She remembered when Wolfe tempted her with more time away. The empty road ahead. If it hadn’t been for that newspaper article, she would’ve run even farther with him, maybe never stopped or looked back. The guilt crippled her, but she needed to push through.
“I can’t make you happy,” she whispered. “I’m not enough.”
The intimidation faded away. His body sagged. His eyes held a naked sadness and longing that she’d first fallen in love with. Not only the brilliant doctor, but the broken man who craved love and promised to give her everything. “No,” he said softly. “I’m not enough for you. I’ve never been.” He pushed his fingers through his hair, tilting his head back as if searching for answers from the heavens. “I didn’t mean what I said about Wolfe. I know it wasn’t like that between you, I just don’t know what I’m saying. I haven’t slept since you left. I go over every detail to see what I did to make you scared of me or doubt my feelings for you. And then my greatest fear came true. You left me.” His voice broke. “Just like my mother did. Just like I was always afraid you would.”
Gen squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t want to hurt him. She might not want to marry him, but her love for him had been real at one point. His past haunted him, and her actions only emphasized his weakness. Shame flared. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “I hate what I did, I have no excuse except I panicked and had to get away. I was afraid to face you.”
“Have I ever hit you, Genevieve? Physically hurt you in any way?”
She shuddered but managed to shake her head. “No. But your words did.”
He tilted his head, confusion evident. “I always said I loved you. Praised you. The only reason I would ever ask for more is because you are a brilliant doctor and I want you to succeed. I see your potential and didn’t want you to settle. If that hurt you, I’ll fix it. I’ll be different.”
The panic leaked in, the same fear he’d talk her back into this relationship. Somehow, with this man, her determination and strength disappeared in a puff of smoke. She fought to stand her ground and be honest. “I don’t want to fix it anymore, David. We need to end this.”
The tears that glinted in his eyes broke her heart. A tortured moan caught in her chest.
“Please,” he whispered. “Give me some time. Give us some time. I pushed too hard with the wedding and the details, and your schedule. To think that I hurt you, or gave you the impression I didn’t love you with everything I am, makes me sick. I’m begging you for some time.”
“I don’t know.” She trembled. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. We don’t work.”
“We can work.” He reached out halfway, then dropped his hand. “You need space. I won’t push for anything right now when you’re not ready. Spend some time with your family. Think. I’ll see you next week at the hospital and we’ll take it from there.”
“No. David, I don’t want . . .” Her words trailed off when he left her standing alone in the middle of the room.
Her body began to shake, so she crossed her arms in front of her chest and squeezed for warmth. Why wouldn’t he listen? Why was she so weak around him? He played on her guilt like a master, until she found herself giving in without realizing how it had happened. She was never going back to him again. Space and time wouldn’t fix their relationship, yet his stubborn refusal to accept her words as truth only made the pain drag on.
Gen sucked in a breath and slid to the floor. No more. She’d give him the few days he insisted on, and when she returned to the hospital, she’d talk to him. Be clear about their relationship being over. Maybe at work she’d have a better handle on things and be able to project a competent, confident woman who knew her own mind and heart. She never wanted to hurt him, but there was no way to avoid the final outcome.
They were over.
“Sweetheart?” Wolfe stood above her, a looming shadow. He hunkered down in front of her and tipped her chin up. “Was it bad?”
“He’s not ready to let me go.”
His finger caressed her cheek. “He doesn’t have a choice.”
She nodded. “You’re right. I hate hurting him, but I have no choice. He said to take a few days to think and we’d talk when I get back to the hospital.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“No. I think he’s still in shock. I’ll talk to him again at work and repeat everything I said. Maybe he’ll be ready to accept it when he sees I won’t change my mind.”
Wolfe’s face hardened, contradicting the gentleness of his touch. “And if he doesn’t?”
“He will. I just don’t understand why he would say such things to my family.”
“For control. To keep you with him. Wrecking your support system leaves you dependent on him.” He helped her stand and studied her face. “Your family will understand, just give them some time. He worked on them for a while behind the scenes. Don’t feel too guilty about hurting him, Gen. He knows what buttons to push with you. Trust me, he’s a bigger son of a bitch than I thought.”
Maybe Wolfe was right. David was not going to make her afraid or doubt herself again. It was time she took control of her life. “I’ll talk to him on Monday. Get my stuff. Make some decisions about my future.”
A smile touched his lips. “Sounds like a plan. How about we go downstairs and show a united front to your family?”