When we landed, I spotted him again and followed him outside. He hailed a taxi, and I did the same.
‘Follow that car, but keep your distance,’ I told the driver, who gave me a curious look but nodded. My pulse quickened as we drove.
The car stopped in front of a small house in a quiet neighbourhood. I asked the driver to stop a few houses down and quickly paid him.
Hiding behind a tree, I watched Robert get out of the taxi. He hesitated at the door, then knocked.
I held my breath, watching him closely. A moment later, the door opened and someone stepped forward.
From my position behind the tree, I couldn’t see who it was, but his silhouette made my chest tighten. Then, to my disbelief, Robert stepped inside.
I froze for a moment. Plucking up my courage, I crept closer to the house.
My hands trembled as I peered through the neighbouring window, my breath fogging up the glass. What I saw made my knees buckle.
Robert was inside, sitting with a woman I didn’t recognise. He leaned over and hugged her, just as he always hugged me.
Tears blurred my vision and streamed down my face, and my heart broke into pieces. I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
I don’t know how long I stood there, frozen and trembling. The sound of the front door opening brought me back to reality.
In a panic, I dove into the bushes, crouching low to remain unseen. From my hiding place, I watched Robert walk out onto the street, his expression unreadable. He got into another taxi and drove away without looking back.
Summoning all my courage, I emerged from my hiding place and approached the door. My legs trembled and my chest tightened as I raised my hand to knock.
A few moments later, the door opened and it was the same woman I had seen earlier. She looked at me with concern, but her gaze softened when she noticed the tears streaming down my face.
‘Are you all right? How can I help you?’ she asked gently, her voice calm.
I swallowed hard, struggling to find the words. ‘I’m Robert’s fiancée,’ I said, my voice trembling. ‘I’m supposed to marry him in two days.’
Her eyes widened in shock. She reached out to the doorframe to steady herself. ‘Please, come in.’ She stepped aside, inviting me to enter.
She led me into the kitchen, pulled out a chair for me, and handed me a glass of water.
I sipped it slowly, my hands shaking. She sat down opposite me, her expression kind but cautious.
‘I know how this must look,’ she said after a minute of silence. ‘But I promise, it’s not what you think. My name is Liz. I’m Robert’s first love.’
Those words hit me like a punch in the stomach. ‘That doesn’t make it any easier,’ I said, clutching the glass tightly. My thoughts swirled in a whirlwind of anger and confusion.
Liz sighed and leaned forward, her tone even. ‘He wasn’t cheating on you, if that’s what you’re worried about. When Robert was younger… he wasn’t the man you know now.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
‘Our relationship wasn’t healthy,’ Liz replied simply. ‘He needed to fix something in himself. He came here to apologise.’
“Apologise? Why now? Why before our wedding?” I asked, my chest tightening again.
‘Because he didn’t want to carry the burden of his mistakes into the future with you,’ Liz said. ‘He told me he loves you deeply. He wanted to make peace with his past so that it wouldn’t affect your life together.’
I shook my head, my voice trembling. ‘Why didn’t he tell me? Why did he lie?’
Liz smiled at me with an understanding smile. “We all have things we carry inside us. Some we share, some we don’t. I’m happily married with two children. Robert talked about you as if you were his whole world. You will make each other happy. We weren’t meant to be happy together, but you and Robert will be happy.”
I nodded slowly, not knowing what to feel. Liz offered to let me stay until my flight.
After meeting her family, I saw the love she had for her husband in her eyes. It reminded me of how I felt about Robert. Gradually, I began to calm down.
I arrived home just as dawn was breaking. Robert was waiting at the door, his face worried. As soon as he saw me, he hugged me tightly.
‘Catherine, where have you been?’ he asked, his voice tense. ‘I was so worried. I called you so many times, but you didn’t answer. I thought something had happened.’
I hesitated, not knowing how to begin. ‘It’s not… I don’t know what to say,’ I finally admitted.
Robert took a slight step back, his hands still resting on my shoulders. ‘Then let me start. I lied to you,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t on a business trip…’
‘I know,’ I interrupted, looking him in the eyes.
He nodded, regret reflected on his face. ‘I’m sorry I lied. I should have told you, but I swear I didn’t do anything wrong.’
‘I know,’ I said softly. ‘And I’m sorry too.’
Robert frowned. ‘Why are you apologising?’
‘Because I doubted you,’ I said, my voice trembling. ‘I followed you after Travis called and said you weren’t with him. I went to Liz’s house. I talked to her. She explained everything.’
Robert’s face softened. ‘Catherine, I love you,’ he said. ‘Only you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’
I felt a weight lift off my chest. ‘I know. Now I’m sure of it,’ I said, leaning forward to kiss him.
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