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Noah grinned as he kissed the tips of her fingers, amazed at her tenacity “You are so incredibly brave, and I’m so proud of you”

Her chin lifted stubbornly, her internal strength shining through “I wasn’t about to let hi me this time”

“This ti her deliberate choice of words “You remember your past with him?”

“Bits and pieces cah for me to recall that he’d had control over me in the past, that he’d been possessive and jealous to the point of being s”

He wondered what else she recollected during the course of the attack He rolled his shoulders, which did nothing to ease the tension bunching his y a heartfelt plea for her forgiveness

Her gazeshade of blue “What for?”

Her question was too pointed, delving deeper than the surface reasons for his apology, as if she knewon There was a wealth of confessions he owed her, but he ith the most obvious reply “I never should have left you alone”

“There’s nothing to forgive” Her sers to his cheek in a loving caress “You can’t protectto me, and it was all a matter of time If not today, then tomorrow, or next week, or next month And there’s no way you could have known that he’d break into the house”

Still, guilt ate at hirets He’d let her down, and in turn had let himself down, as well

“I’h “Noe can go back to living normal lives”

She was glad everything was over? Including the normal lives—with or without each other? Doubts, uncertainties and old fears flared bright and hot within hi his anxiety a few notches

She gently but firrasp “By the way, you don’t have to pretend anymore,” she said quietly

He stared at her beautiful features, his outward cal his inner turh

Her shoulder lifted in an atte ed”

Unable to help himself, he winced “Has all of your memory returned?”