"Sorry, Arnold, | just feel...this is the best for both of us." Arnold didn't see it that way. He loved her more than Leopold ever could, and he was the one who could truly make her happy.
"Is this about Kane?" Aurelia hung her head, with her voice barely above a whisper. "Leopold had to divorceto save me. His marriage to Megan was just a sham." A nerve in Arnold's heart twisted with a vicious snap.
Leopold's marriage was a sham, yet he had genuinely tied the knot with Lisa and they had a child together.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIt was his own doing and he had shattered the bond between them with his bare hands.
Arnold should have divorced Lisa sooner, instead of dragging it out until now.
Then she wouldn't be worried about Lisa and their daughter, Nova.
He slumped into the couch, cradling his head in his hands, with his eyes slowly reddening.
"Tomorrow, I'll go and file for divorce from Lisa." Aurelia was taken aback. "Arnold, give Lisa a chance. She loves you. Do it for Nova's sake," she pleaded.
But Arnold harbored only resentment for Lisa. If it hadn't been for her conspiring with Magnolia to deceive him, he wouldn't have lost Aurelia.
"You wantto be with a woman | despise?" His voice was hoarse, laced with pain.
For a moment, Aurelia didn't know how to respond.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe walked to the fridge and pulled out two bottles of chilled fruit juice, handing one to him.
After taking a sip, she spoke with a touch of sorrow, "Arnold, it seems we're destined to cross paths but not to be together. If it were meant to be, we wouldn't have missed our chance right from the start. When | first saw you in Willowbrook, you were like a prince stepping out of my fantasy world, everything | ever imagined in a partner. | thought you were the soulmate from heaven just for me, and | wanted to seize that destiny to hold on to you. But after leaving Willowbrook, | never heard from you again. | tried calling, but your phone was off. Messages | sent you on Whatwere never replied to. | figured you didn't want to contactanymore, that it was all just wishful thinking on my part." "When we met again, | was already Leopold's wife. Those three years living in Goldstone might have been our last connection.
Leopold foundand forcedto return to Elysium, wanting to reconcile. But to me, he was already history. | had only one thought to divorce him at any cost. | had chosen you and wanted to marry you, to be your true wife, to return to our hin Goldstone." She choked up, "But then, you suddenly toldyour mom was sick, that you needed to marry another woman to save her. That's when | knew our twas over. Leopold is not gentle with a bad temper and overbearing. He's not the partner | fantasized about, but he never gave up on me, even when | left. He chose to wait forand | suppose | owe him that chance, right?" She was saying goodbye to her first love, the one she had fallen for at first sight.
Now, in her heart, there was only room for Leopold, and Arnold would forever be just a dear friend and family.
Arnold trembled his shoulders slightly, with a tear escaping his eye.
Was their connection at its end? The fate had given him a chance to make amends, but he had let go of her hand and married another. He deserved to lose her, as punishment.
Aurelia lifted her hand to his shoulder.
"Arnold, forget me. You'll find someone else who will make your heart race, someone who's truly meant for you." Arnold felt a bitter taste in his mouth, like the sting of wormwood, spreading from the tip of his tongue to the deepest part of his being.