Chapter 377
Chapter 377:
“He doesn’t actually know Félix. The only reason he knew the name was because I let it slip once when we were out to eat. Remember that day I told you about someone watching us from across the restaurant? I think that’s when it all started — and when he began digging into my life p>
“All right, but answer me this. Did you ever try to explain to him why you married him in the first place p>
“I did, Bryan. I genuinely did. But he wouldn’t hear it. Félix had already twisted the whole story, and Daniel chose to believe every word of it. He decided I was nothing more than a cheat — someone who had betrayed her former fiancé and everyone who had ever trusted her p>
My voice faltered as tears gathered at the corners of my eyes. “I can’t even find the words for what I’m feeling. I’m furious and heartbroken at the same time p>
“You know, when he finally came back, I decided to tell him everything. I wanted to explain my past, why I chose to marry him, and what truly pushed me to open up. But he caught me off guard when he claimed he already knew the truth. For a moment, I actually hoped he would support me. I wanted to believe he had genuinely listened to my side of things. But it turned out he was just repeating more of Félix’s lies. I had fooled myself into thinking he had changed — but I was wrong p>
“And because you thought he had changed, you probably believed things between you were finally moving forward p>
The question hung in the air as I stared down at my lap, saying nothing.
“You know, sometimes we end up breaking our own hearts simply because we let ourselves hope too much. If you had never fallen in love with him, do you think his accusations would hurt this deeply?” He tilted my chin up with his finger. “Tell me, Belle — is there really any difference between the things he used to say and the things he says now? Has anything actually changed p>
I could only shake my head slowly.
𝘙о𝗆𝖺nce 𝗻𝘰𝘃𝖾ls 𝗼ո
“Exactly. His words haven’t changed at all — he keeps repeating them. What changed are your feelings. It’s not his judgment that hurts you. It’s that you wanted him to feel the same way. You started believing that the way he cared for you meant something more, that he felt what you felt p>
He paused and offered a soft smile, though his eyes didn’t quite meet mine.
“And what am I supposed to do, Bryan? Just switch off my heart and disconnect from everything I feel for him? I wish I could. I really do love him. But I have no idea how to stop p>
“I never said you had to stop loving him, Belle.” He shook his head slowly. “If your heart still holds something for him, that’s all right. You can keep hoping if you want to. Just don’t tie yourself to expectations, because expectations only set you up for disappointment. Sometimes it’s better to be pleasantly surprised than to be let down by something you were counting on p>
The words “expectation” and “disappointment” turned over in my mind, and suddenly a decision settled within me.