Fled Believing She Was Scorned, Crowned as Everyone’s Only Love Chapter 04

Declan let out a cold laugh.

“If I couldn’t see through your plan, all those years of experience would have been wasted.”

The next second, he grabbed my wrist.

His fingers were strong, but his expression remained calm.

“You kept me away from everyone for three days, and you’re still acting like nothing happened?”

“Have you thought about what this will lead to?”

My mind went blank.

It felt like being caught doing something wrong as a child.

My core pounded.

All I could hear was the sound of my own breathing.

My fingers trembled.

I reached out instinctively and grabbed his sleeve.

“Declan…”

His expression softened slightly.

I lowered my head.

For years, I had been afraid of losing him.

And after Sloane returned, that fear became stronger than ever.

Declan sighed.

“Romy.”

“Come here. Let’s talk.”

“Did I do something that made you misunderstand?”

“Or have too many things happened recently and you’re feeling overwhelmed?”

“Are you afraid Sloane will replace you, so you’re desperately holding onto the person who has always been there for you?”

“Don’t worry.”

“I’ve already talked to Mother and Father.”

“You and Sloane are both daughters of this family.”

“One more daughter isn’t going to break the Hartwells.”

I bit my lip and fell silent for a long time.

Why did I fall in love with Declan?

When I was fifteen, I was taken by a rival family of the Hartwells.

I was kept away from everyone and spent days terrified, not knowing when someone would find me.

Declan came for me.

He arrived exhausted and injured, but the first thing he did was hold me and say,

“Romy, don’t be scared. I’m here.”

I buried my face against him and cried.

That year, my panic attacks became worse.

I couldn’t sleep at night.

I needed to know Declan was nearby just to feel safe.

And then?

Slowly, my feelings changed.

I started wanting more than just his protection.

I started fearing the day someone else would become more important to him.

I didn’t know what to do.

There was still an empty space inside me, making me want more and more of Declan’s presence.

But what else could I do?

Until the day Sloane came back, I finally understood.

I had never been the Hartwell family’s biological daughter.

And Declan and I were never truly related by crimson.

In that moment, I finally admitted the truth.

I didn’t want to be only the girl he protected.

I wanted to be someone he chose.

I slowly lifted my head, looked at him, and gathered my courage.

“Declan, no one’s talking behind my back.”

“I like you. That’s why I did all this.”

My voice grew softer.

“Since we’re not really siblings… would you ever see me differently?”

“Even a little?”

Declan looked at me for a long time.

In the end, he sighed.

“Romy, I already have someone I like.”

“And I’ve liked her for a very, very long time.”