Chapter 13 The Truth
I let out a slow breath and laid out every obstacle between us.
"We're not suitable. Our family backgrounds, social status, and financial situations don't match."
"Your family would never agree to us being together. And you still have that childhood betrothal."
"Besides..." I paused for a few seconds, my voice turning slightly hoarse. "Your friends don't really respect me."
Shen Zong stared at me without blinking. A thin layer of red rimmed his eyes.
His hands at his sides clenched suddenly, knuckles turning white.
His voice was hoarse beyond measure.
"So... this is the real reason you wanted to break up with me?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, Baby. I didn't know you were carrying all of this alone."
The moment the words left him, Shen Zong pulled me into his arms.
His voice came muffled against my ear, thick with tears.
"I made my stance clear to my family long ago. My marriage is my decision. You don't need to worry. They'll like you."
"I did have a childhood betrothal, but I ended it myself after high school started. All those online reports are fake."
"As for my so-called friends not respecting you, those people don't even count. The only one I'm really close to is Qin Yue."
"Baby, I'm really sorry. It's my fault for not noticing sooner, for not giving you enough security. I..."
As he spoke, a few cold drops slid into the crook of my neck.
My body stiffened.
Shen Zong walked me to my door and left.
Before going, he asked me to reconsider our relationship.
I lay in bed, my mind a mess.
Before he told me these things, I had already convinced myself we had no future.
So I kept pushing him away.
While I pushed him further and further, he kept walking firmly toward me.
Even after believing he was just a Stand-In, he humbled himself to the point of offering to be my second boyfriend.
He had already taken ninety-nine steps toward me.
Now the last step... I should be the one to take it bravely.