FATE'S SECOND CHANCES

Chapter 32

It had been a lifeless week for Nicole. Ever since that day East said goodbye for the last time Nicole had never been the same. Sleep eluded her plagued with nightmares of something bad happening to East. She had no zest for anything not even work. All she could remember vividly was the haunted look in East's face and the pain in his eyes. The sad part was that she rejected him when she knew he was telling the truth. Nicole was even blaming him for the past when he was not guilty of anything.

Nicole had been so harsh to East. All the hurting words even the slaps she had given him made her feel so ashamed of herself that she had done all that. She loved him. She knew that. But she was too scared to take her chances thinking Kevin would make her happy. She was just kidding herself. When East left she felt her heart died along with him. He had begged and cried to her but she had hardened herself. Now it was too late he had already left.

All Nicole could do was straighten her life first starting with breaking of her engagement to Kevin. She didn't love him. She only had the illusion of falling in love. Even if East did not tell her of Kevin's infidelity she knew her relationship lacked the spice of what she had with East. Her times with Kevin were nothing compared to what she and East shared in the past.

Nicole could only wish that she could speed up time so she could go to East. Go down on her knees and begged for his love. Even if she had to look for him at the ends of the earth. She would do that just to tell him how sorry she was. She might not have given East his second chance but she was going to give him her lifetime just to prove to him how much she loved him. The question is that if he was willing to take her back. But this time Nicole was determined she was willing to grovel hard to win East back with all the love she had for him.

Nicole had been escaping issues for the whole week but there was no use hiding anymore. She had to have the strength to face Kevin and tell him honestly that it was all over. She looked at her finger. It was East's engagement ring that was there. It's classy white gold band beautiful against the round shaped 3-carat diamond sparkling in her hand. It belonged here in her finger filled with East's undying love. She kissed it imagining East kissing her hands. I love you East. Let me come back to you my love. she could only say as she prepared herself to meet Kevin and break of her engagement for good.

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Kevin came on time but after the words of East Nicole felt he was a stranger to her. Gone was all the trust she felt for him because deep down she knew East was telling her the truth. She just wanted so hard to believe Kevin at that time so she never listened to East. But it was obvious on the black blue marks on his face and the shiner in his eyes which he tried hard to cover but still showed as clear as day. Kevin was as guilty as sin.

The car was filled with uncomfortable silence. As if there was that big wall separating them. All Nicole could think about was East and the big pang of guilt she had. How East had poured out all his heart and soul to the point of begging to her but she was too stubborn to listen. To take the risk to love him again. This Nicole regretted with all her heart. But first she had to correct her mistakes first and move on from there till she won East back. She also noticed how quiet Kevin was his face filled with worry and remorse. He should feel that way after what he had done to her and East.

Abelardo's was the right place to talk it had corner booths that you can have the privacy without much disturbance. She had to get her bearings straight to be able to communicate well with Kevin. She wasn't even hungry to the point of just having a light Italian salad. Kevin wasn't either preferring a fish fillet steak with just clam chowder to go with it. This time he talked clasping his hand in hers.

What's wrong Nicole? You've been avoiding me all week. You don't return my calls. What gives Nicole? Ever since I told you about East it's like you've been lost to me.

Or lost in your lies Kevin? I never knew I can be a sucker for it. she spitted out watching the expression change in his face to one of guilt.

This time Kevin's face turned deathly pale. He didn't know what to say. He was guilty of all that of lying all these years to Nicole. The things he said to East when he knew he just acted that way because of his love for Nicole.

Kevin I can't go on like this with you. I realize that I love the thought of having someone but I don't really love you. These two tears we've just been fooling ourselves. I want to break our engagement Kevin. Nicole handed him the box with the engagement ring as Kevin just looked at it a torment in his face.

Kevin looked ready to break down as he held the box being filled with utter guilt. It was time to reveal himself to Nicole to come clean once and for all just as his father wanted him to. You can only atone for your sins if you've admit what you've done and ask for forgiveness.

Nicole it's hard to me to admit this but East never fed you lies. It was the whole truth. He indeed followed me that night with all the best intentions for you. He saw it all. All my infidelity towards you. I wanted to have it all. Have you. Please my father since she wanted you as my wife and have Sharon as my lover. I was selfish Nicole. I acted as if I love you but in fact I love someone else. Most of all I didn't give you the chance to have East love you. There were tears in his eyes falling from his face.

I'm so ashamed of myself of hurting you most of all. But I care about you that's why I have to reveal the truth now. East loves you so much. Maybe even with his own life. I threatened to destroy his career made sure he can never work as an architect again. I was even shoving a multi million dollar lawsuit against him for assault if he would reveal to you what he saw. But I admired his guts Nicole. He wasn't scared of me He said I can do whatever I wanted with him but all he wanted was for me to stay away from you to save you from pain. All he was after was your happiness and nothing else.

At Kevin's revelation of East's undying love for her. Nicole felt tears stream down her cheeks. How could she had even doubted East when he was even willing to suffer so much for her. His career and maybe all the money he had worked so hard for..

How could you do this to us Kevin? Fooling me along! The awful threats you shoved at East. How could you she cried angrily. And now he's gone from my life. I love him that much but I felt I had to choose you cause I've given my word.

Kevin was distraught now. He deserved all this maybe even more. Like Karma he will pay for all these things in time.

If we love someone things can never be impossible. Go to him Nicole. East loves you so much. I might have hurt you by revealing all these things to you but its for you to open your eyes to a guy who loves you genuinely and will move heaven and earth to make you happy. he said quietly. Go to him Nicole while you still have time for both of you to have that second chance.

As for me I am sorry for everything Nicole. I am a loser who uses money to have power and use it to my advantage. Without it I'm worthless even in my father's eyes. I'm not even half a man East is.

Nicole didn't know what to say to Kevin. She was happy he was wallowing himself in misery. He deserved every bit of his plight.

You're right Kevin you're a nothing. Not even your attitude can salvage you. No wonder your father thinks you're worthless. He is absolutely right. You can never be the man East is. she said brusquely wanting to batter on his ego.

With that she left him bawling with his head in his hands. It was the end of her chapter with him. Two years she had wasted on a loser like him.

But for Nicole she still had her whole lifetime and that was with East. Knowing the whole truth now she was overwhelmed with love for him. She had to find him. Go down on her knees for him to take her back. Beg him to marry her. These things were all in reverse now but she didn't mind one bit. East had begged and groveled enough. Now was her turn. The only way she would find East was through Ben. Ben was her savior through all this as she felt a smile on her face. I love you East Kelly. I love you so much.