The Twisted Obsession
Chapter 89: Mine

Chapter 89: Mine

As Abby stared at Remo, a soft smile gracing her lips, she couldn’t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions stirring within her. Here was a man who promised to show her the beauty she couldn’t see in herself, who vowed to be her constant support through thick and thin.

Yet, even amidst his unwavering devotion, Remo remained adamant about one thing—he didn’t want her to fall in love with him. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on Abby; here was a man pouring his heart out to her, yet keeping his own emotions at bay.

A mixture of frustration and amusement danced in Abby’s eyes as she regarded Remo. "You know," she teased, her voice laced with playful exasperation, "you’re a stupid man, playing with my heart like this."

Remo, caught off guard by her unexpected remark, chuckled nervously. "Well," he stammered, trying to find the right words.

His expression softened, his gaze meeting hers with a mixture of affection and regret. "I know," he admitted, his voice tinged with sincerity, "but I can’t help it. I care about you too much to let my own feelings complicate things."

Abby’s smile faltered slightly, a pang of longing tugging at her heart. She understood Remo’s reluctance, his desire to protect both of their hearts from potential pain. Yet, the pull of her own emotions was undeniable, a silent yearning for something more than just friendship.

With a sigh, Abby leaned back against the edge of the tub, her fingers tracing patterns in the water. "You may not want me to fall in love with you," she began, her voice soft but resolute, "but sometimes, the heart has a mind of its own."

Remo’s gaze softened, a flicker of vulnerability shining in his eyes. "I know," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath, "and believe me, Abby, there’s a part of me that wishes things could be different."

Abby’s laughter faded, replaced by a vulnerable earnestness as she looked into Remo’s eyes. "Remo," she began, her voice soft but determined, "give us a chance. Give yourself a chance to let love in."

Remo’s expression softened, his gaze searching hers for a flicker of uncertainty. He swallowed hard, the weight of his decision heavy on his heart. "Abby," he whispered, his voice tinged with regret, "you deserve so much more than I can offer."

Her heart sank at his words, a pang of hurt piercing through the fragile hope she had dared to nurture. "But why?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "Why won’t you let yourself be loved, be cherished?"

Remo’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he struggled to articulate the turmoil raging within him. "It’s not about what you deserve," he replied, his voice strained with emotion. "It’s about protecting you from the pain of loving someone like me."

Abby’s breath caught in her throat, the sting of rejection searing through her chest. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, fearing the answer she already knew.

Remo’s shoulders sagged under the weight of his confession. "I’m broken, Abby," he admitted, his voice raw with vulnerability. "I’ve been hurt before, and I’m afraid of hurting you too. I don’t want to be the reason for your tears, for your heartache."

Tears welled up in Abby’s eyes, her heart aching with the depth of his pain and his refusal to let himself be loved. "But Remo," she pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion, "love isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being willing to take the risk, to fight for each other, despite the scars and the fear."

Remo’s gaze fell, unable to meet hers as he grappled with the turmoil tearing him apart. "I wish it were that simple, Abby," he whispered, his voice heavy with sorrow. "But I can’t bear the thought of breaking your heart, of seeing you suffer because of me."

In that moment, Abby felt the sting of rejection pierce her soul, a painful reminder of the walls that Remo had built around his heart. Despite her longing, she knew she couldn’t force him to let her in, couldn’t make him see the beauty of their shared vulnerability.

With a heavy heart, Abby swallowed her tears, her voice barely a whisper as she uttered the words she never thought she’d have to say. "I understand," she whispered, her voice breaking with the weight of her unspoken grief. "But it doesn’t make it hurt any less."

Remo’s heart clenched as Abby’s words hung heavy in the air, a painful reminder of the chasm between them. He pressed a tender kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment, a silent apology for the ache he couldn’t erase.

"I know," he replied softly, his voice filled with a bittersweet longing. His heart ached with the weight of his unspoken love, a love he dared not voice for fear of shattering the fragile peace they had found.

Abby’s suggestion pierced through the silence, a sharp reminder of the reality they both faced. "Maybe you should find me a suitable partner," she suggested, her voice tinged with resignation, "so that it won’t hurt when you’re leaving."

Remo’s chest tightened at her words, a surge of jealousy coursing through him at the mere thought of another claiming her heart. Despite his resolve to keep his distance, the idea of anyone else touching her, loving her, was unbearable.

A flicker of possessiveness ignited within him, a primal instinct to protect what was his, even if only in arrangement. "No," he replied, his voice firm, his eyes ablaze with an intensity she had never seen before. "You’re mine, Abby. I won’t let anyone else touch you, not while we’re still in this arrangement."

His words hung in the air, a declaration of ownership and longing, a silent plea for her to understand the depth of his conflicted heart. In that moment, Remo realized that while he couldn’t love her in the way she deserved, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her to another.