70 The Weight Of The Secret
Selma Payne’s POV:
“He took a leave and went home?”
“Yes, Miss.” The soldier on duty said, “Sir Aldrich will be back this afternoon.”
“Alright, thank you.”
After learning that Aldrich was not in the camp, my imposing manner instantly dropped by three levels.
“You’re not allowed to retreat! I’m not joking,” Maxine threatened me.
“But he’s not here… ”
“Then, go to his house. Don’t you know where Duke Frank’s mansion is?”
“Is there a need for that?”
“Of course, there is! Please get this straight, little princess; you and Aldrich did not just have a simple quarrel, okay? If you want both sides to agree that you’re done for, then don’t go. If you still love him, hurry up and explain it to them, so these two fools don’t have to act in a sh*tty drama! I don’t want to be the audience of that!”
“We’re not done!” I retorted softly, but I still did as she said.
I didn’t want anyone to see through me, so I asked the driver to send me to the park and lied that I had an appointment with the girls to meet here. After the driver left, he took a taxi to the duke’s mansion.
The security here was tight. The guard stopped the car from a distance and said politely but firmly, “I’m sorry, Miss. This is private property. Unauthorized people are not allowed in.”
“I’m here to see Sir Aldrich,” I told him calmly. “Tell him that I’m Selma, and he’ll understand. ”
The guard nodded and made a phone call. Half a minute later, he trotted over and said, “Forgive my rudeness, Miss. You can go in now.”
The tall iron door slowly opened.
Stepping on the soft grass, I felt like my heart was hanging in the air with my steps. But then, it broke free from my body and impatiently flew to Aldrich, staring at me like a tiger watching its prey. Once I said anything wrong or made any false move, it would fall without pity and tear itself into pieces.
The servant pushed the door open for me. Someone was standing in front of the door. He had been anxiously pacing back and forth, but when he saw the door open, he immediately put on a calm expression. However, he didn’t even know what to do with his hands. It was Aldrich.
“Good morning, Selma,” He smiled and greeted me as if nothing had happened yesterday. “Why are you here?”
I didn’t know how I was so calm. “We need to talk, Aldrich.”
He didn’t say anything, but he couldn’t keep his calm expression any longer and took me to his room.
As soon as we entered, he hugged me tightly and buried himself in my neck like a child.
𝒇𝘳𝗲𝚎w𝑒𝚋𝚗𝐨v𝒆l. 𝒄𝒐𝚖
I was shocked and subconsciously wanted to push him away.
“I don’t want to break up,” he said in a muffled voice.
“What?” I laughed and said, “I haven’t said anything yet.”
Aldrich raised his head and gently leaned on my forehead, saying, “If it was something good you wanted to say, you don’t have to say anything. I’m willing to do anything. If it’s a bad thing, you don’t have to say anything, either. I’ll never agree.”
“Then tell me, what is good and what is bad?”
“For example… ” He pouted like a child. “If you want to kiss me, it’s good. If you want to break up with me, like yesterday, it’s bad.”
I fell silent, and he put away his childish attitude.
After a while, he took my hand and said, “Let’s not give each other the cold shoulder anymore, okay?”
“You didn’t contact me. You didn’t send me any messages or call me.” I wanted to stay calm, but I couldn’t help but sob.
“It’s my fault,” Aldrich took me into his arms. “I was too timid. I didn’t dare to contact you. I was afraid you were still angry with me. Just thinking about your expression when you left yesterday, my heart feels like it’s about to break into pieces.”
‘Don’t!’
‘No!’
I couldn’t stand Aldrich apologizing to me, not knowing that his apology would only make me despise myself more.
So. I interrupted him and pushed him away. Then, holding back my tears, I said, “Aldrich, I have something to tell you.”
“… ”
He fell silent, and tears filled his determined eyes.
I forced myself not to look and spilled my guts and heart.
“I lost my composure yesterday. I know that nothing is going on between you and Carolyn. It’s just that… I care too much about you. I don’t want you to be involved with any other woman. Even if it’s just Carolyn’s unrequited love, which is sickening, I don’t think I can change that.
“I’m not angry at you for hiding it from me. In fact, I’m overjoyed at every consideration and protection you have for me. I said that because I felt guilty that you didn’t do anything wrong. But, Aldrich, I’m the liar. I’ve been hiding something from you from the beginning.”
Aldrich’s eyes widened in shock. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
“Of course, you don’t understand because I’ve been hiding it from you.” I was already sobbing. “I didn’t just lie to you; I lied to everyone. I love you so much, my lover, but I can’t stand being deceived. I don’t want the person you love not to be the real me. I don’t want our love to be hidden in the corner of the training ground.
“I hate keeping secrets!”
