IT STARTED WITH A LIE (Fated to Love You #1)

Chapter Tweve

After she was done feeling sorry for herself, Selya gathered what dignity and self worth she had with a renewed sense of determination to move on and try to focus on her career. So for the next three weeks she kept trying to reinvent herself while searching for a job that would keep her closer to home. Because she had left in such a hurry, Selya was only able to complete her wedding gift for Regina only a few days after and she had mailed it to the house. Then a few weeks after that she got a call from New York,

"Hi, is this Selya Williams?"

"Yes this is she."

"I'm Josh from Lifestyle Digest, uh, we've reviewed your work and we'd be pleased to have you on board."

Selya didn't understand much of what he was saying but she could comprehend the fact that she had just been offered a job with one of the famous magazines in New York! She was almost hyper ventilating when her mother wheeled herself into the room.

"What's wrong dear you look like you're going to pass out?"

"I just got a call from a prestigious magazine in New York with a job offer." She told her mother, her tone was that of wonder mainly at the fact that she hadn't mailed them any of her work so how was that possible?

"Isn't that what you've always wanted?" her mother asked.

"I know that but what if it's a mistake?"

"How can that be?"

"Because I didn't apply for any job in New York mother and it's very strange."

"You know God works in ways we can never imagine. Take the job my dear, go to New York."

"But I can't leave you and go away again, I want to be close you now more than ever." Selya protested.

"I'll be fine Selya I won't be the one to hold you back from your dreams."

"But mother..."

"You will not argue with me Selya." Her mother said with a note of finality.

Selya balanced three paper bags haphazardly, her phone nestled between her right shoulder as she spoke with Lizzy. After hanging up she called out to her mother only to find her in the company of none other than Wade Ashburn himself. He got to his feet at the sight of her. "Selya this is Wade Ashburn." Her mother introduced him like Selya had a short term memory lose or something.

"And I see you're both cozying up to each other."

"He's such a nice young man and wouldn't stop talking about you."

Selya could swear she saw his face redden. Wade looked uneasy and unsure of himself which was so unlike him, he looked like he hadn't shaved in quite a while and appeared to be in a miserable state but he still seemed to make her heart stutter at the sight of him and for a moment she couldn't quite reconcile with the fact that he was actually here in Minnesota right in front of her.

After his initial joy at seeing Nelly waned, Wade wasn't sure he'd made the right decision and each day for the past three weeks became glaringly clear that what he once had with her was over even before he was able to admit it to himself.

Nelly had panicked after she was told by her doctor that she had a tumour which was why she took off the way she had because she didn't want to be a burden to him only to find out there had been a mix up and that she was clean. Even though she'd been angry, Nelly was more ecstatic about coming back to him. And even though Wade would've loved to be given the opportunity to make a choice it didn't really matter now. Even when it wasn't his intention to hurt her by suddenly ending everything, Wade was surprised that Nelly had taken it all in stride.

"I'm a little too late I know and I don't want to hold you back from being happy." she'd said.

Apparently everyone but him knew about his feelings for Selya, even his own mother knew.

"Go and bring my daughter-in-law home." His mom had told him but not after presenting him with the engagement ring his father had given her. Wade had received the package Selya had sent to the house for Regina and he couldn't deny that it was the perfect wedding gift not to mention priceless and he was quite impressed, he didn't know how talented she was until that moment. They were all able to relive that joyous moment that was captured so beautifully and he thought of repaying her favour somehow so took out his cell phone and made a call.

It was not until Wade had found himself in front of Selya's house hours later that he realised he had no idea whether she felt the same way he did or not and it's why he's never quit fidgeting since Selya's mom had excused herself to give them some privacy.

"Hi."

"Hi." Selya replied noncomittally and he felt her put a distance between them.

"Please state why you're here I have a lot to do." She added impatiently.

"You weren't answering my calls." Wade said matter-of-fact.

"There was no need to." She muttered looking away.

"There was every need to." Selya snapped her head back up to meet his gaze.

"Please don't do this to me Wade." She implored.

The apprehension in her eyes didn't deter him instead he found the evidence that gave him hope that he wasn't the only one harbouring those warm and fuzzy feelings.

"Nelly and I are no longer together."

"Oh God don't tell me I ruined another relationship." panic flashed in her eyes.

Wade hated seeing her blame herself for broken relationships and the feeling that she didn't deserve any better. Wade framed her face in his palms.

"Yes it ended because of you but it's not how you imagined. Nelly and I realised that we couldn't continue with the relationship anymore because so much's change. We no longer feel the same way for each other because someone has stolen my heart with her warm contagious smile, her big and kind heart..." Selya pulled away from him but he didn't feel bad at all but pressed on. "I know that you've had so many bad relationships in the past that were centred on broken promises and betrayal and I cannot promise to not make you cry but I can promise that I will not break your heart and that I will do my best to make you happy if you would do me the honour of becoming my wife."

Selya gasped in horror and surprise as he went down on one knee producing his mother's ring. He loved her little sigh of delight and he didn't think there was anything he disliked about her. The tears flowed freely but Selya smiled through it as he waited with baited breath to hear her response.

"Yes." She whispered through her tears and Wade lept to his feet and scooped her up from the ground.

"I love you." He said.

Applause rang out through the living room and they both turned to see her mother and two sisters grinning from ear to ear.

"I have never witnessed anything so touching." Said Anna.

"You two look so cute together!" Said Grace.

"I have nothing to say but to wish that you would both be happy with each other." Her mother said.

"I promise to keep your daughter happy Mrs. James."

"Call me mom." She interjected with a smile.

Selya felt her heart almost burst right out of her chest from sheer happiness. Was it possible for her to have all the happiness in the world after all the heart aches, disappointments and betrayal? Yes, it was possible because Wade was different from all of those men who'd been in her life and she felt his love palpable and it was all for her.

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