Prologue
Chloe is devastated when she discovers that the Millers' business partner is her biological father. Her resentment toward her parents, who abandoned her in a dorm during her high school years, intensifies her emotions. As a result, Zack becomes the target of her anger.
Tears streamed down my face as my handsome fiance walked in. It felt like the beginning of "Beauty and the Beast."
Why did I have to belittle myself like that?
I tried to stay quiet, but a sob escaped my lips like the croak of a frog.
I was breaking.
Zack looked at me with sadness. I saw tears filling his eyes, but he remained silent, simply watching and listening.
"My dad's been living his life while I suffer!" I yelled, grabbing the necklace I kept in my bag. "I've held onto this necklace, hoping he'd come back one day. Fuck it!"
I raised the necklace to throw it against the wall, but that's when Zack stepped in. He grabbed the necklace with one hand and held me with the other. He lowered his head into my shoulder and embraced me tightly, allowing my fists to hit his upper torso as I released the necklace.
I broke down in his arms, gripping his shirt harder than I had ever gripped anything before. My tears soaked his shirt as my body shook against him.
"You can hit me if you want; I'm ready to help your wounds heal. Isn't that what you want? You want to make your pain go away, don't you? You give all that pain to me, I can handle it!" he said while his eyes fixed on mine.
I bit my lip, and Zack's words felt like a knife stabbing my heart. It hurt, but there was also a sense of relief.
"The wound will never heal if you don't open your heart to forgive and let go. Everyone makes mistakes; we are fragile and imperfect humans. But you can't blame your parents for what happened to you. How long will you keep hurting yourself, sweetheart? Do you enjoy living in fear of losing someone? Why do you allow yourself to be imprisoned by your past and your fears?"
I looked at Zack, who continued to speak. There was a sense of security in his words, and I admitted he was right.
****
