The Ruins of Us (Stolen Moments #3)

by Catharina Maura

“Tell me what you want, Emilia.” “You,” she says. “Just you, Carter.” She tightens her legs around me and wraps her arms around my neck. She moans when I push into her slightly. “More,” she whispers.

I’ve been so lost in my own sadness that I forgot how hard this must be on Carter too. He and Dad have grown so close over the last couple of years.

“It’s an anonymous living donor, so we don’t need to rush into the operation,”

Oh god who????? Kate? Helen???????

“If I don’t make it… Carter, please. If I don’t end up waking up again, please take care of my little girl. Don’t let her be alone. Don’t let her push you away.”

Kate walks in, her steps slow. She looks pale, sick even. She looks up at me and stares at me for a few seconds, a relieved expression on her face. “Hi,” she murmurs.

It was her aff

“You knew about this?” Helen and William look down, unable to face him. “It was her decision. She’s an adult. It wasn’t my place to tell you.”

If I was the only one that lost you then maybe, just maybe, I could accept that those were just the consequences of my actions. But it wasn’t just me, Emilia. My mother makes your favorite cake every year for your birthday. Your father stares at photos of you growing up for hours. He misses you every second of every day. And Carter? Carter stopped living the second you left. He just exists. My selfish actions ruined so many lives, including my own. I can’t turn back time, Emilia. I can’t undo what I’ve done, and I won’t ever be able to make it right. But this… this was something that might make a small difference. I might not be able to give you back the time you lost, but at least I could give you more years with your Dad. It isn’t enough. It won’t ever be enough. But it’s the least I could do.”

Nooooo stoppp i want to continue hatibg you **crying**

I’ve grown so much as a person over the years, yet I was convinced she didn’t. I rest my forehead against the door and inhale deeply. I’m feeling so incredibly conflicted.

“It’s just… he’s already bought a plot of land in London. Asher and he are gathering more investors so they can expand their company to England… so Carter can be with you.”

“The boss I currently work for, Alyssa Devereaux, is one of his investors. She and her husband are investing in Carter’s London office,” she says. “I totally understand it too. You’ve sacrificed so much for us, it’s about time someone does the same for you.”

There’s a path of candles leading up the stairs, and near every candle I find a photo of Emilia and me. It starts off with photos of us as children, and as I walk up the stairs, the photos cover our teenage years, before leading to our time in college by the time I reach the top of the stairs.

For a little while, it did. But what’s eight years compared to a lifetime?”

“Right here in this house is where I want to make the rest of our memories. Carter, will you spend the rest of your life making memories with me? Carter… will you marry me?”

“Yes, Minx,” I murmur. “I told you I’d marry you years ago. I always knew I would.”

It took me hours to set this all up, and the roses cut my hands a few times, but it was so worth it to see the look in her eyes. Against the wall, in large letters crafted from roses, are the words Marry Me?, fairy lights lighting up to the room, making everything look magical.

“You’ve always had a knack for ruining my plans, no matter how well laid out they might be. Today is no exception, and though it shouldn’t surprise me, it did. You both surprised and delighted me. You’ve always had that effect on me. Your beauty, your intellect, your heart, none of it ever ceases to surprise me. I don’t think it ever will. I always hoped I’d get to ask you to marry me one day, and if I did, I knew it’d be here, where it all started. You’ve been my first in every way that matters, and I want you to be every last, too.”

I drop down to my knees in the middle of the treehouse, and a tear rolls down her cheek. I pull a diamond engagement ring out of my pocket and hold it up, the light making it sparkle beautifully. “Emilia Parker,” I murmur. “I have loved you all my life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” She bursts into tears and nods. “Yes, Carter. A thousand times, yes.”

didn’t expect it to happen, Helen and I have grown much closer. Nothing is as it used to be, but the bonds I thought were long lost are on the mend.

My dad being able to walk me down the aisle today is a dream come true. I’m feeling so incredibly blessed, so happy, and without Kate this might not have been possible.

“I love you, Daddy,” I murmur. “You’re the first man I ever loved, and you always will be.”

U don't even know how much it means to me now that u were the first that really loved me

“Emilia, I swear I’ll love you and cherish you for all eternity, long after I take my last breath. Throughout the growth and changes we’ll face in life, I will always prioritize you and I’ll never take you for granted. I promise to work with you to foster and cherish a relationship of equality, knowing that together we will build a life that will be far better than either of us could imagine or achieve alone. I’ll always provide for you, and I promise to never run out of t-shirts for you to steal.”

“I promise to be your safe space and I promise to always be on your team,” he says. “As your husband, I promise to be faithful and to never give up on you or on us. I know that whatever the future may hold, we’ll face it together, and I vow to stand by you through both good and bad times, in sickness and in health. I love every bit of the version of you standing in front of me right now, and I promise to love the person you are yet to become. I will love you even if you hide fake cockroaches in our bed, I will love you when you inevitably stick post it notes all over my favorite car, and I will love you even if you cause me to lose all my hair – again.”

“I promise to be your family, and as a family, I promise to work with you to create a home filled with love, laughter, and compassion. I promise I’ll always put you first, and for as long as I live, you’ll be the only one for me, through sickness and health, for richer or poorer. No matter what life throws at us, I’ll never leave your side, and I’ll be on your side. I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of time, and I’ll spend every day showing you just how much I love you. I will love you even if you almost get me arrested on account of illegal possession of oregano, and for the rest of our lives, I’ll drink salty coffee with a smile on my face, grateful that it’s you I get to spend my years with.”

You may kiss the bride.” Carter grabs my waist and sweeps me off my feet, his lips finding mine. Loud cheering erupts around us, and I smile against his lips. “Finally,” he murmurs. “At last, you’re Mrs. Emilia Clarke. My wife.”

“And you’re finally my husband, Carter Clarke. I knew fate would lead us back to each other. You’re my destiny, Carter. You always have been.”