Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter 0394

Pete collected his smile and said in a deep voice, “So What? As long what the media writes about me.”

as you come with me,

you come with me, I wouldn’t care

Perhaps my expression was too tense, but Pete suddenly reached out to pinch my cheeks and form a smile on my face.

“I never tried running from a wedding. Just the thought of it fills me with excitement!”

I cupped my cheeks and took a step back. My groans of pain had also scared him.

He quickly raised his hands up and said apologetically, “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry. I thought I didn’t use any strength.”

Of course, I knew he didn’t use any strength, but Nicholas had pinched my cheeks so tightly last night that they still hurt.

Pete noticed something was wrong, and his gaze darkened. “Are you hurt?”

He pulled the arm I was using to hold my cheek and began pushing my sleeves up. He was immediately greeted with the sight of bruises littering my arm.

He wasn’t a dumb and naive kid. He knew what had happened to have caused such bruises. But if only my arm was in such a state, then what about the rest of my body? He didn’t even dare to think…

“He did this to you! He did it because of me! He’s taking it out on you! Back then, I wanted to do it with you, but I couldn’t bear to hurt you! How could he do this to you?

“I won’t get married. No matter what, I’m not going through with this wedding. Just leave with me. We’ll take advantage of the media and announce that we’re together!”

As we spoke, he went to open the door. He looked so determined it was as if nothing else mattered.

“Pete! Calm down!”

“Didn’t you tell me that you were trying to get along with him again? How could he do this to you? How am I supposed to calm down? I thought that by backing down, you’d be happy.

“I would be fine with that if it meant your happiness. I didn’t

are about who I married, and I was ready to trade it for power, authority, status, and things that I could have.

“At the very least, I didn’t think it was a bad deal for me. But looking at you now, what’s the use of those materialistic things? Since he can’t give you happiness, then I’ll be the one to give it to you!”

“Pete, I don’t love you!”

“What did you say?” Pete tightened his grip around the door handle until his knuckles turned white. “Yes, I know. I’ve always known.”

“I’m just like you. I gave my heart to someone when I was young. If I can’t be with him in this life, then who I will be with doesn’t matter. So, Pete, I don’t love you.

I knew my words were cruel, but I had no other choice. During the short time where we were together, it felt likn

a small novelty in life. It wasn’t deep, nor was it anything unforgettable.

We gave it our ab and encrificed everything we had, yet we both ended up in such a state We should cherish what we have if I were to go through that again, the only thing i had left to offer was my life.

Pete we both gave it a try. Although we failed, we have nothing to regret. We should let the past stay in the past

“No! I do have my regrets?”

“But how much are regrets worth? Regret is one of the host common emotions humans feel. Could regret outweigh the billion–dollar contract that you’ve signed?

“Could it outweigh the orders you’ve received from your father and your brother? Could it outweigh the life of Lucia’s unborn child? Or could it possibly outweigh your own freedom?”

Pete’s head dropped as if it weighed a thousand pounds. “You’re being too rational. If you’re willing to do something crazy with me once, you wouldn’t worry about all these.”

“You should think about the consequences If your wedding gets canceled today, all of the collaborations you have with Annie’s family will go down the drain.

“All of the brand endorsements you’ve received for the celebrities back in our country will be gone along with all of your resources within the fashion industry.

“Let’s not talk about the penalty you’ll have to pay for the breach of contract, but a lot of big companies would start boycotting your family’s company because of your actions.

“Also, the collaboration between Nicholas and the Goodmans will also come to an end. His cooperation

with Annie would also end.”

Pete nodded. “I did think about everything you’ve mentioned, but I believe we’ll be able to get of these hurdles. As long as you-*

through all

At the end of the day, he still wasn’t willing to accept the fact that Nicholas could control his life. All he ever wanted was to be with Ariana.

I interrupted him and said, “I won’t destroy everything just because of some mere feelings. I don’t have the kind of love where I’m willing to give up everything I have.

“Also, even if I’m willing to give everything up, we also won’t be able to get back together. Am I wrong?”

Pete laid back on the wall for support. He looked like he had just been beaten to the ground as his whole demeanor faltered.

“I’ll only have the right to be with you once I’m as strong and capable as Nicholas.”

I did not choose my man based on his qualifications, but I could understand why he believed that, considering the circumstances.

Nicholas wasn’t willing to let me go, and his stance on the situation said everything.

“Ariana, I just want to ask you one thing. Even if I’m willing to run from my marriage for you, would we still not have a chance at being together?”

I looked at him. “How did you come here? Yasmine will be coming over soon. You can carpool and head back to the wedding venue together.”

Pete smiled bitterly. “I got it.”

Then, he said, “There’s a secret I’ve kept for a long time now. Since we no longer have any chance of being together, I don’t want to keep it from you anymore.”