Chapter 25
Tiffany
“ I can’t keep lying to myself and to you. This charade we’ve been living, pretending like everything is normal when it’s not—it’s tearing me apart.”
How na?ve was I? Believing that we could be together when Adrien is a dangerous man involved in a world of crime and I’m… I don’t want to spend every day afraid for his safety, wondering if he’ll even come home. I thought I could handle it, that love would be enough to conquer all, but reality has a way of tearing down the most beautiful illusions.
I see the hurt in Adrien’s eyes and it breaks my heart to be the cause of it.
“I’m sorry,” I say, tears streaming down my cheeks. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
He steps closer, his hand reaching out but stopping just short of touching me. “Where? Where will you go?”
“I don’t know. I just... I need to get away, figure things out for myself.”
“This is your solution? Running away when things get tough.” His words sting and I struggle to keep my emotions in check.
“I can’t stay and keep hurting both of us.”
Adrien takes a step back as if my words have physically struck him. “So what? You’re giving up on us? On everything we’ve shared? You think you can escape from me and the world, but it won’t work, Tiffany. Even if you date men who are bland, safe, and uninspiring, unable to see you for who you really are. Because you crave more, don’t you? You yearn for excitement, risk, passion, and danger. And I am that for you, aren’t I? You can’t escape your own heart or your yearning to be loved unconditionally. Your perfect Prince Charming will never disappoint you as I will, but he will also never set your whole world on fire. I’ll never be your Prince Charming. But I could be your partner in crime. Your equal, protector, confidant, lover in the most twisted ways. Someone who will never leave you alone or let you settle for mediocrity. We can fight together, conquer together, and chase after our wildest dreams together. But first, you have to stay. You have to give us a chance.”
“You—” I grit my teeth, a fire blazing in my chest. “You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah? Tell me what else am I, love.”
After my parents’ passing when I was twelve, my uncle Dean took it upon himself to enroll me in etiquette lessons. From then on, he raised me to be the perfect lady—never making mistakes, always following the rules, and keeping quiet. Adrien, with his sharp edges, cutting words, and fiery eyes, is decidedly not a gentleman.
With him, I don’t feel like a proper lady. The need to tiptoe around and follow strict societal rules ingrained in me since childhood faded away. Instead, I feel like I’m standing at the edge of a precipice, ready to jump off into the unknown.
“You’re stubborn, irritating, manipulative, and absolutely infuriating,” I list off, my voice trembling with the intensity of my feelings. “You’re also a challenge, a puzzle I can’t seem to solve, a storm that I can’t outrun. But I’m afraid of what loving you might cost me, Adrien. And I’m terrified that it’s already too late to turn back.”
Adrien’s expression softens, and he closes the distance between us, his hand meeting my cheek.
“You won’t lose yourself. Not with me. You’re stronger than you think, Tiffany. And you’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out together—your fears, my past, everything. But running away isn’t the answer. You’ve been running your whole life, trying to fit into this mold your uncle created for you. But that’s not who you are. You’re not some fragile porcelain doll meant to be kept on a shelf. You’re fierce, passionate, and alive. And I see that in you, even if you don’t see it in yourself yet.”
“But what if you get hurt?” I whisper. “What if something happens to you, and I’m left here, alone again? I can’t—I can’t lose someone else I love, Adrien. I won’t survive it. We come from different worlds. I want to be able to walk down the street without looking over my shoulder, without fear for our safety, from my family’s safety. And I know that with you, that’s not possible.” My voice breaks, and I clutch my arms tightly around myself as if I can hold together the pieces of my heart that feel like they’re splintering into shards. “I want a normal life, Adrien. I want to wake up without wondering if today’s the day someone comes for you—or me. I want to build something safe, something stable. But with you… I don’t know if that’s ever going to be an option.”
Adrien’s fingers trace my jawline, a contemplative expression crossing his features. “I understand your fears, Tiffany. I do. Being with me means living on the edge, never knowing what tomorrow may bring. But I’m willing to forsake all that for you. I’ll do whatever it takes for us to be together, even if it means breaking the rules and creating our version of happily ever after.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’ve started moving my company’s headquarters here, to be closer to you. I want to give us a chance, despite the odds stacked against us.”
I stare at him. “You’re serious? You’re relocating your entire company... for me?”
His lips curve into a faint smile. “I told you, Tiffany. I’ve spent my entire life fighting to protect what’s mine, and you? You’re mine. Whether you like it or not, whether you run or stay, you’ve been mine since the moment I saw you. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you. I’ll burn down empires, rewrite the rules, and tear apart anyone who tries to come between us. But I need you to meet me halfway. I need you to trust me, to believe in us. We can build something real, something that’s ours—safe, stable, but still alive with the fire you crave. You don’t have to choose between safety and passion, Tiffany. You can have both. With me.”
I take a step back, my mind racing.
Adrien Leroy doesn’t do things by halves. He’s not the kind of man who makes grand gestures lightly. And yet, here he is, offering me the very thing I’ve been too afraid to ask for—a future.
A real, tangible future together.
“You make it sound so simple. But it’s not. You know it’s not.”
Adrien’s hand drops from my cheek, and he takes a step back, giving me space. His eyes never leave mine, though, their intensity unwavering.
“It’s not simple,” he admits. “It’s messy and complicated and terrifying. It will take years. But it’s also real. And isn’t that what you want? Something real? Something that isn’t just a facade or a carefully constructed lie? You’ve spent your whole life living in a cage, Tiffany. Polite smiles, perfect manners, following the rules—that’s not living. That’s surviving. And I think you’re tired of just surviving. I know I am.”
He’s right. I’ve been surviving, not living. And the thought of breaking free, of stepping into the unknown with him, is both exhilarating and terrifying.
“You don’t know what you’re asking of me.”
“I do. I’m asking you to take a leap of faith. And I know it’s not easy. I know it’s scary as hell. But I also know that we’re stronger together than we are apart. And I’m willing to fight for us, Tiffany. Are you?”
I close my eyes, trying to steady the storm raging inside me. My heart is pounding, my mind racing a million miles a minute. But amid the chaos, there’s a quiet, undeniable truth—I want this. I want him. Despite the fear, despite the risk, I want to believe in the future he’s offering.
I reach out and take Adrien’s hand in mine, my fingers trembling as they intertwine with his. His grip is firm, grounding, and I feel the weight of his promise in the way he holds me—like he’ll never let go. My heart hammers in my chest, the sound echoing in my ears as I open my eyes to meet his gaze.
“I’m scared,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m also tired of it. I’m tired of living in the shadows of what everyone else expects from me. If this is a leap of faith... then I’ll take it. With you.”
A flicker of relief passes over Adrien’s face. His other hand reaches up to brush a strand of hair from my face, his touch featherlight, as if he’s afraid I might shatter under the weight of this moment.
“You won’t regret this. I’ll spend every day proving to you that this was the right choice. That we were meant to find each other, no matter how messed up the path was.”
“I love you.”
I loved him when I didn’t even know what love was supposed to feel like. I loved him when I was too afraid to say the words when I convinced myself that our worlds were too different to ever align. I loved him in the quiet moments, in the stolen glances, in the way his presence could steady me even when everything else felt like it was falling apart. And now, standing here with his hand in mine, the weight of those unspoken words finally breaks free.
“I love you,” I repeat, louder this time. “Even when it it scares me. Even when I don’t know what the future holds. I love you, Adrien Leroy. And I’m done running from that.”
His breath catches, and for a moment, he just stares at me, his blue eyes searching mine as if he’s trying to memorize this moment. Then, without a word, he pulls me into him, his arms wrapping around me so tightly it feels like he’s trying to fuse us together. My face presses against his chest, and I can hear the rapid beat of his heart, mirroring my own.
“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that,” he murmurs. “I love you too, angel. More than I ever thought possible.”
In the stillness of the night, Adrien pulls me close, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that feels like a promise. It’s not desperate or wild this time—it’s tender, deliberate as if he’s sealing the words we’ve just exchanged.
In Adrien’s arms, I am reminded that love knows no limits and that no matter what lies ahead, we will face it together—partners in crime, equals in love, ready to conquer any obstacles that come our way.