Chapter 41

• Ethan wanted to say the words lingering on the tip of his tongue, but he held back. “No, I don’t like you,” he said instead, knowing full well the truth was far more profound. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but he feared that revealing his feelings now might end their fragile bond before it even began.
• He was acutely aware of how deeply her past heartbreak had scarred her. The betrayal she suffered from Ryan had left her distrustful, and Ethan had vowed to himself to heal her wounds. He wanted to be the one to fill the cracks in her heart, but he knew he had to tread carefully. He couldn’t afford to scare her away. Slowly but surely, he would work his way into her heart, ensuring that when he took his place there, it would be forever.
• Hearing his reply, Lily sighed in relief, though an unexpected pang of sadness crept into her chest. She didn’t understand why his words left her feeling so conflicted. “Good,” she muttered, suppressing a yawn.