“You abandoned me in the middle of the night! You left me alone for five years!” Maya hissed as he lifted his hand to touch where her slap had left its mark. “I left to protect you! I left because I love you!” Nathaniel protested in a futile attempt to defend himself. —————————————————— Five years ago, Nathaniel De La Rue found love and a new life in Arlington City, but his past soon caught up with him and forced him to leave behind everything he had built, including his beloved Maya Miller. Now, Nathaniel is done running. He must confront his past to protect those that matter the most to him. After fighting for his right to live and accepting his rightful place in the De La Rue family, he finally returns to Arlington City. However, upon his return, Nathaniel finds that his world is not the same as he left it. Maya, the woman he loves, is engaged to another man. His best friend now works for the man who stole Maya from him. Furthermore, the woman who had cared for Nathaniel like a mother is being abused by her husband. It’s as if he has to start from scratch. But things have changed. This time he has the De La Rue Family by his side.
"Y— y— y— you what?!" Emilia practically shouted as she pulled away from Max.
"I love you, I've always loved you and I've been too much of a coward to admit that," Max cupped her face in his hands again and looked her in the eyes.
She could see as tears began to form in his eyes, she couldn't believe what she was seeing, was the playboy prince of Vertis City confessing his undying love for her? A love, that if he was to be believed had been there for a long time.
"No," she said as she tried to pull away again, but he quickly moved one of his arms to wrap around her waist and pull her close to him.
She could feel her heart hammering in her chest at the confession.
"What do you mean no?" his heartbreak evident in his eyes.
"No, you don't love me, you can't love me," she said, shaking her head. "I'm your friend's obnoxious sister, I'm the kid that kept chasing you—"