I Marry for Real, and Now They Regret It

Chapter 7

I stared at him, every word coming out slow and deliberate.

Arnold's face twisted in disbelief, and he stumbled back, almost like he couldn't process what was happening. "This can't be… How could you marry someone else?"

He grabbed my hand, his voice shaking with desperation as he shouted, "Sara, don't you remember what you said? You wanted to marry me. You wanted to be with me... So how can you be marrying someone else now?"

"Tell me it's a lie! Tell me everything was just some game!"

Jerome, who had been right behind me, stepped in immediately, pulling Arnold's hand off me with force.

"Sara and I are married now. Don't touch her again."

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

Was he serious?

Back then, I begged him to marry me, and he'd dismissed me as clingy. He told me I wasn't even worth a second of his time compared to Esther. And now, he was playing this little act? Was he trying to make me feel guilty?

Arnold grabbed my hand once more, his voice desperate, his grip tight.

"Sara, give me one more chance. Please."

I took Jerome's hand, my heart set on leaving all of this behind as I turned away.

When we finally reached Jerome's place, I let out a long breath, the weight of the day catching up with me. I hesitated before speaking.

"Sorry, Jerome. Don't let what they said get to you."

I fiddled nervously with my fingers, my words tumbling out. "If... if my past is too much for you, we can always... get a divorce later." I couldn't stop myself from worrying that I was dragging him into a mess that wasn't his.

Jerome gently cupped my face, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. "What are you talking about, Sara? Did I do something wrong?"

I shook my head quickly. Today, he'd stood by me. He'd been there for me, making my grandma smile, and doing everything right. What was there to feel bad about?

"Then why would you want a divorce?" he asked softly, looking at me like he couldn't understand.

I didn't know how to answer. I wasn't even sure I could explain what was going on inside me—how I felt like I wasn't good enough for him.

Jerome seemed to read the unease in my eyes. He pulled me into a tight embrace, his warmth instantly soothing. "Don't overthink it. Everything I said today? It was from the heart. Every word. You deserve someone who truly sees you, Sara."

His words hit me like a wave, and I felt the tears threaten to spill. "Thank you, Jerome."

He leaned in, his gaze intense, locking onto mine, and for a moment, I could hardly breathe. Then, just as quickly, he grinned, breaking the tension.

"What are you thanking me for?" he teased, a playful spark in his eyes.

I wanted to thank him for everything—standing by me at the wedding, promising Grandma he'd take care of me, standing up to Arnold and his petty mockery, and for accepting me despite my past. But when I opened my mouth to speak, nothing came out.

Jerome chuckled, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "Sara, you're still just as clumsy as you were when we were kids."

I stared at him for a long moment, and then it all hit me.

"It's you!" I gasped.

I threw my arms around him tightly, everything falling into place like puzzle pieces finally coming together.

When my mom divorced my dad, we moved to the countryside, and life there wasn't easy. I was small and frail, and the other kids didn't want to play with me. So, I'd sit alone in the grass, drawing or talking to the chickens.

But there was one boy who played with me. He told me his name was Jerome, and he taught me how to write his name, how to set little traps to catch birds.

I always thought his name was too hard to write, so I just called him Jerry.

Jerome's voice dropped, sadness creeping in. "After that, I never saw you again."

"When my mom passed, I went to live with my dad, and we lost touch. You were always in my thoughts... I searched for you everywhere. And you? You completely forgot about me."

His voice was soft, almost vulnerable, and I could feel the weight of the years we'd missed.

"You have no idea how long I searched for you, Sara. And then... you didn't remember me. That hurt."