Chapter 796
He was head over heels in love with her, so much so that words failed him whenever he tried to express his feelings. Unsure of how to make her understand the depth of his affection, he decided to share his most guarded secrets with her.
It was like he was laying his heart bare for her to see, a gesture to show her that his love was without reservations, that he was willing to share even the deepest, darkest corners of his soul with her.
His excitement was palpable, a clear sign of his nervousness. He was desperate for her to know the extent of his love, driven by the fear that he had hurt her deeply in the past. He was scared that she might still be angry, that she might leave him.
Elysia was touched, her heart aching for him.
“Tarquin,” she said, using his real name for the first time.
At her words, Tarquin turned to face her, their eyes locking. The sadness in his eyes quickly turned to panic.
He thought she was about to confront him, to hold him accountable for his past actions.
But then, Elysia reached for him, standing on her tiptoes and kissed him. It wasn’t a light, fleeting kiss but a clumsy attempt to deepen their connection.
Tarquin was taken aback, his body trembling at the unexpected intimacy.
Elysia, with her eyes closed and lashes fluttering, struggled to deepen the kiss, eventually biting his lip in frustration, looking up at him with a mix of annoyance and sorrow.
“Do you not want to kiss me?” she challenged.
In response, Tarquin pulled her closer, his kiss enveloping her with a passion that left no room for doubt.
He kissed her with fervor, and she didn’t pull away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck, matching his intensity.
With that kiss, she was telling him that she loved him just as deeply, that he had nothing to fear, that the past was behind them, and that she was his, completely.
Their kiss was passionate and prolonged, a testament to the depth of their feelings for each other. Between breaths, Tarquin choked out, “Elysia, I love you so much! And I’m so scared of losing you!” “I know,” Elysia whispered back, her arms still around his neck. “I’m not going anywhere p>
Tears streamed down his face as he apologized, the weight of his past misdeeds heavy on his heart.
Elysia silenced him with another kiss, forgiving him for everything – for the pain he had caused, for the lies about his identity, for the turmoil he had put her through.
She could have been angry, but his love for her and hers for him made forgiveness the only option.
Holding her tightly, Tarquin sobbed like a child, his emotions overwhelming him.
After a moment, Elysia led him away from the basement to a diving platform she had noticed earlier. It extended over the ocean from the terrace of the swimming pool, a terrifying height for Elysia who had nearly drowned as a child and had since been terrified of water.
Standing on the edge, she turned to Tarquin, “I almost drowned when I was little, so I’m scared of water, and I can’t swim. If I fell into the ocean alone, I’d surely die. But with you by my side, I’m not afraid, because I trust you to save me p>
With those words, she let go of his hand, leaned back, and fell into the sea with her arms outstretched.
Tarquin’s heart stopped, “Elysia p>
He didn’t hesitate, leaping after her p>
As Elysia hit the water, calling out his name, she said, “Tarquin, I trust you with my life. Do you believe now that I’ve truly forgiven you? That I truly love you p>