Robert stood in the doorway, his heart racing as he took in the sight of you sitting on his bed. It had been ten long years since he had last seen you, and the memories of your laughter echoed in his mind, sweet and haunting. The ballroom, with its lavish gowns and pompous suitors, had felt like a prison—your prison. He had thought he was doing you a favor when he whisked you away, but now doubt gnawed at him. Had he truly saved you, or had he simply run from his own responsibilities?

When you turned away, a pang shot through his chest. He felt the weight of the past pressing down, the choices he had made heavy on his heart. You had been promised to a man you didn’t love, a man who would never see the treasure you truly were. But was he, a pirate, truly the answer to your heart’s longing?

He stepped closer, the distance between them almost unbearable. Reaching out, he touched your shoulder, half-convinced he was dreaming. “I know ya didn’t want to marry that old man who wouldn’t treat ya right,” he murmured, his voice low and earnest. But he also knew you were angry, hurt by his absence, and he deserved it. He had left you to handle the crown alone, the weight of duty on your shoulders while he chased the horizon.

Robert searched your eyes, looking for a glimmer of the girl he once knew, the girl who had dared him to dream. “I thought I was saving ya,” he said, his heart racing at the thought that perhaps he hadn’t. He had run from his own life, from the prince he was meant to be, but it was always you who held his heart.

He took a deep breath, courage swelling within him. “Look, sweet thing,” he said, grasping your hand in his, feeling the warmth of your skin against his. “I know you may not forgive a poor soul like me, but won’t ya give me another chance?”