Chapter 8
“Sweetheart, Alexander truly cares for you,” my mother said. “The man we chose for you couldn’t possibly be wrong.”
I nodded, acknowledging Alexander’s thoughtfulness throughout the day.
Thinking about Ryan and Chloe’s engagement celebration while I’d been branded a thief, I finally decided to tell my parents everything about my relationship.
Ryan had pursued me in college, and we’d started dating before graduation. I’d heard vague mentions of his childhood friend but had never actually met Chloe, so I hadn’t worried about her.
There was a crystal snow globe on Ryan’s desk that I accidentally knocked over once while cleaning his study. He’d leapt up instantly and pushed me away.
“Don’t ever come into my study again! You’re not allowed to touch anything in here!” His face had been dark with
anger.
Yet when he turned to cradle the snow globe, his eyes had softened with unlimited tenderness.
As I sat on the floor where he’d pushed me, I noticed an inscription on the base of the snow globe: “From Chloe.”
Looking back on our six–year platonic relationship, I realized Ryan always said he loved me, but he would only stare at my lips or hold my hand. Beyond hugging, he never touched me, never even gave me a kiss.
When I asked why he showed no physical desire, he’d explained, “My family has traditional values. These things should wait until we’re officially engaged. This restraint is how I show my love.”
I’d been deeply moved by his supposed principles and became even more determined to be with him–even running away from home and rejecting the marriage my parents had arranged.
Now with Chloe’s return, everything became clear. All those years, Ryan had been saving himself for her.
On nights when Ryan was drunk, I’d sometimes hear him mumble that I couldn’t compare to even a strand of Chloe’s hair.
I’d dismissed these as drunken ramblings, but now I understood those midnight confessions had been his true feelings all along.
20:53
