Willow froze, her mind blank. Rage, confusion, and disbelief swirled inside her. She thrashed against his hold, desperation fueling her strength. Then she bit down hard on his lip.
"Ah!" Philip recoiled, releasing her instantly. He staggered back, one hand flying to his mouth. Crimson smeared his thumb as he wiped the blood from his lower lip.
"You? Have you lost your mind?" she spat.
"I just wanted to talk to you. Can we, please?"
"There is nothing to talk about," Willow snapped, brushing past him. "My boyfriend will misunderstand if he sees me with you. Don’t follow me."
"Boyfriend?" he jeered. "You mean Skyler?"
Willow paused, her body going rigid.
"I checked. He is not your boyfriend," Philip continued with conviction. "So stop lying."
Willow’s face flushed with embarrassment. ’Damn it. He already knows.’ She bit the corner of her lip.
Philip closed the distance between them. This time, his voice softened, "I know you’re mad about what happened that day. I was out of line. I regret it—truly. I’ll even apologize to Theodore if that’s what it takes."
He held her arm and turned her to face him. "Please, Willow. Don’t push me away. Lately, I can’t stop thinking about you. I... I think I’ve fallen for you."
Willow’s breath caught. Her mind raced, torn between suspicion and the flutter of something dangerous in her chest. ’Is he sincere?’ she wondered. ’Or is this just jealousy talking?’
Philip grasped Willow’s hands tightly. "Give me a chance," he pleaded. "Be my girlfriend."
Willow yanked her hands away, crossing her arms in defiance. "Are you jealous of Skyler or something? How could the mighty Mr. Walton fall for a simple girl like me?"
Philip didn’t hesitate. "Yes, I’m jealous," he admitted. "When you introduced Skyler as your boyfriend, I was devastated. It felt like the ground was ripped from under me. I wanted to beat him to a pulp."
He clasped her shoulders. "I don’t care about your background. I don’t care if you’re famous or not. None of that matters to me. All I want is to be with you."
He licked his lips nervously, fearing she would reject him. "I know there are men out there who admire you, who’d do anything to marry you. Maybe I’m not the perfect guy you’ve dreamed of. But I promise you this—I’ll take care of you. I’ll make you happy, no matter what it takes. I’ll prove to you that I can be the perfect man—the perfect husband you want. Just... consider me."
For the first time, Willow saw something deeper in his eyes—not just possessiveness, but genuine affection and fear of losing her. And for a brief moment, her guarded heart wavered.
Philip’s earnest confession had chipped away at her anger, softening her heart. Still, she couldn’t resist teasing him, curious to see how far he’d go.
Her silence made him fidget, his restlessness growing. "You’re the first woman I’ve ever slept with," he blurted. "And the only one I’ve ever chased after. Please, Willow. Let me prove how much I love you."
Warmth bloomed in her chest. But she kept her expression guarded, arching a skeptical eyebrow. "Are you sure I’m the only woman in your life? That’s hard to believe."
"God promise—I’ve never dated anyone before. Never cared enough to."
His sincerity was disarming, but shadows of old wounds lingered in Willow’s heart. Memories of her father’s betrayal flashed in her mind, reminding her of the heartbreak her mother had endured. Trust didn’t come easily to her.
Her gaze hardened. "Can you promise me one thing? That you’ll never cheat on me?"
"I swear to God I will never cheat on you. I’ll love you, only you, for the rest of my life." He cupped her face, looking into her eyes.
The walls around her heart crumbled, doubt dissolving into the thin air. She knew she could start a life with him. But she didn’t forget to warn him. "If you ever fall out of love, just be honest. Don’t deceive me like my father did my mother."
"Sweetheart, my love for you will never end." With that, he kissed her, sealing the moment.
~~~~~~~~
Theodore and Bella, on the other hand, slipped into the car. As Theodore started the engine, Bella reached for the seatbelt, but the strap twisted, resisting her efforts.
"Here, let me," Theodore murmured, leaning over to assist her.
His sudden closeness froze her in place. The warmth radiating from his body and the intoxicating scent of his musky cologne enveloped her senses.
Bella’s heart leaped to her mouth, her eyes fixating on his face. Theodore looked into her eyes, his breathing slow. His fingers brushed her shoulder as he untangled the strap and clicked the seatbelt into place.
"It’s done," he murmured, his eyes never leaving hers.
For a moment, neither moved. Bella blinked, gripping the seatbelt with both hands, trying to calm the rapid thrum of her heartbeat.
Theodore’s eyes moved down to her lips, his desire to kiss her sparking. But he controlled himself, not intending to scare her. He pulled back, settling into his seat, but the space between them still felt charged.
Bella remained still in her seat. She couldn’t stop her heart from racing. Even with distance restored, the ghost of his warmth lingered, sending chills across her skin.
As he started driving, he stole a glance at her. He wanted this moment to last longer, to stretch the night into forever if it meant keeping her by his side.
Theodore’s mind raced, searching for an excuse—any reason to delay their goodbye. Then, as if fate conspired with his desire, he noticed the darkening sky. Heavy clouds rolled in, swallowing the last streaks of twilight.
"Looks like a storm is coming," Theodore remarked, his gaze flicking upward.
Bella followed his line of sight, watching the clouds thicken.
"Your house is pretty far from here," he continued. "We’ll get caught in the rain. How about you stay at my place tonight?"
Bella was hesitant. "I don’t think that’s a good idea. My parents will worry if I don’t come home."
Theodore’s heart sank a little, but he didn’t give up. "Then call them," he suggested smoothly. "Tell them you’re safe with me."
Before she could consider his suggestion, her phone rang. She quickly dug it out of her bag and saw her mother’s name flashing on the screen.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Bella, where are you?" Selena’s anxious voice crackled through the line. "Are you still at the office?"
"Mamma? What’s wrong? Are you alright?"
"It’s raining heavily here," Selena explained. Thunder rumbled faintly in the background. "How is the weather there? I’m afraid you’ll get stuck or, worse, have another accident."
Bella glanced out the window. Droplets had already begun to splatter across the glass, the dark sky now pierced by occasional flashes of lightning.
"Don’t drive in this weather," Selena urged. "Why don’t you call Theodore and ask him to pick you up? Better yet, stay at his place tonight. It’s safer."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
