Chapter 298


    “It’s never a good thing when someone starts a sentence like that.” His brows pull together in a frown


    as he stares at me. It was almost as if he was trying to figure out if he did something wrong.


    I don’t say anything. First of all, I was trying toe down from the high of sexual arousal. Second, I


    didn’t yet know how to broach the subject with him. I was trying my best to put my thoughts in order.


    “You’re scaring me, Ava,” he says, shocking me and making me scoff a bit.


    “Nothing scares you.”


    And it was the dam n truth. Nothing ever scared the man standing in front of me. Have things changed


    that much? Did something happen during the period I couldn’t remember to make him afraid?


    Standing up, he walks the short distance to where I am standing. Cupping my cheeks, he gives me a


    small, quick kiss. It wasn’t as powerful as the one we had moments ago, but it still weakened my knees


    “Before, yes, but now? Now I’m scared of losing you,” he pauses as his eyes drill into mine. Showing


    me the truth and sincerity in his words. “I’m scared of living in a world without you.”


    I’m taken aback by his confession. Never in a million years did I ever think I would hear Rowan utter


    such sweet words at me. It felt really good to hear them. It felt like a dreame true.


    I used to lie in bed every night, thinking how good it would feel if Rowan wanted me. I wanted him to


    love me and care for me. I wanted to be the one that his heart beats for. I always imagined how happy I


    would feel when he told me sweet things.


    It was happening now, and it has been happening since I woke up. I can’t stop the flutter in my heart or


    the dam n butterflies that are causing havoc inside me.


    “You’ll never lose me, Rowan.” I finally get my mouth to move and say something.


    I see the small doubt filter in his eyes. It puzzles me that he doesn’t believe me. That part of him doubts


    and thinks that I’ll ever leave him. Why would I? Especially now that I have everything I’ve always


    wanted and desired.


    Unless he takes the first step and walks away from me, I don’t think I ever will. I can’t imagine anything


    that would cause me to walk away from this version of Rowan. “Trust me,” I tell him while holding his


    hand. “There’s nothing that can take me away from you. Not even death His eyes continue shift


    between mine. As if he was trying to search for the truth of my words in them. I let from the depths of


    my soul. A small smile ys on his lips secondster, and I know I’ve convinced him. He goes to kiss


    me, but I stop him. “I’m not going to let you distract me” I say with determination. “We really do need to


    talk”


    He nods his head and then takes my hand. His eyes search the living room. Theynd on the baby


    monitor. Without a second thought he grabs it and silently leads us to his office.


    “So, what did you want us to talk about?” he asks once we get to his office.


    The door is locked, and I watch him as he confidently sits down.


    “I want to go see Ethan,” I say, deciding to rip it off like a freaking band aid.


    “Over my dead body.” The words are growled rather than said.


    The calm atmosphere suddenly bes charged. The peacefulness and calmness that hade


    over himpletely disappears. In its ce is a cold mask and anger.


    I feel myself shutting down. I would have epted his answer like I normally would, but something


    inside me won’t let me bow down to him. I can’t put my finger on it, but something inside me has


    changed.


    “I wasn’t really asking you. I was just informing you as a freaking courtesy. I re at him, letting him


    see my displeasure. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but there was no d amn way I was going to


    back down.


    “You’re not going to see him, Ava. That’s final”


    “He’s Iris’s father for f ucks sake, Rowan… Other than chaining me to the f ucking bed, I don’t see how


    else you’ll stop me from seeing him.”


    “That can be arranged.”


    “You’re not serious!”


    I stare at him, shocked. That he would honestly consider chaining me to a bed boggles mepletely.


    He was truly out of his freaking mind, and all because I wanted to see and meet the father of my


    daughter?


    “I am,” he says through clenched teeth.


    Sighing, I throw my hands in the air in frustration. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t go. He


    “Theo and Nora can always take Iris for a visit. You don’t have to be the one to meet with him”


    Did his hate honestly run that deep, or was it something else? I get that Ethan and I had something, but


    it was clearly over, just like what was between him and Emma was over. So what was the problem?


    Didn’t he trust me around Ethan?