NovelBookChapter 0607
Nicholas' bright eyes dimmed instantly, a wave of dejection washing over him.
"I haven't eaten anything. I've been in back-to-back meetings and barely even had tfor water. Can't you just
keepcompany?"
At that moment, | felt the fragile understanding between us was once again on the verge of breaking. | couldn't
help but remind him, ‘Tabitha isn't home. You don't need to act."
"Who's acting?"
Nicholas' voice was hoarse as he continued, "When have | ever acted in front of you? When | laugh, cry, feel joy
or sadness, you've seen it all. I've lost all my pride, my image. What's left to pretend? Back when we first got
married, that was acting.
"I'd straighten my back, clench my teeth, and present the perfect version of myself to you. | didn't dare get too
close or touch you. | was afraid I'd fall for you.
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Yet, deep down, I selfishly wanted you to likea little more. | enjoyed having a wife who admired me. That was
acting!"
Before | could respond, Nicholas scoopedoff the couch, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist
Resting his chin on my shoulder, he murmured with a hint of grievance, "Back then, | acted too much. Now, | just
want to show you the real me. | regret wasting all that twe could've had."
Nicholas said so much in one breath that my mind stalled, my response dry and stiff. "You don't have to go this
far for me. We're only doing this for Tabitha..."
"I'm doing this for you even more!" Nicholas cutoff.
"If Tabitha wasn't your child, why would | care about her at all? She only exists because of you! No matter how
much I love her, she'll always csecond to you!"
"Nicholas..." | tried to interrupt, but he pressed on.
"I've read every single post on your Facebook. Over and over again. You never mentioned my name, but | know
you were talking about me! You lovedfor so many years.
"If you, as a young girl, could hold on to that love, why do you think I can't, as a man? What are you so afraid of?
Why won't you believe in me?"
"Nicholas... That's all in the past. Stop it, please!" | didn't want to hear any more.
"Letfinish!"
He lifted his head and cupped my face with both hands. His unwavering gaze locked onto mine, forcingto
meet his eyes.
"I love you. | can start from scratch if | have to. But lettake a shortcut. Letcount the three years we
missed as part of the tI've spent thinking about you day and night. It's not that | can't wait. | just can't hold
back anymore. | want to start over with you. | don't want to waste another second!"
His words blurred into noise as | stared at his moving lips. All | could hear was a voice in my head screaming,
"Push him away! Push him away!"
The thought grew louder and more insistent until | finally acted on it.
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My hands shoved him with such force that | surprised even myself. Nicholas staggered back, taking several
unsteady steps before stopping. His expression was one of disbelief and pain as he uttered, "Ariana.."
When it's tto pick Tabitha up from school, I'll cdownstairs."
Leaving him with that, | turned and ran toward Tabitha's room. Once inside, | locked the door behindand let
out a heavy sigh.
Nicholas' confession about his past "acting" had cfar too late. It was so late that hearing it now didn't hurt
anymore.
In fact, | almost wish he still was the man he used to be. At least then, I'd know how to handle him, how to keep
my guard up without giving him a sliver of my true feelings.
But now? He'd placed his beating heart right in front of me, tellingit was his love forthat kept it alive.
But | never saw that heart before. Was | supposed to believe him when he said it was real? The only thing
keepinggrounded was the belief that all of this-every single day-was for Tabitha. What else could I tell
myself?
The only thing | could do was to seal away my own broken, battered heart and keep it locked up tight.
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