Aboveboard
- being honest or straightforward
74
"W-what?" I asked.
"I just had to marry her cos her mother wants me to. She's pregnant and the man that got her pregnant left her. It's for her image." He answered.
"Bullshit." I spit.
He reaches for my hand. "It happened too fast. Mrs. Devaloines asked me to do it and since she helped me a lot, I couldn't say no. I had to marry her daughter to save their name from embarrassment. In return, they'll be giving me a huge portion from Mrs. Devaloines' properties, a vast percentage on the shareholders for the Devaloines Group and they'll clear my name from what I had done on the past."
My brows are creasing and I just don't know what to feel. I'm happy about what he said, confused cos I can't believe it, and sad cos I'm with Damon.
"It's a fake wedding." He says.
A fake wedding?
"We have a signed contract. We'll divorce after three years." He says.
"Why are you saying this to me?" I asked.
"Because you need to know."
I paused and laughed humorlessly as I shake my head sideways.
"And what? You want me to wait for you for three years? You expect me to wait for you?! Nick I have dreams! So many dreams and I'm already starting at Devaloines without my dad's help. This means a lot to me and you know that. If you forgot, you were the one who left me! You fucking left. Now you want me to wait?! For you?!" I yelled.
I started dressing up and put my underwear and bra over my body.
"I left you because your dad always downgraded me. I felt bad about myself. I thought he was right. Im not good enough for you. Now, I'm doing this because I want to show your dad that you deserve me. I'm going to win you back so I want you to wait for me." He says.
I turned to him. "By marrying a rich woman?! That's how you want it Nick? That's your solution?! You think money is so important to me!?"
"Because if I was rich your dad would let me marry you! He would respect me. He would look at me as one of you guys and not just some ex-convict." He screeched.
I paused.
"I wanna marry you so bad Savannah. You're the only woman who I see walking down the aisle for me." He says.
My heart leaps.
"Savannah if you just know what I've been through when I left you and how miserable I was when I did that to you, how painful it was seeing you with other men!" Nick's voice shakes.
"Your father's words runs through my head all the time even until now. I was so down when he looked at me like that. I did everything I could to be rich even if it's in a wrong way! I love you Savannah. I fucking love you so much that's why I'm still fighting for us even if you're not anymore! I'm still hoping!" He says and I could see his tears filling his eyes.
I'm also starting to cry but I'm biting my trembling lip hard. I shake my head, he's doing this for me.
"I want to prove myself to your father and your mother that an ex-prisoner like me could run a huge conglomerate like Devaloines Group. I wanted to show them that my past doesn't make me who I am now. That it wasn't me." He says.
Seven months you were gone and I have heard nothing from you." I
I had to stay away from you or else he'll file a case against me. He'll put me
My... My
He nods.
told me that Nick accepted
about this. Nobody knows why I did what I did before. Alec and Tracy doesn't even know. But I did this for you.... And for Tracy."
My brows furrowing. "Tracy?"
needed the money for
"Why?" I asked breathlessly.
was diagnosed with cancer on December."
I gasped.
no choice. I really needed the money to save her. Your dad even gave us the best surgeon,
now it all makes sense. She got so thin all of a sudden before. Tracy had cancer and I didn't know about it. Nobody even dared to inform me.
you got
found out." He
me in New York two years ago. That's
me and wraps his arms around me tightly. I was letting him hug me while we were both
could say it cos if your father will sue me if I ever talk to you again, I have the same power as him. I can fight for myself."
head. "This is too much for me in the morning. I...
say you
and his eyes tells me he's saying the truth. "I need to go Nick."
drive
wanna
two fucking years, how could I have been so blind? How could I have been so insensitive about the things happened to me? I'm so mad at myself for not finding out sooner. I'm so mad at Nick
me everything I need to know. They need to tell me the truth. When the cab arrived outside our house, I hurriedly rushed to the
are the people here?" I asked the maid and as soon as I saw Cameron coming off the stairs, I
Hey sis! What brings
You're home. Now you can tell me why you
looked surprised. "Lied
give me that look anymore, I won't fall for that!
to fight about something that we lied to you
have been in agony for two years cos you
"What are you talking
the maids were looking at us, shocked as hell of what I have done. Cameron slowly turned his head back to me while holding
I loved him so much Ron! You knew how much I loved Nick and
come here to talk about that guy who left
"Because he needed it!"
hear the
all the yelling about?" I knew
and faced my parents. How they look so perfect right now, standing like that in front of me, disgusts me. My fists are shaking. I'm so mad at them. They
why are you crying?" Mom
"Princess what happened?"
calling me baby. Stop calling me princess. You
were taken
"Savannah what--"
big liars!"
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!