JENNIE

Patterns work in a strange way.

I didn't think I believed in them, but my view completely changed after I met someone who considered them a religion.

If it weren't for those patterns, Lisa wouldn't have found me. She wouldn't have inserted herself in my life and refused to leave.

Thanks to the patterns, my life completely changed. Not all of it was good or bearable. At some point, I hated the change, but one thing's for certain. If it weren't for that change, I wouldn't have found the one who not only saved me, but also gave my life meaning. She gave me Liam and didn't allow me to run away from her or myself.

And now, we're at that point where we've reached a crossroads, one that only leads in one direction.

It's been two days since Mino went all kamikaze. Lisa shot him and grabbed me, yanking me away from the edge at the last second as Mino fell off the cliff.

They found his body down the river the next day. I cried when I heard the news because even though he was pathologically manipulative, his childhood wasn't the best, and he only did what he did so that he and his family could survive.

My father was livid when he came to visit me the night of the incident. After he made sure I was all right, he promised to find the rest of the Rozettis and wipe them off the face of the earth. My attempts to sway him didn't matter, because he'd already made up his mind.

Lisa agreed with him, too, for my safety.

She's been so busy the past two days that I've barely caught a glimpse of her. The night of the incident, she drove me home before going back to the cliff. She spent yesterday in long meetings with my father and then with the brotherhood.

I waited for her to return, but she never did. Looks like tonight will be the same.

Sighing, I cover Liam, then put on my coat and opt to go for a walk in the garden. I stare at the guest house, contemplating whether or not I should go to Ruby Jane, but eventually decide against it.

She goes to sleep early and I'd rather not bother her with my gloomy thoughts.

When I told Lisa not to touch me unless she's ready to open up, I didn't think she'd take it literally.

But whatever, I'm not the one in the wrong. I thought I could have her without feelings before, that I could love her enough for the both of us, but it was so exhausting and painful. So painful that I thought death was better.

So even if I could put up with it for a while, I need to have some sort of hope that she will one day have feelings for me, no matter how far in the future that might be. I'm ready to wait if I know it will happen.

Our marriage has never been a fairytale, but I thought we cared for each other. Even when we hurt one another.

When I asked my therapist if it's normal to cause each other pain when I obviously love her and she cares about me, she confirmed it.

Apparently, when stressed, we get to take it out on the person closest to us. In my case, that's Lisa.

But I don't want to hurt her anymore. In return, I don't want to be in pain, thinking that she'll never reciprocate my feelings.

The deeper they get, the more terrified I am that we'll go back to that stage of our marriage where the physical connection was all we had.

I loathe that period.

No matter how sexually compatible we are, it'll wane with time and then we'll have nothing.

The cold night air seeps underneath my coat as I walk to the gazebo. I'm at the entrance when a slight rustle comes from behind me.

Lisa.

I don't have to turn around to know it's her. Six years of marriage has attuned me to her presence, even without seeing her.

Swallowing, I stop and face her. She's wearing her cashmere coat over a white shirt and black pants, looking as beautiful as ever. This person ages like fine wine, I swear.

"What are you doing outside in the cold?"

I lift a shoulder. "I felt like taking a walk. What? I'm not allowed to come out here without your permission?"

"Jennie…" She gets closer until she's standing toe-to-toe with me and I have to tilt my head back to look at her. "Are you still mad at me?"

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are. Did you know that you pout when you're mad?" She strokes my cheek, then the curve of my lips. "It's weirdly adorable."

"Well, I don't feel adorable."

"I'm sorry."

Did she…just apologize to me? I never thought that would happen in a million years. "You're…what?"

"I'm sorry for making you feel bad when I should've done the opposite. I lost the ability to feel love when I was a kid, but you've slowly but surely yanked those feelings out of me. You didn't only yank them out, you also held tight to a part of me I thought was long gone. For you, I want to go back in time and keep that part alive for the moment I met you. In the past, I thought people were destined to leave, so being attached to anyone was useless. And I thought that at some point, you would leave, too. I fought the pull to you. I fought the lure of your rose scent and your breakable softness. But I couldn't fucking last. Not when I craved your presence the moment you were out of sight. Not when my thoughts of breaking your purity turned to a need to protect it. I told you how different my love is, how dark it can get, but I do love you, more than I've ever loved anyone in my life. I don't only need you; I also genuinely cannot live without you and the light you bring to my darkness. I know you deserve better, but I'm unable to let you go, so I'll try my best to be worthy of you, Lenochka."

A muscle tightens in her jaw and a glassy sheen has covered her eyes by the time she finishes. She finally did it.

She…let go.

Tears roll down my cheeks and I don't bother wiping them. "Oh, Lisa. You already are worthy of me. There's no one else out there who understands me better than you do, who'd bring me back, even when I go through a dark tunnel like I did. I just want to be your wife for real and your partner for better or worse, not merely a delicate flower you hide away from the world."

"I'll try to be better. Though I'll probably never be a hero."

"Who says I want a hero? I'm perfectly happy with you, my villain."

"You are?"

"Absolutely." I wrap my arms around her waist. "I love you, Lisa, and though it hurts sometimes, I've never regretted it."

Her lips meet mine and I squeal as she picks me up and carries me in her arms.