Chapter 13
The next day, Louis finally regained consciousness. Every movement sent pain shooting through his body.
Rachel was slumped beside him. When she saw him awake, her face lit up with exaggerated relief.
“Louis! You’re finally awake! I’ve been so worried about you. Does it still hurt?”
Looking at her performance of concern, Louis could only feel bitter irony. He turned away, refusing to look at her or respond.
Rachel saw it and immediately put on an even more pitiful expression. She took his hand, trembling as she explained.
“I’m so sorry, Louis. I know you hate me right now, but I didn’t have a choice… I had to say all of that.”
“Don’t you see? I’ve always been just the adopted daughter. If I had made a mistake, Dad would’ve kicked me out in an instant. But you? He only hit you. He didn’t say anything worse!”
“Louis, do you know? After you passed out, Dad immediately started planning my arranged marriage. If I’d gotten kicked out, we’d never have another chance. Please listen to me–go find Cersei. Only if she comes back will Daddy be satisfied, and then we can go back to how they were.”
Rachel’s tears fell as she spoke. Despite being hurt by her betrayal, Louis softened. He’d spoiled her for too many years to stay angry.
Especially hearing about the arranged marriage, he gripped her hand tightly.
“Even if I’m disowned, I could still take care of you. Rachel, why won’t you give us a chance? Since I was eighteen, I’ve dreamed of marrying you. I designed a wedding dress and ring myself, just imagining the day you’d wear them and become my bride. I can’t bear to be apart from you.”
He pulled out his phone to show her the carefully preserved designs–an extravagant wedding gown and a multi–million–dollar ring.
He laid these dreams before her, and Rachel threw herself into his arms.
“I know, Louis, I know. But we can’t right now…”
Her tears melted away his anger. He held her close, his voice strained with emotion.
“Fine. I’ll do what you want. I’ll find Cersei and bring her back.”
Only then did Rachel’s tears stop, but Louis quickly added.
“But you can’t marry anyone else. Stay with me, Rachel. I can’t lose you. This is the biggest compromise I’ll make.”
She smiled through her tears, her face blushing as she leaned in to kiss him for the first time.
“Of course. I’ll never leave you, Louis. I’ll stay by your side forever. Even if we can’t be a real couple or get married, I’ll always be with you.”
Hearing her promise, Louis’s expression finally softened. His dark eyes watched as she pressed herself against him.
Despite his injuries, he pulled her close. But as he tried to kiss her, Rachel gently pushed him back.
“You’re hurt, Louis. Let me take care of you today.”
Louis’s eyes darkened with desire, his breathing growing heavy.
A short while later, soft moans filled the room.
Because of Philip’s watchful eyes, they didn’t dare go too far. After a while, Rachel left and Louis composed himself.
He found his father and admitted his mistake, promising to bring Cersei back. Only then did Philip look at him with satisfaction.
“Louis, you need to understand, everything I’ve done is for you. Cersei’s a good girl. Even though you didn’t care for her before, she’s never let us
Rost Friend’s Dorcet Lio: The Affair Led Me To My Stepbrother’s Embrace
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down.”
“She’s always been there for you, taking care of you whenever you were sick or needed help, Rachel is just our adopted daughter, the don’t know anything. How could she possibly be right for you?”
Louis instinctively wanted to argue, but couldn’t find the words.
He thought about Cersei leaving. Maybe she’d known about what had been going on between him and Rachel But instead of confronting him, she had quietly walked away.
Conflicted feelings churned inside him. But for now, Louis could only swallow his feelings and agree with his father.
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Chapter 13
