Broken Heart

BH 54

Dale doesn't know why but her heart skipped a beat when he said those words.

She can clearly see his love for her in his eyes in that moment and it made her heart swell.

It was the same love she felt that time he gave her the jewelry box on her birthday.

She feels her cheeks grow warm at the remembrance of that time.

"Go on..." she says to distract him from seeing her blush.

"My plan of blindly accepting my father's edict went awry when I met you. In that moment I knew that I would regret my decision to agree to a loveless marriage with Elizabeth."

Edward lets out a huge sigh before continuing.

"I tried not to pursue you, believe me I did! But I couldn't help myself! Cliché as it may sound but you were different from all the other women I've dated!"

He looks into her eyes as he said the words "other women" and he is surprised to see anguish in it.

"When you agreed to be my girlfriend, I resolved to talk to my father and back out of the engagement. But he didn't agree! He told me that our company was in trouble and merging with Elizabeth's company was the only solution! Enrique was supposed to be the one to get engaged to Elizabeth but he was nowhere to be found! So I was the only alternative!"

Dale can clearly read the torment in Edward's eyes and it hurt her to see it.

"My stepmother told me to do it as repayment for accepting me and for letting me use my father's family name!"

Dale could feel his hurt in those words.

She could understand why he was pressured into doing it because his father was also pressured into marrying his wife instead of her mother.

They're still his family after all!

And most of the time, family comes first.

She understands now why he had to break up with her but it still doesn't erase the pain that she felt.

He swallows the lump in his throat.

"So I felt at that time that I had no choice but to break up with you! But believe me, my love, it also broke me when I had to do it!"

She could see his eyes glisten with unshed tears.

"Good thing Quen came back and rescued me from my predicament!"

"How did he rescue you?"

"He came back to claim what was his!"

Curiosity suddenly filled her.

"He told me to continue pretending to be marrying Elizabeth and on our wedding day, he plans to switch with me!"

Dale's eyes widen in disbelief.

"But what if she said no?"

"He knew she wouldn't because she's been in love with him ever since we were little!" and he smiles a bit at the memory.

"Remember the night of my so called bachelor's party when I asked you to wait for me?"

She slowly nods.

She remembers that night so well.

"I wasn't supposed to talk to you then because our plans might be discovered but then Markus had to be an asshole and insult you! I was so worried then that I just had to talk to you and ask you to stay! But then you said no..."