Chapter 41: Her Smile
He took a deep breath and averted her eyes. He looked outside and sighed again before answering.
"The first time father asked me to go to your shop and convince your family to sell your property, I was against it. I have no interest in getting the properties in that area by force. But my father told me that he wouldn’t give me the company if I won’t do a simple task he asked. He knew if he used the company, I won’t be able to decline. Cross Realty was built by my mother. It was the only thing that reminded me of her so I have no choice." He started.
Nina was just listening to Andrew. She didn’t know anything about her fiance and she was glad he was starting to open up to her.
"When I first came to your shop, I saw you serving the customers. You were smiling and I know that was genuine happiness. I started having an interest in you so I hired someone to investigate you. I know it wasn’t a decent move but I really wanted to know you. That’s when I found out that you were an errand girl for the rich kids and you were sometimes bullied by them. My interest grew when every time I visited your shop, you would still serve your customers, including me with a smile on your face."
Then he looked at her. She saw sincere love and devotion in his eyes.
"You could say that was when I started falling in love with you. I just didn’t realize it early but Nina I am head over heels in love with you. I always asked if you are happy because I wanted to make sure that you are genuinely happy with me. I want to preserve your smile. So please if there’s anything that bothers you, tell me. Don’t tell it to someone else. Don’t lie to me again, don’t give me a fake smile because your genuine smile was already carved in my heart."
Tears started falling from her eyes. She stood up and rushed towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck while sitting on his lap.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lie to you. I don’t want you to worry about me. I don’t want to be a burden. But I felt anxious and degraded. Those girls treated me like trash. I was mad but I don’t want to fight back, thinking that I might ruin your name." She cried.
He held her tight and she felt him tense. He was mad seeing her cry like that.
"Then ruin me. You are the only one who can do that. If you want to fight them, do it. Don’t let them trample on you for the sake of my name. I am here to protect you, to support you, not the other way around. I fell in love with you because you are a strong woman. You are different from them. Show them who you are and what you are capable of. And please promise me, no more secrets." He said.