Chapter 299: Protecting Her

“Catherine, stop crying…” Maximilian said softly. “You know I don’t doubt you, don’t you?”

It needed to be said. He had lost too much in his past life by keeping his feelings buried, allowing silence and misunderstandings to grow between them. He was not going to make that mistake again.

“I know,” Catherine said, wiping away her tears. “Of course, I know, silly…” She looked at him, her eyes still wet. “I just… I’m overwhelmed. You’re back. And it’s finally settling in.”

She had been so consumed with bringing down Dorian, with surviving everything that had happened and making sure Maximilian woke up, that she had barely allowed herself to think beyond the next moment.

But now…

Maximilian was awake.

He remembered everything.

He was back. Entirely.

And for the first time, Catherine could simply let herself feel it. “I’m glad you’re back,” she whispered.

“That made you cry?” Maximilian asked.

He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, and a small smile curved his lips. There was something almost helplessly tender in the way he looked at her, as though her tears were both breaking his heart and making him unbearably happy.

Then his hands came up to cup her cheeks.

“Catherine, I’m going to say something, and I want you to take it to heart,” he said.

His voice had changed. The softness remained, but there was a seriousness beneath it that made her look at him more closely.

She nodded.

Maximilian leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips before pulling back just enough to meet her eyes.

“Whatever happened during those days you were with Dorian…” he began. “Let this be the last time we talk about it. You did your best, Catherine. You survived. And you won.”

Catherine stared at him.

“We’ve discussed it, and it’s over,” he continued. “Let’s not talk about it again.” He paused, his thumbs brushing gently over her cheeks. “And let’s not even think about it.”

Catherine’s breath caught.

She understood what he was really saying.

He knew.

He knew she was carrying guilt over what had happened. He knew there were things she wished she could undo, moments she wished had never existed. And instead of demanding explanations or making her prove herself again, he was giving her permission to let them go, as if those days did not have to follow her into the rest of their lives and as if they had no right to take anything more from her.

How could someone be this full of love?

Maximilian could be possessive to the point of obsession. He could be jealous, ruthless, and frighteningly intense when it came to her. Yet when Catherine needed him most, he could somehow be this calm, this understanding, this impossibly mature.

“I love you, Maximilian,” she whispered. “You make me feel undeserving sometimes.”

“Hey.” He gently pinched her waist, and she yelped, looking up at him through damp lashes.

“No, seriously, Maximilian—”

He kissed her before she could finish, soft at first, then lingering just long enough to make her forget what she had been about to say. When he finally pulled back, his thumb brushed beneath her eye, catching the last trace of a tear.

“Don’t ever say you don’t deserve me,” he murmured. “It’s my fault you even look at me in this lifetime.”

Catherine blinked at him.

He gave her a small, rueful smile. “I spent an entire lifetime loving you and saying nothing. I watched you suffer and convinced myself that staying away from you was somehow protecting you.” His fingers moved gently through her hair. “I won’t make that mistake twice.”

Her eyes filled again.

“Maximilian…”

“I mean it.” He rested his forehead against hers. “You don’t owe me perfection. You don’t owe me a life untouched by pain. You don’t even owe me the version of you that existed before everything went wrong.”

His hand settled at the back of her neck, careful around the bruises.

“I just want you alive. With me. That’s enough.”

Catherine closed her eyes, letting his words sink into the place inside her that had been aching for years.

Then she wrapped her arms around him again and buried her face against his chest.

“I really do love you,” she whispered.

“I know.”

Catherine then held his cheeks in her hands. “Let’s get married, Maximilian,” she said. Then she glanced down at her hand. “Ah, my ring… where is it? And the bracelet…?” She tried to climb down from the bed.

Maximilian caught her before she could. “Here it is,” he said, pulling both from his pocket.

“I’m so glad…” Catherine took the bracelet and ring and slipped them on. She looked down at her hand, a small smile curving her lips. “Now it’s perfect.”

It truly suited her best.

Maximilian smiled. “Let’s wait a couple of months, shall we?”

Catherine looked at him, her eyes widening. If they were living in the old days, she might have wondered whether he was questioning her pregnancy before agreeing to marry her.

But she knew Maximilian. That wasn’t what he meant. Not him.

“Why?” she asked.

She didn’t want to wait. Of course, she wanted the pretty dress, the ceremony, her family gathered around her, and her father walking her down the aisle. She wanted all of it.

But she didn’t want to wait any longer to be his wife.

Life was too precious. She wanted to savor every moment of it with him while she could.

Maximilian pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to the crown of her head. “I’ll be frank. Everyone still thinks of you as that man’s fiancée. You’re going to go through legal battles, and all eyes will be on you. No one knows our backstory. If we marry immediately, people will think you moved on too quickly.” He paused, his arms tightening around her. “Your reputation matters.”

Catherine blinked up at him. “Do I look like I care what other people think about me?”

But even as she said it, something stirred inside her.

In their past life, a seal bearing Maximilian’s name had branded her a loose woman. It had destroyed her reputation, and no matter how many years passed, that stain had followed her. In the end, even Dorian and his court had treated her as though she were worth less because of it.

She had never been able to escape that name.

Her eyes watered again.

“Is that why you left the press meet secretly?” she asked softly.

He had slipped away as though he were someone who had no right to stand beside her. As though he were afraid of being seen. ℴ

Maximilian opened his mouth, but before he could answer, Catherine leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

“I don’t care, Maximilian,” she whispered. “You should never have to hide.”

She meant it. She truly did.

Maximilian looked at her for a long moment before smiling.

He knew she meant every word. But that didn’t mean he would allow other people to deliberately ruin her reputation when he could prevent it. Some still believed him dead, and it was all complicated.

Times had changed, but society still judged women by expectations that had no business surviving into this age. And if Catherine became too openly involved with him so soon, people would inevitably begin to wonder whether she had deliberately brought Dorian down for his sake.

That could become another weapon against her.

Especially in court.

He would not give them one.

“You look tired,” he said. She hadn’t slept well even last night. He could only imagine how terrible the past few weeks must have been for her. More than anything, she needed to rest.

“Hmmm…” Catherine murmured. “I want to sleep.”

Then Catherine suddenly slapped her forehead. “What am I even thinking? We should get you checked up. Are you feeling okay? Any discomfort?” She immediately began checking his pupils and testing his responses, and Maximilian patiently entertained her.

He ordered a steak for her, along with some wine. She always relaxed more with a little wine. While she took a shower, the meal arrived, and Maximilian watched as she ate. Of course, she drank a little more wine than he had intended.

When she was finished, he helped her onto the bed and gently blew across her face.

“Sleep,” he said.

“No.” Catherine blinked, forcing her eyes open. “Your reports… I haven’t gotten them from…”

“Take a nap,” Maximilian interrupted gently.

Catherine only giggled as she leaned against his chest. “You’re handsome, Maximilian…”

Her voice was slightly slurred.

Maximilian pressed his lips to her forehead.

“Rest a little, Catherine…” he whispered. “I’m here. You can rest.”

Catherine stared at him with a smile. And he could see that smile had originated in her heart. She lifted her hand and struggled to touch his face. Maybe she was seeing double. Maximilian rested his nose on her hand. And she giggled.

“My Maximilian…” she said.

“I’m yours. And I’m with you,” Maximilian said.

He should admire her strength. She was terribly tired and she could still stay awake by sheer will.

Catherine stared at him for some time. He gently rocked her in his arms. With that, Catherine finally closed her eyes.

Maximilian smiled and pressed another kiss to her forehead.

Rest, my love. You don’t have to do everything alone from now on.

I’m back.

His eyes turned sharp. He had a lot to finish.

New book!!! Please add to your library!