The Unveiled Rose

Had Leander penned this letter to Luna on the eve of our wedding? And was the other letter Luna's reply to him?

[I've enclosed your letter in mine and sent it back to you.

Leander, I'm truly happy now, and I hope you can wish me well.

And please, let's not contact each other anymore. I wouldn't want my husband to misunderstand.]

As I'm pouring over these letters, it all clicked.

Luna was clearly Leander's one that got away. However, Leander harbored such resentment towards Luna.

My grip on the mop tightened unconsciously.

Luna had once betrayed Leander.

Leander convinced himself to overlook Luna's past mistakes, to ignore the hurt she had caused him. It was all for Luna to return to his side. Unfortunately...Luna rejected him.

Only now did I finally understand why, back at the wedding, the mere mention of Luna by his friends stirred such a reaction in him. So, why did he keep these letters?

Was it a reminder to himself to remember Luna's coldness and to make a firm decision to keep his distance from her? To start anew with me?

Or was he afraid... after giving up everything and facing the disgrace of abandoning his wife, Luna still does not want him.

I closed my eyes.

The pain was nearly enough to knock me out.

Maybe it was just as Nigel said, Leander only ever loved Luna.

So, when contemplating a future with Luna, he never considered how his choices might hurt me...

"Ring, ring."

I stood in the study for what felt like an eternity until the sound of my phone jolted me back to reality.

I picked up without a second thought.

"Honey?"

Through the phone, Leander's voice seemed even deeper, more enticing.

He was always so gentle. "What are you doing?"

Leander was always like this around me - caring and generous. He worried that I might feel uneasy in this unfamiliar city. He was all-embracing, even careful not to speak harshly to me. I should have felt content.

But now, just hearing his voice reminded me of how I was head over heels for him, willing to cross oceans to his city and eager to walk down the aisle with him...

While he was desperately pleading for his lost love to return.

Perhaps he even complained to friends about my arrival ruining his chances of reconciliation with Luna.

"Why the silence?"

Leander was taken aback by my lack of response.

I didn't know how to face Leander anymore, but clearly, this wasn't the time to keep silent.

Glancing at the photo and letters on the desk, I said, "Mopping the floor."

"I called to remind you..."

Leander paused, then continued, "There are some highly confidential business documents on my desk, so you don't need to tidy the study. I'll take care of it when I get back." Before, I would have joked and said, "Can't I take a peek?"

But now, those words just wouldn't come out. After a long pause, I managed a simple "Okay."

Leander hung up.

I left his study with the mop in hand.NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

Why didn't he want me to see those letters?

Was he afraid I'd be heartbroken to know he wasn't truly committed when he married me?

Or was it because he's always loved Luna, not me?

Or perhaps...

He's already planning to leave me...