Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
She slowly pulled away, and his arms gradually slackened its hold. She slowly looked up, heart in her throat. "If I promise..." She swallowed hard. "If I p-promise to never make you choose between me and your career...if I promise never to say or do anything that might cost you your job..."
Matthijs couldn't bear the tremulous plea in her voice.
God.
That he was making her of all people beg...
It just showed how little she knew him, just showed how little she understood the strength of his desire for her, that she would think some university policy was enough to keep him away.
"Diana—-"
Terrified he was about to say goodbye and even more terrified how that would completely break her, she found herself clutching his shirt, found herself crying and begging, her pride completely forgotten.
"I'm not asking you to marry me. We don't even have to date if that's too much of a risk. But just please...please..." Diana's voice cracked. "Could you please just promise you won't push me away again?"
Her
DIANA WOKE UP THE NEXT day wanting to pinch herself.
But she managed not to, reminding herself that to do so was an indirect admission of doubt.
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in You.
Isaiah 26:3, Diana quoted to herself, and if she wanted God's backing, she would do well not to forget that to doubt in any way was to doubt Him in every way.
Rosy memories replayed in her mind as she stepped inside the shower, and she found herself humming rather dreamily, her movements languid as she soaped and rinsed her body.
The professor had promised to stay. Had even said he would stay for as long as she wanted him. How could she not be in a good mood, with such beautiful memories playing over and over in her mind?
The sound of her room phone ringing insistently when Diana came out of the shower had her gasping and rushing to answer it. She had been so engrossed fantasizing about what today would bring that she had completely forgotten her weekly morning call with her family.
Diana pressed the button that would allow the phone to switch to video call, and the wall-mounted plasma display immediately lit up. A beaming cherubic face filled the screen, eyes sparkling in excitement. "Theia Diana!"
Diana beamed back. "Hello, Nala."
"Papa and Mama are here, too," her niece declared, moving back to reveal the attractive-looking couple seated on the couch behind her.
Diana waved hi. "Hey guys."
"It normally doesn't take you that long to answer our call," her overprotective billionaire brother pointed out gruffly. "Is something wrong?"
"I just came out of the shower, sorry."
"And that's it?" Damen's tone was skeptical.
She crossed her fingers behind her back, saying, "That's it. Honest."
Damen didn't look convinced. "You know I can send the jet for you anytime, ne? No questions asked—-"
His wife's groan cut her off. "Seriously, Damen, ease up. You can see for yourself Diana's perfectly fine." But not a second had passed when Mairi slanted a faintly worried glance at her sister-in-law, saying uneasily, "I mean, you are. Right?"
Diana giggled, thinking it was so like Mairi to act first and think later. "I'm perfectly fine, yes."
The brunette sighed in relief. "Oh thank God. Damen would kill me otherwise."
It was the Leventis siblings' turn to roll their eyes. Who did she think she was kidding? Mairi had her husband wrapped around her little finger, and the whole world knew it, thanks to a certain New York Times bestseller that served as Damen's love letter to his beloved wife.
The four of them were able to snatch a few minutes of good-natured ribbing and small talk before Damen was called away for work and Mairi had to get Nala ready for her ballet class in the afternoon.
"Oh, and Diana, before you go..."
In the act of reaching for her iPad, Diana turned to face the screen again, her sister-in-law's mischievous tone making her curious. "What is it?"
"You might have fooled your brother for now, but I'm so on to you."
"Huh?"
"You're a creature of habit, Di. It's not like you to be late in taking our calls, and—-" Mairi's tone lowered to a whisper. "It's so not like you to suddenly start wearing black undies."
Shit. Oh, shit. Diana fought hard to keep herself from blushing as she tried to bluff her way out, asking innocently, "What about it?"
"Uh huh."
"I just wanted to try wearing black. That's all."
"Sure it is." Mairi's tone was sly.
"I'm not kidding—-"
Her sister-in-law waved her words away, asking eagerly instead, "Who is he?"
"I really don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, come on. I'm just really excited that you've finally found a guy you like."
Diana made a show of checking the time. "I'm going to be late."
"Spoilsport," Mairi grumbled. "But because I'm a nice person, I promise I'll keep your secret—-"
"Goodbye, Mairi."