A Beautiful Misunderstanding

Hanson looked at Essie's puzzled face and smiled bitterly. "I still remember that day," he began, putting emphasis on every word he was saying. "It was the first day of the new school year. A young girl wearing a white bubble skirt ran up to me and stared at me for a full five minutes. With her big backpack on her back, she honestly looked ridiculous." At this point, he paused for a chuckle. "Apparently, she wanted to ask me a question. She said, 'How can I find the place for the new students?' She was stuttering—it was so cute. At that moment, I immediately knew that she was the one. I fell in love with that interesting little girl." He sighed. "But then the Dean wanted me to become the second class' counselor. I usually would just say yes to whatever he asked of me, but that time, I somehow found the courage to request him to transfer me to the first because the girl that I liked was in the first class."

He paused and caressed Essie's face. "Do you know why I was always there whenever you were in the classroom, the library, or the playground? That was because I always waiting for you. Everyday. Back then, I considered every moment we were alone together as a date," he said smiling softly. But then his smile quickly faded away. "If it wasn't for my family, I would never go to Milan. I have no interest in that place. I would have preferred to just stay in K City, find a job, and marry you after you graduated." Again, a deep sigh escaped his lips. "Unfortunately, that isn't happening."

Tears starting gushing out of Essie's eyes. For her, it felt like a floodgate had been opened inside of her. The feelings she had inside were just flowing out of her freely. "How... how did we end up like this?" she asked through her sobs.

"It's all my fault," Hanson said somberly. "Through the years, my family had broken my spirit down so much, making me into the mess that I am today." At that, he held Essie tighter in his arms. "I've already told my father that I will not be marrying Sunny no matter what happens," he said comfortingly. "He can do everything in his power to try and change my mind, but he won't be able to. I am free now, and I am making all my decisions."

Tears from Essie's eyes continued to stream onto Hanson's chest. "But I'm tainted now!" she cried out. "I have nothing left to offer you. I don't deserve you. I don't deserve you anymore!"

"That is not true, Essie," Hanson whispered. "You know that that is not true. Besides, I really do not care about all of that." He could not get himself to loosen his arms around Essie because he felt that if he did, he would lose her again. "I'll take you away, I promise. We'll leave this cursed place and live somewhere else, somewhere where no one knows who we are. A place where we can start again and build a new life," he said.

Essie raised her head and looked straight into Hanson's eyes. "Will... you really be able to let go of Bella?" she asked, her voice shaky.

Hanson let out a little chuckle. "No one will ever compare to you, Essie," he said softly. "I love you, Essie. You are my true love." He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, and then her teary eyes. "Do you love me as much as I love you?" he then asked quietly.

"I..." For a short while, Essie felt hesitation in her heart. She didn’t understand why it was there, but she quickly chalked it up to her drunkenness. But worse than that, she was starting to see another face the longer she stared at Hanson. She violently shook her head, trying to get rid of the man she was starting to see. ‘Stop it, Essie!’ she thought. ‘For him, you were only a burden that made his life more difficult! Aside from that, he never saw you as a person—you were only a device he used so that he could get Valery back! The moment Valery gave birth to her child, you became useless to him, and he began treating you like garbage!’

Hatred was starting to swell and take over her chest, making her clench her teeth.

"Essie? Are you okay? Why aren’t you responding?" Hanson asked, his voice tinged with the slightest bit of concern and confusion. His voice quickly pulled Essie back to reality. She quickly opened her eyes wide and once again saw Hanson clearly. "I love you, too, Hanson!" she proclaimed, relieved. After that, she took a deep breath to steady herself.

Not far away from them, a man concealing behind a big tree was recording everything that was happening with his camera. He believed that his employer would be more than interested to see the reunion of these two lovebirds.

It was a beautiful day in Dragon City.

The moment the doctor confirmed that there was nothing wrong with Valery, Zac immediately took her back to the house.

After making sure that she was all settled in and okay, he took out his phone and dialed Essie's number. However, before he was able to call it, he noticed that an unknown number messaged him. He immediately read it and watched the video that came with it.

As the video went on, he felt his chest become tighter and tighter with fury. His hands began to shake, and he started to see red. With clenched fists and knitted brows, he stormed out and departed.

Valery saw everything that transpired in the comfort of her bedroom. The moment she saw Zac head out, an insidious smile appeared on her lips.

'I finally got you now, dear Essie,' she thought, feeling elated. 'You're finished!"

Essie and her classmates had already finished their activities for the day: they were done with mountain climbing, and they already had a successful outdoor barbecue. Because of that, they decided to go to a KTV bar.

Hanson was extremely good at singing. That wasn't surprising because everyone knew how much he loved karaoke. But what surprised people was just how incredible he was: every song he performed, he sounded extremely manly and very attractive. In Essie's eyes, he was a karaoke master.

felt like they had gone back to the days when they were

already late at night when they left the karaoke

she and Hanson were waving goodbye to their friends, a Lamborghini sports car suddenly drove roaring towards them. It caught the two of them by surprise, but fortunately,

and a tall, handsome man stepped out of the car. The moment Essie laid her eyes on him, she felt her heart stop.

would a princess, and kissed her on the lips. Essie's face turned ruby red in an instant due to embarrassment, panic, and anger. Immediately, she tried her hardest to push him away, but her strength was no match

herself free from his grasp. Unfortunately, the man did not care one bit—worse, he even tightened his grip on her and kissed her even harder. She felt like he

were confused at what was

doing? Let her go!" Hanson's voice suddenly rang out. His face was contorted by an expression of extreme jealousy and

moment, he also sent a punch

he immediately felt piercing pain, stemming from his knuckles and

Zac let go of Essie, he noticed how swollen her lips were. An unfathomable expression then washed over his face, and

silently, his voice silky yet deadly. "I believe it's none of your business!" He said every word with so much power that no one—not even Hanson—dared to interrupt

"Wife?"

statement had already begun creating a

hated Zac. 'He did this on purpose,' she thought, breathing heavily. 'I

look at Hanson. "I'm sorry, Hanson, but I have to go now!" she said apologetically. "Thank you for

quickly stepped on the accelerator and sped away before Essie could

and asked, "What's going

you two not together?" Queeny still

direction Zac's

in and took Essie away from

way past

as soon as they did, Zac almost dragged Essie out of the car

struggling to free herself from his grip by punching and kicking him. Her emotions were at an all-time high that she, too, stopped caring about everyone else's opinion

they entered the room, he immediately threw her on the bed and pinned her to it, him on top. His face was ghostly pale and his

his hand behind her neck and lifted her head with it. He then pinched her chin roughly and forcefully raised her head so that her gaze met his. "Do you really love Hanson that much?" he asked, his eyes full

fucking business," Essie answered

knew that deep in her heart, she was living in their fantasy. Because of that, even if he did not love her,

for her at all. She learned that acting invested in her every single day and winning her over had annoyed him and made him hate

anger. He hated to have

to you?" Zac asked in anguish. His voice was extremely hoarse, as if his anger was literal fire

said matter-of-factly. It was a cold, firm, and ruthless answer. "We are just business partners. A fake couple. I never meddle in your business, and you have no right to meddle in

know how to be a good wife," he hissed, tightening his grip on Essie's wrists. "I'll teach you!"

the bed. When she saw a fruit knife on

stumbled back

than before, and his body became stiff