Chapter 45: I'll never betray you

She nodded, and he waited until she said carefully, "Did you not want to marry me five years ago?" She held up a hand when he would've protested. "I don't mean consciously, but subconsciously, were you thinking that being married to me might be like your childhood? Did the thought of having children scare you?"

Rafe sat stunned at the conclusion she drew, and his first thought was to deny it. Then he thought about it. "It shames me to admit it, but maybe I was so keen to believe Xavier because I've always feared I'd be like my parents. That I'd hurt my own children." He shrugged. "But that's no excuse for me denying you and the twins."

"Rafe, if you have any doubts about it, don't. I know you'd never lift a hand to the children. Half the time, when they've done something wrong, you look like you want to grab them and run away with them."