Not Their Daughter, Just the Mistress Chapter 17

Not Their Daughter, Just the Mistress Chapter 17

I talked Nolan down, hung up the phone, and walked to the apartment next door. My knuckles barely held steady against the wood.

Whoever lived here was a ghost. Gone before dawn, back after dark.

His door was ten feet from mine, and I’d never once seen his face.

It was late.

The door opened. And I already knew.

Everett hadn’t expected me. He flinched, actually flinched, and tried to shut the door in my face.

I caught the frame before it closed.

“You’re really going to shut me out?”

His hand caught the door before it could hit mine.

His eyes went red. And then the most dangerous man I’d ever known started stammering like a guilty kid.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to intrude. I just needed to be close. If you want me gone, I’ll leave tomorrow…”

“And what am I supposed to do if you leave, honey?”

I pulled the same trick I always had. I threw my arms around him before he could say no.

It worked. It always worked. He went completely still.

It took him a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was wrecked, barely held together.

“Babe, do you… can you forgive me?”

“I gave a soft hum.”

I pressed my face into his chest and breathed him in, that cool, clean scent I’d been missing like a phantom

limb.

My eyes burned. My voice came out shaking.

“I was wrong, Everett. I’m sorry… for all of it.”

He brought me inside. And I told him everything.

The comments. The misunderstandings. Why I ran. Why I’d been acting like I’d lost my mind.

He listened to all of it. And he didn’t blame me. Not a single word. His eyes just welled up, slow and quiet,

like something he’d been holding back for months finally broke loose.

This wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry, babe.”

He pulled me closer. “I should’ve made you feel safe enough to stay. should’ve known you didn’t mean it when you said you’d never marry me. I should’ve pushed harder when the doctor said you couldn’t have

kids, so…”

His voice gave out. He reached into his coat and pulled out a ring box, the velvet worn smooth at the edges.

“It’s my fault you were scared for so long. My fault those idiots got into your head.”

“I bought this ring two years ago.”

“Will you let me make it right?”

The ring slid onto my finger like it had been waiting there all along.

I kissed it. Then kissed it again. Then held my hand up so the comments could get a good look.

Nothing they said could touch me now.

Everett took me home. He was already looking into flying in the best neurologists to figure out what was messing with my head.

But before he could, every last comment vanished on its own.

One last wave rolled in, and these were different voices,

[FINALLY!! Those psycho anti–shippers got banned!!]

[The mod running the comment section shipped the crack pairing too. They deleted every comment we tried to post. We couldn’t do anything…]

[Those people were absolutely deranged. Everett chose her himself. If he didn’t love her, why would he have stayed with her for three years?]

[Besides, Everett and the FMC worked together for YEARS and saw each other every single day. If there was ever a spark, wouldn’t it have happened by now? They needed a lion to notice each other? Please.]

[Get some taste! Shipping a man who’s already taken?? They literally made a baby together and you’re still forcing him with someone else. Absolute psychos!]

[Canon couple endgame forever…]