Captivated

Forgiveness

Y'all knew that I couldn't keep our favorite couple in a fight for too long... and I *think* it's pretty much smooth sailing until the end of the book. I'm almost done writing it all and I'm so emotional about that. But more on that later. Right now, enjoy the chapter! Comment and vote xxxx
-ab

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July 3, 2025

Harper

"Harper, I'm going to talk here, and I just want you to listen, okay? You don't need to say anything."

"If you're going to try to defend your actions, don't bother."

"Exactly the opposite. Will you listen?"

I figure that I have no other options at this point, so I might as well hear him out.

"Look," he says, taking a deep breath, "I know that I did something wrong. I know that I should have told you about this issue when it first came up instead of leaving you to discover it for yourself, but I was stupid. I honestly thought that it was something that you'd never find out about. I figured that when we hopefully get married someday, they'll all realize that they were wrong about us. I don't know why I thought that way, but I did. If I could go back, knowing what I've learned in the last few hours, then I would change my actions in a heartbeat. When we got back together after the incidents a little while back, I made a promise to you. No secrets. I realize now that I broke that promise. I hope that you'll be able to forgive me, and it won't happen again. I absolutely promise."

We share a moment of silence before I wipe my eyes and crawl into Patrick's arms for a hug. "I forgive you, honey. Just, next time, don't keep something like this from me."

"I won't," he promises me. "Now, I hear that you spent some time with Taylor this morning."

"Yeah," I reply. "She's good at the whole 'boy drama' thing." I let out a little giggle and give Patrick a small smile

"I would assume that she is," he tells me, rubbing my bare shoulders to relax some tension. "Anyway, she said that you're still pretty upset over what people said on the internet."

"She said that she's going to take care of it later," I reply. During our time together, Taylor asked me for permission to make a social media post about all of the hate that Patrick and I have been receiving, especially since it has all come from people who call themselves her 'fans.' I granted her this permission, with a little bit of hesitance. She told me, though, that she thinks it could seriously help to improve, if not entirely fix, the situation. I decided that it was worth a try.

"I know that Taylor's going to post about it, but that's not going to fix the fact that you were hurt by those words that people wrote about you. How can I help you with that?"

"It'll heal with time. It's fine," I shrug.

"No, it isn't fine," Patrick tells me, giving me a big cuddle. "I need you to understand a few things. First of all, in my eyes, you are the most gorgeous girl who I have ever laid my eyes on. Second of all, I am never, ever going to leave you. Third of all, it's me who doesn't deserve somebody as wonderful as you, not the other way around. You are the strongest, kindest woman that I know. You have worked hard to accomplish your dreams, and you are living them. And I know that I've told you this before, but I'm going to say it again. We will be married someday, and we will spend the rest of our lives together. We will have children together, grow old together, and die together. Right now, this time is a special time that we will look back on fondly for the rest of our lives. When we were young, and our relationship was still relatively new, but we were still ever so in love. Every moment is special, and we need to cherish that."

I look up at Patrick and blink back a new set of tears that I find forming up in my eyes. "I did nothing to deserve somebody as amazing as you, and I love you so much, and I never want to leave your side, Patrick Alwyn."

After I say that, he grabs my cheeks and pulls me in for a sweet, tender, passionate kiss, which lasts for quite a long time. After we break apart, both of us needing a breath of air, I lay back on the bed. "Thank you, love."

"For what?"

"Just, for everything. Most guys wouldn't have enough courage to admit it when they make a mistake, and much less to fix it in the amazing way that you did."

"That's what makes me a man, and the rest of them boys," he tells me with a little laugh. "But, in all seriousness, I have no respect for anybody who can't realize when they make a mistake, and who can't own up to it and make it right."

We share a moment of silence, before I prop myself up onto my elbows. "Can we just have a nice day in today? Order some takeaway and watch movies before my show?"

Patrick looks at me with a little twinkle in his eye. "I thought that you'd never ask, Harper Kennedy."

We decide on ordering some Chinese food- my favourite, General Tso's Chicken, and Patrick's favourite, Chicken Lo Mein.

As we are waiting on the delivery, we sit down in front of the telly to pick what we can watch.

"We should have time for two movies before the show, as long as you don't pick one of those three hour musicals that you're fond of," Patrick laughs. "Do you want to pick the first, and I can pick the second?"

"Don't pick anything weird," I tease him.

"Same goes to you," he tells me with a laugh.

A few minutes into Mean Girls, we are buzzed, signaling that our food is down at the entrance to our building.

"I'll go grab that," Patrick says, getting up. I pause the movie, and a few minutes later, he comes back into the flat with our food.

"Now, we can really get this party started," I laugh, grabbing my container of chicken from the bag. Patrick laughs as he takes his noodles, then cuddles up next to me as I resume the movie that we are enjoying.