Zoey breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing it wasn't entirely his doing made it somewhat more palatable.

"But your call last night, you clearly said it was your arrangement..."

"I had some influence over their dinner plans, yes, but the woman making moves was beyond my expectations. Don't you trust me?"

Looking into his eyes, Zoey felt a pang in her heart.

"It's not that I don't trust you."

Fitch embraced her, hiding the turmoil in his eyes from her view. He had been careless, a mistake he vowed not to repeat.

"I've arranged for your parents to take a trip to Hilltop and made sure they were looked after. I wanted to ensure their safety and see if they were enjoying themselves. When I met you in Zion City, you were too dependent on your family. If they were around, you wouldn't have given me a chance, wouldn't have followed me to Greenfield. Honey, I'm sorry, I did employ some tactics. You can be mad, yell at me, just don' ignore me."

He was so humble, a side of him that would astonish anyone familiar with his usually ruthless demeanor.

After everything he said, what could Zoey possibly hold against him? He admitted to his manipulations, all to bring her to Greenfield. In the end, it was all because he cared for her.

"Is there anything else you're hiding from me?" she asked, turning to face him. "If there is, you need to tell me now. Otherwise, I'll be really upset when I replace out."

A flicker of something passed quickly through Fitch's eyes, but he replied, "That's all."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Zoey relaxed, replaceing herself able to accept the things he had done so far. Their time together had stirred feelings in her as well, but she had her limits.

"We shouldn't involve others unnecessarily. If anything comes up, we should discuss it together. We're in this together now; nothing should be off-limits. Fitch, I don't like being lied to."

Fitch felt a squeeze around his heart, his expression darkening. If he could, he would keep her in this mansion forever, away from everyone else. But then, Maja had called several times, and so had lan, suggesting he take Zoey out for a meal, for a formal introduction.

He didn't want to. He preferred keeping Zoey to himself, hoping she'd forget about the world outside. She liked tenderness, so he showed tenderness. She yearned for passion, so he became passionate. As long as she was happy, he was willing to play any part, just to keep her close.

That night, their intensity reached new heights, with Zoey eventually pleading for a break.

"Can we rest now, honey?" she asked, exhausted.

Sweat dripped from Fitch's chin onto her chest as he bit her lip, finally relenting after she coaxed him with sweet words.

After showering and returning to bed, he held her tightly.

"Don't ever doubt me because of someone else."

Too tired to argue, Zoey mumbled her agreement.

"And don't you dare leave on your own."

She sensed he was hiding something, something significant.

"I won't."

"What if you do?"

"I really won't. Let's sleep."

"Honey, think about Nolan. He's really taken to you."

He was now using Nolan to persuade her. Zoey had grown fond of the little boy over the past few days and couldn't bear the thought of leaving him.

"I know. I won't leave."

Still, Fitch felt uneasy.

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