y words were blunt, and Hayden looked as though I had struck him down with a fatal blow. Easton and the other two opened their mouths to argue, but I was already too impatient to listen. This was my engagement ceremony, and time was precious–they had already stolen enough of
- t.
Without hesitation, I made my decision to drive them out.
Martin caught my intent instantly. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he ordered the bodyguards without a moment’s delay.
‘Debbie has made herself clear,” he said coldly. “Throw them all out.”
‘Debbie! You can’t do this–we can explain-!”
Their shouts echoed, growing more distant as they were dragged away. At last, the hall was quiet again. I could finally continue the engagement ceremony in peace, standing at Martin’s side.
By the time everything was over, exhaustion weighed on me like lead. Martin brought me back tc
is villa, his energy seemingly endless. Even now, his face still carried a bright smile.
Looking at his smile, I found myself summoning the strength to ask something that had been
nawing at me.
When Easton spoke just now… something he said made me wonder. Before you went abroad why did you keep seeking me out?
‘What I mean is, yes, we were close then–but you had other women, didn’t you? Women you were even closer to. Why were you so persistent in finding me, over and over?”
The moment my words fell, the smile vanished from his face.
His reaction startled me, and I hurried to soften my tone.
‘If you don’t want to explain, that’s fine. It’s all in the past anyway. I don’t need to know.”
For a moment, silence stretched between us. The air grew heavy until finally, he spoke.
‘I never understood why you suddenly pushed me away. But I can tell you this–I never had anyone else. Not back then, not now. The only person I’ve ever felt anything for is you.”
My eyes widened in shock. I stared at him, unable to believe it.
“But… didn’t you start dating all those girls after you turned eighteen? Don’t tell me none of them mattered?”
Even if those days were behind us, the thought that he had been with so many women out of nothing but desire twisted my stomach.
Martin’s brows furrowed as he fixed his gaze on me.
“What are you talking about? I’ve never dated anyone else.”
I froze. Was he telling the truth?
Whatever the answer, I knew one thing–our relationship had changed. We were no longer children fumbling in the dark; now, we were engaged. And engagement meant no more secrets.
2/2
78.3%
3:27 pm D
I took a deep breath and said, “Martin, we’re fiancés now. We shouldn’t hide things from each other. If there’s something in your past, you can tell me. I won’t hold it against you–we promisec each other that much.”
Confusion flickered in his eyes.
“Why are you saying this? I have no reason to lie to you. Think carefully–have I ever lied to you? Not even once, right? Then why won’t you trust me?”
The conviction in his voice shook me. I found myself wavering, almost believing him.
And yet the photographs Easton had given me were real. I had seen them with my own eyes. My chest tightened with doubt.
“If what you’re saying is true, then what about the photos? The ones Easton showed me?”
As I spoke, I pulled out my phone, scrolling until I found them. I never deleted things, so the images were still there.
For a moment, I hesitated. Showing him these might cast a shadow over us. Like I’d told mysel before, I didn’t care much about the past anymore.
But if he denied it all while evidence said otherwise… that doubt could poison us.
Before I could decide, Martin reached out and took the phone from my hand.
As his eyes scanned the photos, his expression darkened, shadows settling over his face.
‘So this… this is why you distanced yourself from me, and why you refuse to see me?”
Under the weight of his stare, I could only nod.
1:27 pm D
Martin let out a cold laugh.
