Chapter 79

Emma's POV

I didn’t know how to respond to him, so I simply nodded, though my mind was a whirl of conflicting emotions. I wanted to say that I wasn’t ready for this, that I wasn’t sure if I would ever be ready. But the truth was, I didn’t know if I could accept him as my partner or let go of him now, not after everything we’d been through.

Ryan seemed to sense my turmoil, because he didn’t push me for a response. Instead, he took a step back, creating the distance he’d spoken of, though it felt like a physical ache in my chest. He smiled at me, a little ruefully, and said, “Don’t worry, Emma. We’ll figure this out together.”

The words were meant to reassure me, but all they did was deepen the conflict inside me. Because as much as I wanted to figure this out, as much as I wanted to believe that we could take things slow and find our way, I couldn’t ignore the past that was weighing down on me.

I’d spent my entire life surrounded by men who had no respect for women. My father had treat