Agreement Behind Her Marriage

“Is it true that you two have rekindled your relationship?” Lauren inquired, adopting the demeanor of an investigator.

Faye couldn’t hold back her tears. The conversation she had with Kael kept haunting her thoughts, and their kisses lingered vividly in her memory. She was acutely aware that she was betraying her commitment to Harry, but it felt beyond her control.

Once Carmela’s case was resolved, she planned to return to America to talk with her fiancé. For now, she needed to keep her mind occupied, and delving into Carmela’s case seemed like the best distraction.

Kael was right! Faye realized that it was essential to open up to her boyfriend about the painful truth: she had lost a baby when she was eighteen. If there were any lingering complications from that experience, it was better to reveal them to Harry now to avoid surprises later.

Faye couldn’t help but dwell on the child she and Kael could have had. That child might be around seven years old now.

“Why are you crying, Faye?” Lauren asked, her face clearly displaying confusion.

“It’s impossible for me and Kael to simply forget everything, Sister Lauren. I believe you must understand…” Faye sobbed.

“Faye!” Kael interrupted, striking the table.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

The urgency in Kael’s plea was evident as Faye met his gaze. She couldn’t be sure if he was doing it to shield his sister, Lauren, like her protective older brother. But she was no longer willing to keep the truth from the woman.

“Why? What’s going on? What have I been kept in the dark about? Was it really so hard for you two to simply have a sibling relationship? Tell me!” Lauren’s frustration was evident.

“Nothing!” Kael swiftly denied any wrongdoing and gestured to Faye with a feeble shake of his head. Fear was clearly shown on his face.

Faye remained silent, though inside, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of irony. It seemed that since her return to the country from abroad, she had been inadvertently causing chaos.

Kael continued, “The last time Faye and I met was on Mom’s birthday. We didn’t exchange calls or even texts, so please stop asking questions! We have no romantic relationship. She came here to talk to Lily.”

Faye let out a deep breath, struggling to contain her mixed emotions. She needed to leave before saying something that could hurt Lauren further. “I’m leaving. Thank you for the tea, and I’m genuinely sorry for any trouble I may have caused Kael and Lily.”

With her bag in hand, Faye made her way to the door.

“Faye!” Lauren called out, but Faye could only offer a wistful smile before departing.

From her purse, Faye retrieved a pair of sunglasses and shielded her eyes with them, concealing her reddened eyes and the uncontainable tears streaming down her cheeks. She chastised herself for being so selfish, a stark contrast to her usual confident demeanor in the courtroom.

***

“What should I know, Kael?” Lauren persisted in her questioning.

Kael kept denying the truth because he didn’t want to inflict pain on his sister. He was determined not to make her feel guilty about his troubled history with Faye, especially since a significant portion of that past was his fault.

As he gazed at Lauren, he mustered the courage to reveal the one part of the truth he did of their history and said, “Seven years ago, I deliberately broke her heart as an act of revenge against Brother Finn for leaving you and for the rumors they spread about our family.”

The woman gasped at what she heard. “No way! Why did you do that, Kael?”

“I admit that our relationship was just a game for me at first. I was only twenty, and I was still a troubled jerk back then. That’s one of the reasons why Brother Finn sent Faye abroad-to keep her away from me. You already know about that. My love for her at that time was genuine, Sister Lauren. I… I believe Faye is still struggling with it, and so am I.”

He wasn’t being untruthful about that while a deep sense of sorrow welling up in his chest. He had made decisions in the past that he deeply regretted, including the night when Faye had a miscarriage, the very day she discovered the painful truth that he had manipulated her feelings as payback for his Sister Lauren.

However, Faye had been gracious enough to provide him with a second chance because of the depth of their love. They continued their relationship, both harboring dreams of someday getting married, while she pursued her studies abroad. This continued until the moment Lauren and Finn rekindled their marital agreement and subsequently wed.

Pursuing a relationship with Faye would have caused immense harm to their families, and they made the decision to prioritize Lauren’s happiness because she had loved Finn since high school. Furthermore, they were the ones people expected to marry.

Their family adhered to a tradition that Lauren had embraced. If Kael’s sister were to learn of Faye’s miscarriage, it would unquestionably be a source of anguish for her, given the distress she had already endured.

Kael leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and clenched his teeth. Staying on this course would just keep causing more pain for everyone.

Lauren inquired, “Tell me honestly, do you still love Faye?”

“It won’t matter anymore. Doesn’t she already have a fiancé? I’m happy for her,” was his only response to that.

Lauren didn’t say anything, but he knew she understood his answer. He and Lauren knew each other well, as they were only siblings and shared a strong bond.

He adjusted his seat and then looked at Lauren. “I know you won’t support my feelings if I still love Faye.”

His comment infuriated his sister. “Is that how you see me?” she asked with an inscrutable expression on her face. “Kael, I’ll stand by you in almost anything, but not when it comes to Faye! Yes, I may come across as stern when it comes to our family, but you haven’t suffered or endured hurtful words from others like I have! I don’t want you or Faye to go through that! The Escarrer name has already been tarnished, and I want you to comprehend that!”

Frustrated, Lauren left his office, leaving him in a state of bewilderment. He stood up from his chair and then opened the blinds to gaze at the cityscape beyond his window. He had been in a good mood earlier. How had it all turned sour like this?

He dialed his secretary’s number.

“Please cancel my appointments,” he said. He was no longer in the mood to work.

“Okay, boss!”

He picked up the coat hanging in the corner and then headed out.

He didn’t know where he was going, and he soon found himself standing in front of Danica’s apartment building. With so many people living there, the chances of encountering that happy girl were quite slim. However, his confidence grew when he spotted her ex-boyfriend entering the building.

Had Brian and Danica rekindled their relationship?

He wasn’t involved with a woman, so he couldn’t blame her if they had. Nonetheless, an unfamiliar sensation gripped his chest, causing him discomfort. In the end, if she chose to get back with her ex-boyfriend, there was nothing he could do about it.

Kael sighed. Why did she have to be Mr. Arvesso’s daughter? Because the man was responsible for his wealth, he had to suppress his feelings for Danica. He couldn’t pursue the boss’s daughter!

His car remained in hazard mode as he clutched the steering wheel, not caring if he received a parking violation ticket.

After some time, his phone rang, and he saw Danica’s name on the screen. He felt nervous, sensing that something unpleasant was about to occur.

“Hello?”

“Kael!” He heard Danica’s trembling voice.

“Where are you?”

“I’m scared! Brian! He’s almost broken down the door to my unit. I don’t know who to call.”

“I saw him when he entered.” Without a second thought, he swiftly exited the car, no longer caring if it got towed, and ran inside to rescue the woman.