Agreement Behind Her Marriage

During her time at the Arvesso’s Resort, Lily excelled in her work, making an effort to put aside the issues she had left in the city for two months. She had little trouble selecting the finest furnishings and appliances and formed good relationships with Kael, the rest of the staff, and the Arvesso family.

Although she didn’t need to stay on the island for the entire two months, Lily chose to do so, given the troubles that Kenneth and his friends were facing. Mr. Arvesso welcomed her with open arms and allowed her to stay as long as she wished.

Mr. Arvesso dedicates the majority of his time to traveling and managing various businesses including hotels, resorts, and real estate. In light of this, he envisions Danica following in his footsteps and wishes for her to pursue a business course.

Lily had never met Danica’s brother, but according to her friend, Mr. Arvesso and her big brother, who worked in different places, did not get along well.

One afternoon, Danica invited Lily to the beach to watch the sunset.

“Aisht! Two months have passed since you arrived here, and you haven’t even tried swimming!” her friend remarked.

Lily eventually gave in, which is why the two of them were currently strolling along the sand, letting the waves wash over their feet. The beach was bustling with people having a good time. They passed by tourists kayaking, taking photos, and kids building sandcastles.

“Lily, is there anything in your life that you regret?” Danica asked, her gaze fixed on the serene orange sky.

‘Too many…’

“Why did you ask? Do you have anything you regret?” Lily inquired.

“There is. I regret meeting Brian. I loved him so much, but I was terribly disappointed in him after I found out what he did. Oh, I-I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to talk about those people,” Danica explained, wiping away the tear that had formed beneath her eye.

Lily squeezed Danica’s hand.

“I understand your affection for Brian. You have a different bond with him than I do, and don’t blame yourself because we couldn’t control our feelings of love for someone who didn’t deserve it.”

“The only person who genuinely cared about me, Lily, was him. I was in love with Brian even though I knew he had lied or possibly even cheated on someone, but I believed what he showed me was real.”

“Did I mention that Brian is the least troublesome among Kenneth’s friends?”

“It’s hard to deny that he was involved in Carmela’s case. I’ve been feeling guilty and couldn’t help but think that maybe if we hadn’t broken up, he wouldn’t have done that.”

Lily paused in her stride to embrace Danica.

“Don’t blame yourself. You’ll find someone worthy of you as well.”

Lily couldn’t have imagined herself giving such advice to Danica one day.

“You should find a man who will cherish both you and those around you.”

As Lily was comforting Danica, two women wearing bikinis approached them.

“Miss, are you Lily Walton?” asked one of them.

Lily faced the woman with a frown. “Hm?”

The other woman recognized her and her face lit up. “She is! I’m a fan of your husband!”

‘What’s happening?’

The woman added with excitement in her voice, “We never thought we’d see you here! Did you know that I’ve been following Carmela Sanchez’s case because I have a huge crush on the model, Brian?”

Lily was trembling with fear, especially after they drew everyone’s attention by mentioning Carmela Sanchez. People in the area were watching her and Danica. Some even began taking photos of them, assuming they were celebrities who frequented the location for vacation.

“Are you here because you don’t want to get involved with Carmela?”

“Or maybe you don’t believe her, either?”

“What’s your problem?” Danica asked the two women, who couldn’t help but grow irritated.

Lily covered her face and clutched her chest as she began to feel like she was running out of breath, fearing that these people might harm her. Her body shook, and her vision became foggy.

“Screw off!” Two arms wrapped around Lily’s body. A man shielded her head against his broad, bare chest. His familiar scent filled her nostrils, comforting her. She closed her eyes to savor his presence even more.

“Get Lily’s friend,” Drew instructed Orion.

Drew put sunglasses on Lily’s eyes and guided her towards a certain direction, shielding her with his arms. He cast a penetrating glance at anyone who got in their way, while Lily kept her gaze fixed on the ground and avoided making eye contact.

Danica and Orion followed them until they reached a luxurious hotel. Minutes later, Lily found herself seated in Drew’s rented suite.

“Are you feeling okay?” Drew asked. He handed her a glass of water before taking a seat next to her on the long sofa.

At that moment, Lily began to realize Drew’s proximity. She couldn’t help but admire his masculine features as she gazed at him. He was dressed in nothing but beach shorts, and his broad chest was clearly visible before her. It had been two months since she had last seen Drew, and even now, the pain lingered.

How is he now?

She inquired, “W-what are you doing here, Drew?”

“I’m on vacation,” Drew answered with a shrug. “Isn’t that the reason why people come to this island?”

Yeah, right? Why do I think it’s because of me?

Lily felt a little uneasy. You know that feeling when someone close to you suddenly makes you feel as though there’s an elephant in the room? It’s hard to describe.

“W-where is my friend?” Lily asked instead, searching for Danica.

“Orion took her to their hotel.”

Then why am I here? She wanted to ask, but instead, she said, “Do you need something from me?”

“There is.”

Lily turned to face Drew. Like a daring ruffian, he leaned in closer and swiftly placed his lips on hers. “I missed you so much that I couldn’t control myself from kissing you.”

“Drew…” Lily uttered, her heart racing in her chest. She rose to her feet and moved towards the door, setting boundaries between them, as she knew she would get even more hurt if this continued.

“Lily…” Drew stopped, giving her a moment to leave.

Lily spun around to face her husband, her eyes filled with a pang of guilt and hurt.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Drew, it hurt me when you left the house, but I quickly started to heal. I told myself I needed to become better so I could be free of you… You crushed my feelings. That evening, even though I was the one who had requested an annulment and the dissolution of our marriage, I secretly hoped you wouldn’t agree. I was foolish, wasn’t I?”

At that point in her life, Lily thought she had stopped shedding tears for the only man she had ever loved, but she soon began to cry again because the pain persisted. Loving someone who doesn’t need you is painful.

Lily muttered, “If I give myself a chance now, I’ll be devastated again because you don’t love me…”

“Leaving our house was the worst decision I’ve ever made in my entire life, Lily.”

“You still hurt me,” she responded, tears in her eyes. “Seeing you now hurts me.”

“But I was hurt too. You ended our relationship without consulting me or giving me a choice; what can I do about it? Seeing you now hurts, it’s like the universe inside me is in turmoil.”

“I…” She didn’t know how to respond. Summoning all her courage, she said, “I was in love with you, Drew! I fell deeply in love with you…”

She thought that admitting her feelings might be frightening him now.

Drew stared at her, his eyes filled with tears, and said, “I love you too, Lily.”

When Lily heard those words, her heart beat even more intensely. This was the most sincere thing Drew had ever shown her.

“I am at a loss for words to express the actions I’ve taken. But even though I was broken and shattered on the inside, I granted you freedom because I love you.”

***

Meanwhile, Danica was sulking, asking Orion, “Brother, where do you think Drew will take Lily?”

“Forget about them, they are husband and wife! Where’s Dad?”