When They Beg I Rise (Lemira) novel Chapter 1048

Why did Orion feel like those words were directed at him?

He turned to look at Lemira. "If you weren't 'you,' then what would you be like?"

"Me? Let's say I stayed with the Langston family, dedicating my entire existence to serving my brothers. Let's say I constantly took the fall, constantly swallowed my pride, but absolutely refused to leave. What would you do?"

When Lemira finished speaking, she saw his brows knit together tightly. Clearly, this hypothetical scenario was incredibly difficult for him to stomach.

The man looked into her eyes. "Why would you even imagine a scenario like that?"

"No reason, just wondering. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. I was just asking."

Orion gave her a long look before shifting the car into gear and driving her back to her apartment.

He parked on the side of the street and waited until the living room lights flicked on. He could easily picture her moving about the space.

Orion rolled down his window and dialed her number.

She picked up almost immediately. "Hello? Did you forget something?"

"I thought about your question," he said. "If you were truly like that, I would have helped you from the shadows, but I wouldn't have interfered with your life."

After all, that was exactly what he had planned to do when he first went to her university.

Hearing his answer, Lemira finally understood Orion's actions in her past life.

He genuinely hadn't interfered, yet he had quietly helped her in countless ways.

It was her own fault for being so hopelessly blind, refusing to see that her brothers weren't worth the sacrifice.

A heavy silence hung over the line.

Orion's throat felt dry. "Are you mad?"

He could have easily fed her a sweet lie, but he refused to be dishonest with her ever again.

Lemira cleared her throat. "No, I'm not. I told you, it was just a hypothetical."

Orion exhaled softly. That was a relief.

Lemira couldn't resist asking one more question. "So in that case, would you have married Sophia?"

Orion paused, then let out a low chuckle.

"Is it really that funny?" Lemira asked, hearing the amusement in his voice.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify