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It left me with a quiet ache
Last Updated:
2025-06-10 23:59:18
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RIGHTFULLY MINE I feel like I failed him.
OWEN'S POV I sat back in the chair with my hands together. I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment she asked. “Why don’t you ever talk about your family? Or your past?”I wasn't expecting that. Not from Zoe. Not yet.The dinner had been perfect—or it was supposed to be. After the chaos at the hospital and the quiet distance that followed, I thought it was a second chance. And for the first half of the evening, it felt like maybe we were getting there.But that question… It wasn't casual. It had weight to it. Intent.Something had changed.She has been acting differently since the night she returned from Austin’s. Subtle, but noticeable. Her smiles didn’t reach quite as far. Her glances lingered too long, as if searching for answers instead of connection. I knew something had been said. The timing was too close.I fixed my eyes on the wall in front of me where the clock’s numbers lit up. But inside me, everything felt on edge.Did Austin say something to her?He didn’t know much
RIGHTFULLY MINE What was he still running from?
ZOE'S POV “Will he always be able to protect you?” Austin’s words kept replaying in my head no matter how many times I tossed and turned.I couldn’t sleep.At first, I’d wanted to dismiss it. Chalk it up to jealousy or pride, maybe even fear of losing me. But the more I thought about it… the more it unsettled me.Because he wasn’t wrong about one thing: I barely knew anything about Owen’s past.Not because I hadn’t been curious, but because… Owen never shared. Not once. Not even in passing.No childhood stories. No stories about his parents, siblings or where he grew up. When he spoke about his life, it was always in the now—his company, his work, his properties, his staff.I’d once assumed it was just him being private, maybe guarded. But now, I was starting to wonder if there was more to it.And the protection measures…I sat on the bed, lost in thought.Owen had stood by me from the moment I was attacked, to tracking Nick, to Jamie’s kidnapping. He’d always had a plan, always mov
RIGHTFULLY MINE I couldn’t let this go
AUSTIN’S POV ‘Why is Owen always around her?’I could still see him standing there under the hospital’s pale lights, watching us drive away like a man who had just been left behind. His shoulders had been squared, trying to play it cool, but there was no hiding that look in his eyes. Disappointment. Maybe even longing.And Zoe… she’d looked at him one last time before slipping into the car.It’s like no matter what’s going on—hospital, emergencies, even just casual moments—he’s there. Showing up. Saying the right things. Earning her trust. And tonight? Tonight, Zoe was all dressed up. Her hair done, makeup carefully applied. A dress that hugged her just enough to make my gut tighten.And Owen? Same thing. Sharply dressed, like he was heading to some upscale place. Even the way he had walked in with confidence. I glanced at Zoe sitting beside me now staring out the window and lost in her own thoughts.Were they going somewhere together tonight?Was he the reason she wouldn’t say yes
RIGHTFULLY MINE It left me with a quiet ache
OWEN'S POV I wasn’t expecting her to say yes.When I asked her out yesterday I had been bracing myself for rejection—gentle, respectful but rejection all the same. There were too many complications between us. And with everything she was going through… Jamie, Austin, Chloe still out there—why would she want me in the middle of all that?But she surprised me.She met my gaze and said “Let's do it. Let’s see where it goes.”I left her door stunned, heart hammering like I’d just sprinted a mile. I’d held my feelings back for so long—pushed them down, convinced myself it was too soon, too fragile. But the moment she said yes, it felt like something real had opened up between us. A quiet door I didn’t even realize I’d been waiting to see unlocked.And now here I am.The restaurant was beautiful. One of those tucked-away places on a quiet street in the city, candlelit and private. I’d pulled every string I had to reserve it just for us tonight. I wasn’t trying to show off—I just wanted her
RIGHTFULLY MINE Complicated
ZOE’S POV I stood frozen on the sidewalk.I had no idea what I expected Austin to say after today—the warm smiles we shared during Jamie’s school event, the comfort of his presence, the way he looked at me like something had clicked into place. But marriage? The word felt louder than the school bell.I looked at him in shock. “We should get married.”The words created an awkward silence between us. My heart started racing as I studied his face for any sign he was joking. But he wasn’t. He looked at me with complete seriousness, as if he’d been thinking about this for a long time.I forced a breath. “Austin… no.”His expression faltered, just slightly. “Zoe, listen—”“No,” I repeated, softer but firmer this time. “I’m not doing this. I can’t marry you out of convenience.”His brow furrowed. “It’s not just that.”“But it is, Austin,” I said, trying not to raise my voice. “You're saying it now because we just had a picture-perfect moment at Jamie’s school. He’s happy. We were united. I
RIGHTFULLY MINE Too big, yet perfectly right.
AUSTIN’S POV “Daddy!” Jamie came barreling towards me, arms wide, yelling. His laughter filled the house as I scooped him into my arms and spun him around and I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him until he was back in my arms again.Zoe stood just behind him, watching us with a soft smile. She looked… calm. Collected. And so different from the woman who had sobbed the day Chloe vanished with Jamie. Stronger, maybe. Like she’d found a kind of quiet resolve. And I was painfully aware that Owen’s house had something to do with that.After Jamie ran off to his room with a toy he couldn’t wait to show me, Zoe followed me into the living room. There was an awkward beat of silence as we both sat down, knowing exactly why she was here but dancing around it.“So… what do you suggest?” She spoke softly.I sighed and rubbed my neck. I’d thought about this exact question so many times during my trip. I had played every possible outcome in my head and every one of them led to some version of
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