“No, Emma. I didn’t care for your feelings. It didn’t matter if you wanted me or if you didn’t. I didn’t have the patience for courtship, couldn’t take the time to make you feel brave and witty and pretty and intelligent, and all the things I adored about you from the first. I certainly didn’t have the decency to let you walk away. I cared only for myself. Do you hear me? I only knew I had to have you.” Not only have her, but keep her. Make her his own. Even now, the thought of letting her walk away . . . he couldn’t bear it. No. He wouldn’t allow it. This wasn’t tenderness that filled him
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