Chapter 46
Terrence’s grip tightened around the glass in his hand. “She’ll come back,” he repeated, his voice low and firm, as if saying it out loud would make it true.
Malcolm sighed, swirling his own drink. “And if she doesn’t?”
Terrence’s jaw clenched. That wasn’t an option.
“She didn’t marry Ricky,” he said. “Something stopped them.”
Malcolm raised an eyebrow. “And you think that ‘something’ is you?”
Terrence exhaled, leaning against the railing. “She didn’t want to marry him. If she did, I wouldn’t have been able to take her from City Hall.”
Malcolm’s gaze darkened. “So, what’s your plan? Drag her back and force her to love you?”
Terrence didn’t answer.
Because he didn’t know.
He had spent years pushing Valerie away, only to realize now—when she was gone—just how much she had been holding him together.
The silence stretched between them.
Then Malcolm spoke again, his voice softer this time. “Terrence, you never told her the truth, did you?”
Terrence tensed.
“She spent years thinking she was your replacement girlfriend. That she was just filling a spot until Margaret came back.”
Terrence’s chest ached. He had always assumed Valerie would understand—that she would know he was different with her.
But why would she?
He had never told her. Never shown her.
Malcolm shook his head. “If she does come back, what will you do?”
Terrence’s fingers curled into a fist.
“I’ll make her understand,” he said.
Malcolm let out a low chuckle. “You’d better hope she gives you the chance.”
Because Valerie Schwartz wasn’t the same woman anymore.
And this time, she might not come back.
