During this time too, I decided to return to town. Sharon had protested and even pleaded for me to stay since she could not leave the business but I couldn''t. I needed the space and time to really think. But no matter how much time I used to get ready or whatever decision I came to, the marriage would still hold. Due to the nature of the arranged marriage and the documents I had signed with my eyes wide open, the marriage must be held.


    I had thought it was okay. But when I saw Anastasia again, it scrambled my head even further and made me realized that I would never be ready for the marriage or to return to the rtionship I was building with Sharon. And so I did the only thing I could do, I avoided Sharon and the impending marriage in every manner I had the power to.


    Now, sitting across the table from me, her eyes steady on my from the rim of her ss of iced Americano, I pondered for the umpteenth time how I would ever escape her or the marriage.


    "Have you been listening to me?" She chuckled lightly as she gently ced her cup back on the table.


    I forced a corner of my lips up. "I have."


    "So," she smiled brightly, "Where do we start from? It''s been so long."


    "Yeah Feels like eons. How have you been?"


    She shrugged, sitting up a bit and flicking some of her hair behind her shoulder "As you can see, I''ve been well. But I feel great now that I''m with you." She took another sip of her coffee. "Though I will be honest with you. It hurt that you ignored me."


    I almost let out a sigh. "How do I exin this?" I sat up. "It''s a long discussion on its own but in a nutshell, I have been terribly busy with work."


    She nodded, "I understand how busy work can make one but you should have tried to make time for me. I''m your fiancee." She sucked in her bottom lip and wrapped her fingers around the coffee mug, "I felt really mugged off. It took a lot for me to be here. I was scared you''ve moved on to someone else."


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to make you feel that way." I was really sorry. Sharon was a good business partner and a friend. Even a good lover but finding Anastasia has changed everything and I just cannot be with her again and I have no idea how to make that happen.


    She


    brightened up, now starting me straighter in the eyes. "I''m here now and I can see you''ve remained loyal to me. But now, I''m hoping things will be different and we''ll be back to the way we were before you left." Iwanted to tell her right there and crush all of those hopes. I wanted to let her know that I had no Interest in neither her nor the marriage anymore. But I could not bring myself to do that to her. She looked so hopeful and happy, and I would be a jerk to lead her own. It would also take some hassle nullifying the contract we''d signed but then, I can''t afford to make any stupid moves until I''m a hundred percent certain of it-which at the moment, I''m not.


    Besides, with the way Anastasia seemed to have forever written me off, I needed more time to sort out my thoughts and feelings. Should I go with the safe option or was I ready to put myself out there again. and risk it getting crushed another time?


    #


    I nodded at her excited yappering. Her date ns for us, the vacations we will go on. Our wedding themes and so many many ns that I wondered how she ever thought they would happen. "How long do you n to stay, Sharon?"N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    She quickly dropped her mug and covered her mouth as she burst out into augh. "Did you just ask me


    that?"


    I frowned, "I guess I did. How long will you be here for?" I was eager to hear her response.


    "What do you mean, Aiden? Do I look like I''m here for a vacation?"


    "It''s possible."


    "Please, stop it if you''re joking," she waved me off.


    I shifted in my seat. This was not sounding good at all


    "I''m not joking, Sharon. I want to know so I can. I trailed off. So I can do what?


    Sharon looked up at me and asked the same question.


    "So I can." I opened my mouth and closed it for a while. "With all the ns you have for us, I need to know so I can know how I''d fit them in my schedule."


    She smiled softly, her eyes glimmering as she covered my hand with hers, "I''m staying here for as long as possible."