Secluded with the Rogue

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

A lexander could not bear the silence any longer. He had spent the entire day avoiding Genevieve, hoping to give her the space she had asked for, but it had only made him feel more distant from her. The thought of losing her again was unbearable, and he knew he could not just let things end this way.

If he was going to prove his love, he needed to do more than just words. He needed to show her, to make her understand how deeply he felt, how much he regretted everything that had happened. And he knew just the place to take her—somewhere that held memories of the love they had shared years ago, a place where they had once dreamed of a future together.

That evening, as the last of the guests prepared to leave Carrington Manor, Alexander sought out Genevieve. She was in the parlor, standing by the window, her arms crossed as she gazed out at the snow that was slowly beginning to melt. Her posture was tense, and he could sense the uncertainty in her.

“Genevieve,” he said softly, stepping into the room.

She turned at the sound of his voice, her expression guarded. “What is it, Alexander?”

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. “I need to show you something. Please, come with me.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion, but she did not refuse him. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before nodding silently. Without another word, he led her out of the manor, through the gardens that were still blanketed in snow, to a secluded spot on the estate where they had once met in secret all those years ago.

It was a small clearing surrounded by trees, with a bench tucked beneath a large oak. They had spent countless afternoons there, stealing moments away from the world, dreaming of a future that had never come to pass. The memories of their youth hung in the air, and as they reached the spot, Alexander stopped and turned to face her.

Genevieve looked around, her eyes widening slightly as recognition dawned. “This place…”

He nodded, his voice soft. “I brought you here because it is where I first realized how much I loved you.”

Genevieve’s expression flickered with emotion, but she said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

“I have made a lot of mistakes, Genevieve,” Alexander began, his voice thick with emotion. “But my biggest mistake was letting fear control me. I should have fought for you back then. I should have stood up to my father and told him that you were the only person I wanted to spend my life with.” He took a step closer, his eyes locked on hers, willing her to understand. “When I left, I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was protecting you from my father’s wrath, but I was wrong. Walking away was not protecting you. It was hurting both of us, and I regret it more than anything else in my life.”

Genevieve’s lips parted, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She opened her mouth to speak, but he gently placed his hands on her arms, stopping her.

“Let me finish,” he said softly, his voice breaking slightly. “After I left, my father pressured me to marry someone of higher standing, someone who could elevate our family’s position. I almost gave in. But I could not do it, Genevieve. No matter how hard he pushed, I could not marry someone else. I never loved anyone the way I loved you. I stayed in his good graces just enough to remain his heir, but I refused every match he tried to arrange for me.” He paused, his throat tightening as he remembered the last days with his father. “A few months before he fell ill, my brother and I attended the wedding of Sebastian, the Duke of Ashwick, to Lady Amelia Worthington. My father was there too. It was one of the last times we were all together before his health started to fail. Watching Sebastian marry the woman he loved made me realize what I had lost. I had let my father’s expectations dictate my life, and it cost me everything that mattered.”

Genevieve’s eyes were wide, and she seemed to be struggling to process everything he was saying. Alexander took another deep breath, his voice shaking as he continued. “I could not save my father. He passed away shortly after we returned from the wedding. But even in his final moments, I could not bring myself to regret not marrying someone else. The only regret I have is not fighting harder for you.”

Tears slipped down Genevieve’s cheeks, and Alexander gently reached up to wipe them away. “I love you, Genevieve. I have always loved you. And if you can give me just one more chance, I swear I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”

Genevieve’s breath hitched. When she spoke, her voice trembled. “I have spent years hating you for leaving, Alexander. I built walls around my heart because I could not bear the thought of being hurt like that again.” Her hands trembled as she reached for his, holding them tightly. “But hearing you say all of this… I do not know what to feel. Part of me wants to trust you, to believe that things will be different this time. But another part of me is still so afraid.”

“I know,” Alexander whispered, his hands tightening around hers. “And I do not blame you for being afraid. But I am not that man anymore. I will not run away. I will not let you down again.”

Genevieve looked up at him, her eyes searching his for any sign of doubt, any hint that he might hurt her again. But all she saw was sincerity, the raw vulnerability of a man who had lost everything and was determined to win her back.

She let out a shaky breath, her voice barely audible. “I want to believe you.”

Alexander’s heart pounded in his chest, hope swelling inside him. He reached up to cup her face, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek. “Then let me show you. Let me prove it.”

For a moment, they stood there, the weight of their shared past and the possibilities of the future hanging in the balance. And then, slowly, Genevieve nodded, her tears falling freely now as she leaned into his touch.

“I will give you one more chance,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “But please… do not break my heart again.”

“I will not,” Alexander promised, his voice full of determination. “I swear to you, I will not.”

And then, unable to hold back any longer, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It was a kiss filled with years of longing, of regret, of love that had never truly faded. Genevieve melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed him back with equal fervor, the walls around her heart crumbling as she allowed herself to believe in him again.

When they finally pulled away, both of them breathless, Alexander rested his forehead against hers, his heart racing. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for giving me another chance.”

Genevieve smiled through her tears, her fingers brushing gently against his cheek. “Just do not make me regret it.”

“I will not,” he promised, his heart full of hope and love for the woman standing before him.

And as they stood there, in the place where their love had first blossomed, Alexander knew that this time, he would fight for her with everything he had.