CHAPTER 156: DARE TO LOVE ME A New Story Part 1 

Paula 

I was getting ready to go down to dinner. I felt tense. I hadn’t seen my daughter all day, and it wasn’t that I didn’t want to see her–of course, I did–but I couldn’t face her. She had seen us in such a scene last night as if we were some horny high school kids. How embarrassing! 

“Gorgeous,” Patrick said as he entered the room. I had to admit that ever since we had decided to be together, the connection, the desire, the love for this man blinded me. I was capable of doing things I had never imagined I would, like last night’s escapade at my dear Ashley’s 

birthday party. 

“Are you alright?” he asked, taking my hands. 

“I don’t know. Did you see her face?” I was worried, thinking about our daughter’s face when 

she had seen us last night. She hadn’t looked happy. 

“I think it was the shock, honey. She’s our daughter. I’m sure she’s not upset about what she saw, and if she is, it will pass soon. We’re her parents, and even if she wanted to, she couldn’t trade us in for others,” he said with a sideways smile. 

“What a relief,” I exhaled, not meaning my words. Patrick placed a short kiss on my lips. We 

walked out of the room and down to the dining room. 

When we got there, everyone was already at the table. Nick was stroking Alaia’s hand as she watched us, and we only heard the cheerful voices of the little ones. Aidan looked at his sister and then at us. Elise was not present. It seemed that it would only be the aforementioned and 

1. us. 

“Good evening,” I greeted, and everyone responded. I approached my grandchildren, and they 

hugged and kissed me. 

Dinner passed in silence until we finished. 

“Alaia.” Alaia turned her face to look at her father. “You’ve known my feelings for years. You know that your mother has been the only woman I’ve ever loved, and if it had been up to me, our relationship would never have ended,” he explained, and Alaia nodded. 

“How long have you been together? How long have you been hiding it from me?” Alaia asked, fixing us with a serious look. 

“Since the kidnapping,” I admitted, a little uncomfortable with her words. She was right. “I realized that I couldn’t keep holding back my feelings. I feel like I still have so much to live for. 

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CHAPTER 156: DARE TO LOVE M… 

I never dared to give love a chance, even when it was so close to me.” I looked at Patrick, and 

he smiled at me. 

Our daughter lowered her gaze. 

“I’m disappointed that I found out about your relationship by chance.” 

“It was my fault, Alaia. I asked Patrick not to say anything until we resolved everything that 

was going on in the family, including Ashley,” I explained. I had wanted there to be calm when 

the time came, to be honest, but it was a mistake to keep secrets from our daughter. 

“Mom, there are no right times to be honest with the ones we love.” 

“I know, Alaia. It was my mistake. I’m sorry, honey,” I said quickly. 

“Then I think it’s time to tell you everything that’s going on, Aly.” Patrick took my hand and 

turned the stone I was hiding on my finger so that everyone could see it. “Your mother and I 

are getting married.” Alaia’s eyes widened, and Nick looked surprised, as did Aidan, who was a very smart boy, and I knew understood perfectly well what was happening. 

I looked at the beautiful stone on the ring on my finger and remembered the day he had asked 

me to be his wife a few days ago, before traveling to the UK. 

FLASHBACK 

Days before… 

The idea of leaving the house for a day had seemed a bit out of the ordinary, but Elise had 

insisted until I agreed, and there we were in the van on our way to the beach. 

“We’ve been through too much stress, and it doesn’t end. My poor Ash still can’t get her stores back. Kurt is a controlling man, and after I divorced him, he wanted to crush Ash, but my daughter is strong, and just as I managed to break free from him one day, she will too. I’m 

convinced of it,” Elise said. 

“Our daughters have become wonderful women, Elise. They’ve shown us how strong and brave they are in the face of adversity,” I said, squeezing Elise’s hands. She nodded, smiling with her lips closed. 

I sighed. It seemed like this family solved one problem and a new one arose. 

“I know, I know,” she replied. 

“I don’t know when it occurred to you to come all the way here,” I said, noticing that we were almost at the family’s beach house. 

“We need some sun. Arriving in the UK with a beautiful tan, the girls at the club will die of 

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CHAPTER 156: DARE TO LOVE M… 

envy,” she said mischievously. “Plus, we’ll relax a bit. Look, tensions have been high these past. 

few months.” 

“Elise, honey, what sun are we going to get at this hour?” I saw that it was getting dark. 

“We have time. We’re not leaving for two days.” 

The car stopped, and we got out. The house was dark. The bodyguard took my small luggage 

and carried it into the house. I turned to see my companion searching for something in her 

purse. 

“I forgot my crimson lipstick.” Elise got back in the car. “I’ll be right back,” she said, and I 

couldn’t believe what she was saying. 

“Elise, are you telling me you’re going back to Los Angeles for lipstick?” I asked, and she 

smiled. 

“That’s right, sweetie. Bye, I’ll see you back here.” The car started up before my incredulous eyes. Now I understood that this had been her plan to leave me here, and I was sure she hadn’t 

done it alone. 

I walked into the house, and the only lights on were in the kitchen, so I walked towards it and 

smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. 

I saw that the dining room was decorated with a beautiful arrangement of lit candles. There were some petals on the floor. Patrick came out of the kitchen and picked up a red rose that 

was on the table. 

“Welcome,” he said. He approached me and devoured my lips. I sighed, delighted.