Chapter 37

Mark's POV
Another awkward ten minutes followed and tension in the room was hard not to fathom. I kept shifting in my chair until the last utensil was taken away
"You were saying something Mark, "all the courage I had amassed before seemed to melt into the thin air
"I just wanted to say am really sorry about everything," I blurted out instead
"Mark, I can't say I have already forgiven you yet but maybe with time I will," she stood up going to her bedroom
Not wanting to be left with Kylie alone I followed Betty but of course she just had follow me
"Mark, we need to talk," she stated standing before me
"We have nothing to talk about. Just go to sleep," I brushed past me but as predicted she was quick enough to grab my right arm
"Yes we do Mark, Betty thinks you have a crush on me and with my mother here she is bound to find out sooner or later. If I were you I would tell her first. Tomorrow I'm going to meet Luke and I'm planning to tell him everything. So it's time you also own up to your part of the mistakes we made," she whispered
"I will tell her. Just give me time, okay?" I snapped
"That's the thing Mark. We don't have time," she tried to reason with me. I knew she was right
I studied her eyes for second longer as though they held the answer to all the questions running through my mind at the moment before crossing my arm
"I will do it right now only if you tell me what exactly you feel about me. If you don't love me then I'll understand and I'll walk away from your life forever but if you do, then I would gladly marry you once again. I really need to know where exactly I stand in your life Kylie. All this suspense is driving me nuts and I fucking hate it. I have done everything just to win you back but you keep pushing me away even though you know very well that I love you so freaking bad, "I was taken back a bit by the desperation in my own tone.
She must have been surprised too as looked at me for a few seconds before her lips parted slightly
"Mark, you've hurt me once when you cheated on me, I don't think I can take a second hit. I think I confused my love for you with lust. Mark please try to find your own happiness with Betty as I find mine with Luke, that is if we ever get back together,
"Yeah, you aright. Good night Kylie," I walked up the stairs into my room.
Staring at my suitcase longingly an idea struck me. I didn't need any advise to do what I had to do next. I had to admit acting all possessive about Kylie had done more harm than good. I hated her blatant rejection so without thinking further I stormed out of my room with determination in my gain.
*************
Kylie's POV
After wearing my favorite dark midi blue dress with matching stilettos I walked downstairs to find both Luke and Betty sitting on the couch with a clearly packed suitcase.
"Luke? I thought I was coming to meet you," I couldn't hide my surprise at his presence
"Well I figured I should probably come see the devil one last time," I didn't miss the heavy snorting in his voice
"Betty can you please give us a moment alone?" I gazed at her but she just smirked
"Why should I Kylie? I mean, you have been screwing my fiancée right under my fucking nose,"Oh!God! So Mark did tell her
"I was going to tell you, I swear,
"Really? And when were you planning to do so? On my coffin or what?
"I wanted to tell you but Mark said he would do it himself," where was Mark anyway? I wasn't supposed to be dealing with this alone
"Why Kylie? What did I ever do to you to deserve all this? We were childhood friends and yet you choose to do this to me. Ten years ago I left without a goodbye and when I come back to make everything right all I get is betrayal. Again. Well done Kylie. You took my prom king and destroyed what would been the best night of my life. Now you have taken away the one man that was my perfect match. Thanks to you he broke up with me stating just how much he still loves you. Once again I'm left with a poor broken heart," tears rolled down her cheeks multiplying the guilt gnawing me a hundred times.
"I'm so sorry Betty," I tried placing my arms on hers but of course she swatted them away choosing to go to her room instead
When things get so heated up the Mr. Control freak is nowhere to be seen. Plopping down on the couch I turned to Luke who looked composed
"Just go ahead Luke, call me all the insults you can think of. I know I deserve your anger so just let it all on me and I won't even try to fight back,
"You like it when guys are possessive right? Pack a few clothes because we are going somewhere right now. Don't keep me waiting in the car," he walked out.
I had expected him to shout at me but all he had just done was bark orders at me. Going against the better part of my judgment I packed a few clothes in my small leather suitcase
"He left this for you," I had not heard Betty approach until she slid an envelope on top of my bed proceeding to walk Betty, listen. I don't expect you to forgive me but you have to know I never meant for any of this to happen,
"You know what's funny? It's because I was so damn stupid. I should have guessed something was up the moment we arrived and maybe deep down I sensed it but was too scared to admit it. I saw the shock on your face the first day we arrived but I thought it was safe to assume it's because Mark was once popular with ladies. Then during dinner I would catch him glancing at you and other times he would be avoiding me. At first I really did think he was only hitting on you until I remembered something about him being divorced four years ago. Then the night he fainted Kylie I heard the moans and am pretty sure Luke heard them too. That was the night I realized I couldn't run away from the truth. Yes I was really mad at you because for the second time I had lost a man to you but I guess it doesn't change anything. Yesterday night Mark came to my room and confirmed my worst fears; that indeed he was still madly in love with you. The only reason am letting the two of you get back together without a fuss is because I love him enough to let him go," I was still reeling over her speech when she left the room.
Taking the envelope I tore it open to reveal Mark's handwritten letter
Dear love (or should I say ex-love?
I have never done this before but yet here I am writing you a letter. When I talked to you yesterday you made me realized we don't always have the things we love but that is not why I'm writing this letter. Four years ago we left things hanging. You thought I cheated on you but I loved you too much to do such a thing. That night my ex-fiancée had just found out I was married to you. She begged to meet me so she could have a closure and because I didn't want to worry you I never said anything. It was during our brief meeting that she got drunk and began kissing me before performing a lap dance. I was too surprised to move and when I recovered I took her back to her hotel. She was too wasted and I couldn't leave her just like that so I did the one thing that I didn't know would destroy my marriage forever. i stayed with her a whole night but nothing actually happened between us. Am really sorry you had to witness that on the media. You didn't even give me a chance to explain and the following day I saw you sharing a kiss with a guy you had told before was just a classmate. I was hurt too by that so I gave into the divorce. After that I kept my life off media until to this date
I wish you a happy life. I just hope Luke gives you all the happiness you deserve
Mark
A pang of regret hit the pit of my stomach at the thought that if I hadn't made a rush decision I would still be married to Mark. Just what the hell was wrong with me? I had just lost Mark a second time and yet all this time I was so mad at him for no reason. Rolling my suitcase I joined Luke in the car with Betty sliding in the back. I didn't even bother asking where we were going. I drifted into a short slumber only to wake up when we arrived at the airport
"Ill leave you guys to go ahead while I head back to the beach house. I still have two more weeks and don't worry I'll inform your mum because I'm pretty sure she is still asleep," Betty offered
Overcome by emotions I hugged her
"I have not forgiven you yet," she mumbled as I cleared off her.After going through the necessary details we were soon in an airplane.
The following two weeks were spent touring all the places I had dreamt of visiting; Paris, Milan, Miami, Mumbai and even Kenya. It was actually on our last day in Kenya while laying on the warm sands beside the beach when it happened
"Are you done?" Luke asked out of nowhere
"Done doing what?" I inquired
"Pretending. You think I haven't noticed how you are always drifting off? I have seen the look of regret in your eyes," he was staring at me
"Luke I'm happy with you here,
"Then marry me," he was already down on one knee with a clearly expensive ruby ring
"Luke…" I trailed feeling a little shocked
"So you can't marry me now huh? Just fucking say it Kylie! Why won't you marry me?" he was angry
"Because even no matter how had I try I'll never love you as much as I love Mark. He has always been the one in my heart Luke," I blurted
"Took you long enough," he walked away leaving me wallowing in a deep sea of guilt
I had just lost yet another man in my life over one who was a complete possessive asshole.
“What are we doing here?” I searched Luke's face for answers but got none
It’s been three months since I turned him down and yet here we were in New York City seated in one of the most extravagant restaurants. Suddenly I saw Victor and he was heading to our direction. I was too focused on Mark that I didn’t notice Mark slip awa.
“Luje said you had something to tell me,” there were faint bags under his eyes and a small stubble on his chin.
Oh! So this was why Luke had made me come here
“I didn’t like how we left things between us. I am really sorry for how I blamed you for the failure of our marriage. I would totally understand if your feelings for me have changed. It’s been over three months since I last spoke to you so if you have moved on its totally fine by me,” I rumbled feeling nervous.
“Will you marry me?
“I get it. You were pissed that I- wait what did you say?”I think my brain was probably fuzzed from the double shifts I had at the hospital for the past five days
He went down on one knee a large diamond ring exposed from is velvet red ring box
“I asked, will you marry me Kylie Louisa Carter
“Yes, I will marry you Mark Johnson ,” I didn’t realize how I consented to his proposal
“I didn’t get a chance to announce you to the world before but now I do,” he slipped the ring on my finger before rising up to draw me to a deep kiss.