Seeing my father last night put a damper on things, but coming home with Mallory made all of that fall away. I’ve been getting away from wanting my revenge for some time, focusing only on Mallory. Each moment with her seems to lessen the anger that had built inside me over the years. She makes me want something else. Something not filled with hate.

I was young when I began on the journey to make him pay, but as I’ve gotten older, I want to let it go. Why hold on to something so hateful? I’d rather spend my energy loving Mallory and making a life with her. Everyone is asking me to let it go, and Mallory showed me last night that I’m nothing like him. That I’ve done what I set out to do. My mother is happy and I am the man I want to be.

The only thing that worries me now is Paige. She doesn’t seem ready to let her vendetta go, and I can’t say I blame her. She’s got her own story with him, and I’m not sure she’s going to move on anytime soon. Alexander was a different kind of man with her, and I don’t think there’s anyone out there who would deny her revenge. I still don’t even know all the details of what she went through with him. It’s one way Paige and I are alike. We’re both good at keeping secrets.

But the time has come for me to let that part of my past go. I’m done chasing after hate, and I’m done wasting a single thought on him when I could be thinking about the woman I love. Whatever happens next with him is up to Paige, and if she needs my help I’ll be there. He’s got a lot to answer for when it comes to her, and she’ll make him pay. But otherwise, I’m shutting my book on Alexander Owens. I got the closure I was looking for last night, and I know that my family will be safe from him. There’s nothing left he can do to hurt us, and if he tried, there would be no second chance.

I’m starting new with Mallory. I don’t want this in our lives together. For it to ever touch our children. And Ivy was right, that the cloud of revenge hanging between us isn’t as important as living in the love and making a future with Mallory. I recognize that a large part of me was scared I would end up like him, but after hearing Mallory last night I know I won’t. I would never do anything to hurt her, and I would die to protect her.

It’s as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I can finally let go. I never knew I was holding on to so much, until I released it last night. I had my company acquire what was left of his assets and I dismantled them. His world is going to crumble. Now I feel like that part of my life is finally finished, and I can concentrate on more important things in my life. Like my love asleep in the other room.

When I’ve finished breakfast, I decide to run to the bathroom and clean up. I sneak past Mallory, checking that she’s still asleep, and smile down at her. In the bathroom, I brush my teeth, but when I’m finished, I notice there’s no hand towel around. The cleaning lady must have taken it for laundry, so I reach under the cabinet to get a new one. When I grab one in the back, I pull it out, knocking over toilet paper rolls as I do. Reaching down to stack them back up, I see a white piece of plastic sticking out from under one. I push the rolls aside and pull it out, seeing it’s a pregnancy test. My heart hammers in my chest as I look down at it, and then suddenly the doorbell rings.

Putting the test in my pocket, I sneak back through the room. Mallory hasn’t moved an inch. I make my way through the house, then to Chuck the doorman arriving with my delivery. I take it from him and close the door and lock it.

I take a moment, unsure of what to do, and then decide to go with my original plan I’d begun this morning.

From the kitchen, I take the tray of homemade waffles and berries and carry it into the bedroom. I set the tray on the bedside table and sit on the edge of the mattress.

Leaning down, I kiss Mallory’s shoulder until she turns on her side to look up at me.

“Hey,” she says in the sexiest sleepy voice. The sun is shining through the windows and it glows behind her like a halo.

I run my fingers through her hair, and then trail them down her naked back, soaking in having her in my bed, wanting her there every morning.

“Mmm,” she hums, stretching into my touch like a cat.

I kneel beside the bed and nuzzle against her. My words are caught in my throat, and I don’t know how to get them out.

“Oz?” she says, but I can’t answer. I keep my face in her neck. “Oz, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Sitting back on my heels, I look at her and she sits up, pulling the sheet across her breasts. There’s a look of worry in her eyes now, and I rush to explain.

“I’m sorry. I’ve done this in my head a thousand times. Everywhere we go, I look for the right spot, and every time I hold you, I try to find the right words, but I can’t seem to make it sound perfect in my head.”

“Oz,” she says, a nervous sound in her voice. “What are you doing?”

I pull out a small box and place it on the bed in front of her.

“Mallory, I’ve loved you from the very second I saw you. The very second. There was no hesitation from my heart that day, and I knew I had to make you mine. I may have gone about it differently than some men would have, but I wouldn’t change anything since it led me to you.”

I reach out and take her hand, placing the box in her palm.

“I realize that this is soon for you, but it’s been years for me. Years in the making, baby.” I smile at her, and then I see a tear fall from her eyes. I reach up, swiping it away with my thumb, and she bites her lower lip. “I’ve waited for you to see me, for you to love me and for you to marry me. Please, baby. Don’t make me wait another day.”