Melanie.
I cry so hard, my throat hurts. I know Regan is a selfish man. It's in his bearing. It's in his eyes. But somehow, I expected him to have compassion and never bring this up. And now he has, I'm crushed.
He's whispering into my hair, kissing me.
"If it's any consolation, I don't love Lucinda. I'm forced to marry her."
I grow rigid at his confession, pulling away to look at him, earnestly.
"You…You don't love Lucinda? Then what are you doing with her?" I ask him, confused.
He shrugs, casually.
"Our dads forced this on me. I never wanted it. That's the reason I never told you of her, when I was helping you escape," he says, quietly.
But I see pain exuding in his eyes.
"For one moment in my life, I was in the presence of a woman, who innocently adored me and…and I think I fell in love. I wanted all you had to give. Your heart, your innocence. Even though I was certain I couldn't have you, I wanted you." He confesses, profoundly.
