you, Elle. I hurt you in ways I’ll never forgive myself for.”
I step closer, close enough to see the faint freckles on her cheeks, the tension in her jaw. “I love you,” I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “I love you, Elle. And it terrifies me because I don’t deserve you. Every time I look at you, I see everything I want but have no right to ask for. And that’s why I’ve been such an asshole – because losing you scares me more than anything. I’ve never wanted for anything my entire life, but I want you. I want to build a life with you so damn badly it hurts.”
Her breath catches, her lips trembling, but she doesn’t look away. I cling to that, the faintest crack in her armor, and take another step closer.
“I’m done being scared,” I say, my voice steady now. “I’m done letting my father control my life. By the end of this week, he’ll be out of the picture, I swear to you. Whatever it takes, I’ll make it happen.”
I take a shaky breath, my chest tightening. “I’m not asking you to forgive me – not yet, maybe not ever. But I need you to know that I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be the man you deserve. Whether you’re with me or not. I will be a better man, and that’s down to you.”
The silence stretches, every second like a knife twisting in my chest. I watch her closely, searching for any sign of what she’s thinking, but her face remains an infuriating mask of calm.
Finally, she exhales, her shoulders sagging. “Seb…I don’t know if I can trust you again.”
The words cut deep, but I nod. “I’ll earn it,” I say. “Every day, in every way, for as long as it takes.”
Her gaze softens for a fraction of a second, but she catches herself, straightening her spine. “You’ve got a lot to prove.”
“I know,” I say, my voice quiet. “And I’ll prove it.” I take a deep breath before continuing. “I didn’t just rip up those documents. I’ve had the contracts legally rescinded. Both ofthem. I don’t give a shit about my father’s threats, Elle. I don’t think I ever did. I just want to be with you. But…if it’s what you want…I have a team on standby to help us get the marriage annulled and I’ll let you go. You can have total freedom from the Sterling-Knight name. From me.”
The tears in her eyes, the faint tremor in her hand as she brushes her hair back – they’re small victories. She doesn’t tell me to leave, doesn’t slam the door in my face. And she doesn’t jump on my offer of an annulment either.