Mira

"I reached a point where I learned to expect it, so it doesn't bother me anymore."

"I thought things like that only happened in movies…"

I don't know what makes me sicker: the image of Elliot with another girl or the thought of a woman trying to trap him with a baby behind his back.

"And that's only the tip of the iceberg. Every one of those situations taught me a lesson. They proved my brothers were right and humanity really is rotten to the core."

"How did you survive growing up in a world like that?"

"You either become prey to the monsters or become one of them."

"Is that why you lied? Because you're used to people treating you so badly?"

There it is. The truth.

"I acted that way because I believed I was right. I had no reason to trust you, and I never imagined I would develop all these feelings."

"What feelings?"

"I'm bound to screw this up," he says, lifting his glasses to rub his eyes.

I release a shaky sigh.

"Then just do your best."

"My original reason for texting you was selfish and cruel," he begins, pushing his plate away. "I wanted to discover what kind of woman you were. I honestly thought you were pretending, and I wanted to prove myself right."

His words truly hurt. I thought his intentions might have been misguided but kind. This alternative is the worst-case scenario.

"I'm sorry you grew up surrounded by awful people. I really am."

"There's a reason we live by the motto 'money before morals.'"

"There are two ways to be rich in life, and one has nothing to do with a bank account."

"I realize that now. I see it in you."

My heart races as if it wants to tell Elliot it's listening too. He keeps looking into my eyes.

"After our first kiss, I thought you would extort money from me. Part of me expected it, if only to prove you were as selfish as the rest of us. Because how could you not want to get money out of me after the way I treated you? There were times when I even wondered whether you would try something else to trap me."

"That's so sad, Elliot! I told you I would never do that."

"I have trouble trusting people because of my past experiences."

"Yes. I can see that."

And it genuinely saddens me. When I came here, I expected not to believe anything Elliot told me. I thought nothing would be enough to change my mind. But the reality he describes… it's tragic. Considering everything he has endured, no wonder he's anxious. I would much rather be poor and happy than rich and miserable.

"Every time you wrote to me, you proved me wrong. Even though you didn't know who I was, you made me feel as though I mattered to someone."

All my determination collapses like a house of cards.

"I was proud to make illustrations for you. Making you happy brought me joy."

His words strike me straight in the heart.

"As I got to know you, I discovered I'd been right from the start: you are so much more than you seem… In fact, you're priceless."

Priceless? Don't you dare cry, Mira.

"You're selfless, thoughtful, and willing to go above and beyond to help others. You tutor children for free, and you bring bread and cookies to a grumpy old man. And in my selfishness, I wanted to steal a piece of you and keep it for myself. You reminded me what it was like not to feel terribly lonely all the time, and I didn't want to lose that feeling."

How am I supposed to respond to a declaration like that? I don't get the chance anyway, because Elliot continues at once.

"I took your kindness for granted and abused your trust. I'm sorry."

I blink rapidly to hold back my tears.

"What made you decide to tell me the truth?"

"After our day together in the park, I couldn't keep pretending. I'd become addicted to the feelings you gave me, to the point where I couldn't work out how to reveal my identity. I was afraid because I didn't want our relationship to end. So instead of telling you the truth, I first found ways to spend more time with you in real life while deliberately stealing the rest of your attention with Grant's messages. It was a stupid idea. But although it was unfair of me, the only thing I regret is hurting you."

My eyes fill with tears. I've never heard Elliot speak for this long, which is such a shame. The way he expresses himself… it's beautiful. He makes me feel beautiful too. Not in a superficial way: he makes me think he cares most about my soul. What he says about me makes me proud of who I am.

Even though he lied, the reasons he continued the fantasy are so sad they make me want to cry. What kind of man is so lonely that he trades messages with a woman while hiding behind an alias?

A man desperate to be loved in return.

The thought tightens my throat.

"And the mentorship program?"

"Oh no…" he groans. "I'm going to sound insane."

His words draw a small smile from me.

"Maybe I like your insanity."

And I mean it. Anything is better than the icy facade Elliot presents to the world.

"I'm the one who took all the tear-off slips with your number. I didn't want anyone else to have access to it."

"What?" I exclaim, stunned.

Good grief. How far does this go?

Elliot removes his glasses and runs a hand over his face, looking overwhelmed.

"When you approached me that day, I was angry at myself for feeling so foolish, and I took it out on you. But after I came to the meeting, I understood what you wanted to do for people like your sister. I attended the first meeting for selfish reasons, but I stayed in your program because I like Lena. She makes me laugh, and she's kind, like you."

Tears dampen my lashes. No normal man would remove every strip with my number unless he cared about me. And the way he talks about Lena… It's so simple, yet it matters more than anything to me. It's everything I always wanted from Victor and never received.

My heart pounds wildly.

Elliot likes me. And he hates it.

"Why are you smiling?" he asks. "Didn't you hear what I just told you?"

"You like me," I blurt out.

"No. I tolerate you more than most people. That's why I want to date you."

I burst out laughing, and Elliot recoils.

"You think that's funny?"

"A little. But it's cute."

He sighs.

Suddenly, something clicks in my mind.

"You've grown attached to me, but you don't like it."

"I can't promise I won't make more mistakes. I'm learning as I go. What I do know is that there's something about you that makes me happy. So if you want to resign, I understand, but you should know I never meant to hurt you."

Under his gaze, I feel more exposed than ever.

He cares about you. He really does.

"I think part of me wishes I didn't like you because you were so suspicious of me. At the same time, I completely understand your distrust."

He doesn't move a muscle.

"How? You're so trusting."

I give a sad little laugh. After everything he has revealed to me, it seems only right to share my story with him in return.

"My last boyfriend broke my heart and destroyed my trust the day I found him with another woman. She… God. It's a scene I'll never be able to forget."

I've tried to erase the memory, but some details always seep through.

"And as if one betrayal wasn't enough, Victor,my ex,destroyed another part of me that I'll never get back."

"What did he do?" Elliot asks in a low, threatening voice.

I lower my gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

"He stole my proposal for Nebula Land, impressed the creators with it, then used the bonus to buy his mistress an engagement ring."

I stumble over the words in my attempt to say them too quickly.

Elliot leans over the table to cup my chin gently and turn my face toward him.

"Although I'm sorry he hurt you, I'm not sorry he let you go."

I give him an uncertain smile.

"Are you always this selfish?"

"When it comes to you, yes."

I shake my head. He brushes strands of my hair back before grazing my earrings with the tip of his finger. Goose bumps rise over my skin.

"I'm many things, but I'm not a cheater. And although I've lied to you before, I'll never do it again. I swear."

I swallow, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat.

"And that's it? I'm supposed to take your word for it and hope everything works out?"

"No. I know from experience that words mean nothing."

"Then what do you have in mind?"

He places a light kiss on my lips.

"I'm going to prove it to you."

"How?"

A spark lights in his eyes.

"Would you rather I show you or tell you?"

His husky tone makes heat rise to my cheeks.

Elliot gives me a wicked smile. And as I watch him approach me on his knees, I think I could agree to anything he asked.