Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 119: Committed

Chapter 119: Committed

"No!" She suddenly declared, her voice sharp and resolute. Without hesitation, she reached for the necklace around her neck, unfastened it, and flung it into the water with all her strength, watching as it disappeared beneath the surface.

"I have chosen Hezekiah, and I only came to war to prove myself, not to be with you. You can try all you want, but I will never be yours again," she stated firmly, her voice unwavering despite the storm raging inside her.

Quinn remained silent, his expression unreadable as he stared at her, his piercing gaze making it impossible to determine what he was thinking. Belle could only hope that he would not make things more difficult for her. She had used every ounce of strength within her to say those words, and if he didn’t let her go now, she feared she might break.

"Alright," he said unexpectedly, his tone neutral. Then, without another word, he unwrapped his arm from around her waist and stepped away.

Belle’s eyes widened in disbelief. Did he just accept it? Just like that? No argument? No attempt to convince her otherwise, as he always did?

"Don’t stay too long in the water. We will depart once Ray is awake. And if you need anything, let Kay know," he added before turning and walking out of the water, leaving her standing there, stunned.

She remained rooted to the spot, staring at his retreating figure with a confused expression. Was this truly Quinn? The same Quinn who had always been relentless in his pursuit? Something inside her whispered that this was merely an act, that he had something planned. Quinn never gave up on anything he truly wanted.

Her heart pounded as she turned her gaze toward the water, biting her lip in regret. Why had she thrown the necklace in? She should have simply handed it back to him instead.

Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself before diving into the water, determined to retrieve it. She searched tirelessly, her hands sweeping through the dark currents, but after what felt like an eternity, she still couldn’t find it. The growing darkness only made her task more impossible. Finally, exhausted and frustrated, she emerged from the water, knowing she had no choice but to give up. Perhaps at first light, she could return and try again.

Back at the tent where Ray lay unconscious, Mia released yet another sigh, frustrated beyond words. She had spent hours watching him sleep, waiting for any sign of him waking up, but there was nothing. It was maddening. If he didn’t wake up soon, she swore she would punch him just for making her wait this long.

Her gaze drifted around the tent, searching for anything she could use to sleep on the cold ground beside him. Spotting a small fabric draped over the table, she got up and walked over to retrieve it.

Grabbing the fabric, she returned to his side and spread it on the floor beside his bed before settling down. It wasn’t warm, but at least she was comfortable. Within minutes, exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted into sleep.

Sometime past midnight, Ray stirred, his body tensing as awareness slowly returned. His eyes fluttered open, and as his mind registered what had happened, he abruptly sat up. A sharp pain lanced through his head, forcing him to groan as he pressed a hand against his forehead, trying to steady himself.

What kind of poison had done this to him? It definitely wasn’t wolfsbane—he knew that much. Whatever it was had left him weaker than he had ever felt before.

Taking a deep breath, he let his eyes wander around the dimly lit tent, scanning his surroundings. Then, his gaze landed on Mia, curled up on the floor, her face serene as she slept.

Frowning, he leaned forward, his gaze fixed on her as he wondered why she was in his tent. Could it be that, despite being angry with him, she was still worried? The thought unsettled him. The closer he got to her, the more conflicted he became about his feelings. He wanted her—that much, he could admit but he wasn’t certain he could keep her. Commitment was a foreign concept to him now. After what had happened to his daughter, he had sworn never to love anyone again. How was he supposed to love Mia when he had forgotten how to love at all?

At first, rejecting her hadn’t seemed like a difficult decision, but now that he was beginning to see a new side of her, the thought gnawed at him. Not everyone was fortunate enough to have a second-chance mate, and if he rejected her, she might be mateless forever. Yet, he knew he could never love her properly, not in the way a woman deserved to be loved.

He didn’t even love himself. How could he possibly love his mate?

Reaching out, he brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingertips grazing her skin. The slight touch made her flinch, and a moment later, she stirred awake from the sensation.

Her lashes fluttered open, and as she inhaled, his scent overwhelmed her senses. Slowly turning to face him, she sat up, her eyes widening in shock the moment she realized he was awake.

"You are awake! How are you feeling? Should I get the physician?" She asked hurriedly, her gaze dropping to his wound. Without waiting for a response, she rose to her feet, only to be pulled back down by him.

She gasped, her breath hitching as she looked at him questioningly. Why was he stopping her?

"Wait," he uttered, his voice calm yet firm.

Her muscles relaxed, and after a brief hesitation, she nodded. "Alright, I won’t go."

For a moment, he said nothing, merely lowering his head as if lost in thought. Then, finally, he spoke.

"I can’t continue this..."

Her brows furrowed at his vague words. "Continue what?" She asked, confusion evident in her tone.

He lifted his gaze, meeting hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "I can’t continue pretending that I want to reject you when I don’t."

Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching in her throat. His confession sent a rush of warmth through her, and before she could stop it, a smile tugged at her lips. A faint blush crept to her cheeks, and she lowered her gaze for a moment, overwhelmed by emotion. He was finally saying what she hadn’t been brave enough to admit herself. She had feared that she was alone in this, but it seemed like it was a mutual feeling.

Just as she was about to speak, he shattered her moment of joy with his next words.

"But I cannot be committed to you. I cannot love you."

Her smile faded instantly, replaced by an expression of pure agony. She blinked, as if hoping she had misheard him, but his solemn expression told her otherwise. Just when she thought he was about to accept her as his mate, he crushed every ounce of hope she had.

"I-I don’t understand..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She wanted to believe he was joking, but Ray wasn’t the type to joke. He was no prankster, if anything, he was the opposite. A man hardened by life, a sadist who seemed to care for nothing beyond his duty.

"I do not want to be committed," he reiterated, his tone unwavering. "And neither do I want to love you. I cannot accept the bond officially."

Her hands dropped limply to her sides, her breath unsteady as she absorbed his words. It felt as though the air had been stolen from her lungs, leaving her drowning in the weight of his rejection.

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