Isabella's POV
When he smiled at me and I didn't reciprocate, his countenance changed and he figured out that something was wrong.
He must have figured out my answer just from merely looking at my unsmiling face because the next thing he does is sigh heavily.
He stretches his hand for me to take and I hesitate. Jayden is lurking around somewhere watching us. I can't let him touch me anyhow he wants now that Jayden and I are together because I know how jealous Jayden can be.
What is between Jayden and me doesn't feel right but I love it. I love how he makes me feel.
"Is everything ok?" He questions, watching me carefully.
"I have some things to tell you", I declare openly, standing awkwardly in front of him.
He flashes me a smile, his cute face looking peaceful. "Let's sit, then?"
I nod.
Leading me to the street bench, he continues smiling as he peers down at me, as though he can read through me.
I am thinking of how to reject him politely and also tell him about my marriage to Jayden. Will he take it the hard way? It is more like I deceived him all along by not telling him that I am a married woman.
"I am married", I announce sharply and surprise fills his expression. His mouth drops open slowly but he is quick to close it back.
"Married?" He chuckles, looking around and making me feel like a clown.
Why isn't he taking me seriously? Do I look like someone who is making a joke right now?
"Yes, I am married", I repeat firmly.
"I thought you came to Verona to find love like you put it to me the other day and…"
"Yes, that is true", I interrupt him. I said I was here to find love but not anymore. Like Grandma would say, love will always find its way to you. I didn't find love in New York but I came here to find that true love that they all say exists and here I am.
Jayden came to find me. Love came to find me on its own.
Jayden might not feel the same way about me but I love him. I have always felt deep affection for him but getting married to him increased that affection.
He is a broken man and I am going to be patient till he can accept me wholeheartedly and love me for who I am.
"I didn't tell you all along about the marriage because it was sort of fake until last night", I mutter, looking down at my fingers as a blush creeps to my face making me red like a tomato.
"Until last night?" He sounds like he can't believe what I am saying.
I summon up the courage to look him in the eyes. "Yes. It was just a marriage on paper and I thought we didn't love each other…"
"And now you think you love each other? What are you even saying?"
He doesn't understand my point. How do I tell him that it took me a trip to Verona to realize that Sabrina and Eunice were right and that I am in love with Jayden?
How do I tell him that it took me bumping into him to realize I can't love anyone but Jayden? How do I tell him that it took Jayden just a week of my absence to realize how much I mean to him?
"It was a contract marriage", I reveal sharply and he scoffs as he exclaims.
"What?!"
"Yes, we were supposed to be married for a year due for some reasons but we have agreed to be with each other because we are…", I don't know the right words to use. "attracted to each other."
"Attracted? Is that all?"
"No", I shake my head. "We love each other."
He continues to look at me for a while before averting his gaze as silence creeps in.
"You are married", he says more like an affirmation. "Good luck, then."
His laughter doesn't sound genuine to me and I don't know if there is more I want to say to him.
I had memorized the things I wanted to say to him and said them over and over again in my head as Jayden and I left Alejandro's place with a car and we both drove here.
Now that Jayden and I are together, it is way easier to act real. I didn't even know about the truth of Jayden's worry last night until Alejandro asked me why I didn't pick up my calls last night and where I went.
I saw Alejandro's missed calls but I didn't call back because I thought he wanted to check up on me.
It was after he told me how he got a distress call from Jayden last night and how he laughed when he told me how breathless Jayden was that I believed Jayden was being honest about getting worried over my absence.
All of this is pointing to the fact that Jayden feels the same way I feel towards him. It might just be too early for him to admit it or be able to express his feelings to me freely.
He still needs to get over Helena and I will be patient. I will help him pull through and find love again. I will make him happy again, not broken.
"So Jayden is your husband?" Romeo's voice jerks me out of my reverie. When I snap my head towards him, I see him holding his phone which has the picture of Jayden.
"New York's youngest billionaire who got married recently is your husband?" He turns to me with a raise of the brow and I nod, gulping loudly.
I should have known that the internet would reveal it all. Did he see this picture before I told him the truth?
"Jayden Russell who married his Assistant", it comes out as a remark instead of a question. "Why didn't I even think of it? So you were his Assistant?" I nod meekly, watching his face with pity.
"And then he forced you to marry him…"
"What? No!" I defend sharply with furrowed brows.
"He didn't force you?" He asks, faking a worried look.
"I told you it was a contract marriage but not anymore. I needed money for my grandma's surgery and he was willing to help if I am to accept his offer of a marriage for a year…"
I pause. Why am I telling Romeo all of this? What if he uses this against me or tries to threaten Jayden and I with this information?
Oh, shit! What have I done?
"Go on, your story is really interesting", he smirks.
"Romeo, I just came out here to tell you that my husband and I are real now and the answer to your request is no. I love Jayden…"
"You love him, that is understandable but does he love you?" He cuts me short. "It is very easy for a poor woman like you to love a man like him but do you know if he loves you or this is just one of his tricks to use and dump you afterwards?"
My jaws drop.