Chapter 320: But I do
Love is not pity.
There is a fine line between the two concepts, though we sometimes fail to see it.
That was what Jessa and Allison told Penny. They explained that the accompaniment of love is compassion and that many people often confuse these feelings for various reasons. They believed Penny was kind and cherished this man as a friend from the past, but they also warned her:
[If you do not see them as people you could keep around as friends or spouses or bond with, do not go out of your way to assist them, because that could send a very confusing message.]
That was the summary of Jessa and Allison’s advice to Penny, whom they believed was confused about her feelings. Not that they were blaming Penny. This was the first time Penny had thought of this or faced a dilemma like this one, so they understood her confusion.
Lying on the bed and thinking about her dinner with her parents, Penny stared blankly at the ceiling. She had been pondering what her mother and aunt had told her, but she still couldn’t fully understand it.
"I pity him, that’s true," she murmured. "But I don’t think I found him attractive because of that."
Another deep exhale slipped past her.
This dilemma shouldn’t be a problem for her. However, since she and Zoren were in this mysterious marriage together, playing husband and wife in front of his grandmother, Penny knew she had to have a clear understanding of her heart.
"Aunt said I should try to spend time with him because that’s the only way I can be sure of my feelings," she whispered, glancing at the phone on the bedside table. "Should I call him?"
Shifting her eyes to the clock next to the phone, another shallow breath escaped her. "It’s late, and if I called him, I’d just sound suspicious. I mean, there’s really not much I could talk to him about."
The divorce was put on hold even though they had planned to sign the papers. The bodyguards were already deployed to Zoren. The only things personally tying them together were their marriage certificate and Old Mrs. Pierson.