CHAPTER 36
“Why are you being so silent?” Norman asked as he stared at Fate. They were having dinner in the most expensive hotel in Japan.
Fate stopped eating and gave him a quick glance before continuing eating. Somehow she didn’t have anything to say so she just kept silent.
“Did something happen to your tongue? Or did you suddenly lose your voice?” Norman asked, this time in a teasing manner.
“Are you trying to act dumb or what?” Fate asked in a mocking manner. She then gave Norman a cold stare.
“Ouch! You’re really ready to bite! How come you haven’t lost your feisty side? You know you should be good to me… or else…” Norman quickly stopped talking and smiled as if something had entered his mind.
“Or else what? Are you going to blackmail me again? Aren’t you tired already? I already agreed to marry you… what else do you want?” Fate asked in a raised tone.
Norman laughed. “Relax. I was just trying to start a conversation and you’re already on a defensive mode. Can’t we just return to our normal life before? Can’t you treat me the way you used to? Can’t you be nice to me?” he asked with a hurt look in his eyes that he immediately tried to hide.
Fate suddenly stopped glaring at the man in front of her. Somehow her heart was pinched and unexpectedly felt a small amount of pity for him. Her stare softened and she just decided to lower her head before speaking again. “I really don’t know how to act around you Norman. Somehow… what you did has totally changed the way I look at you. So you can’t really expect me to be friendly and you can’t expect me to just forget everything and pretend that nothing happened. You’re forcing me to marry you… and you’re doing it in the most despicable way.”
Norman didn’t know what to say in return. His heart was feeling heavy with grief and sadness. He had never loved any woman before, the way he had loved Fate. And the way she was treating him was slowly killing him inside. Yes, he wanted to have her. And he knew what he did was going to ruin the way she respects him forever. But it was the only way he knew how so he could have her.
Again felt pity for Norman as she silently looked at him. “Why did you choose to get married here Norman? Why? We can get married in Australia, in Germany… why here?” she suddenly asked with a soft voice. Somehow she wanted to know.
Norman looked up and met her stare. “I wanted to…” he suddenly stopped talking. He didn’t have the strength to continue what was on his mind. “You wanted… what?” Fate asked again.
Norman shook his head and smiled bitterly. “I really can’t say what is going on in my mind when I chose to get married here. But… what I am doing is for you… Please believe me when I say… I just want to make you happy. So just try to follow all my plans. And I believe… everything will soon turn out okay,” he said in the most honest way.
Fate felt the sincerity in his answer. She couldn’t help but smile. Somehow she again saw the same old Norman that she had met before. “Norman… I don’t know what you’re planning. But I hope you will try to see what is right and what is wrong.”
He smiled back at her. “We have a few days left before our wedding… Do you think you can be nice to me… again… even if it is for the last time?”he asked with sadness in his eyes.
Fate couldn’t explain what was happening. She was totally confused with the way Norman was acting. “What is happening to you?” she couldn’t help but ask.
Again he smiled with a hurt look in his eyes that was making Fate feel sad and a bit guilty. “God, why am I feeling this way? I have the right to be mad, but why is it that I feel like I am doing something wrong? Why is he sad? Is he sad because he’s marrying me?” Fate asked herself.
Norman tried to pretend that he was eating but somehow he couldn’t swallow the food that he had placed inside his mouth. It was like something was stuck in his throat. At that exact moment, how he wished that he was Max. He was willing to trade everything he had to be the one that Fate loved. He wanted to cry. But he couldn’t. He needed to act like he was in control. No one has ever made him cry in his entire life. And he certainly wasn’t going to cry now… just because of a woman.
“Norman…” Fate uttered slowly. She had already noticed the unexplainable expression on his face. She knew there was something wrong. And even though she was angry with him, she still couldn’t deny the fact that she was concerned about him. There was still a soft spot in her heart that was caring for the man who had been her friend for so many years.
Norman looked straight at her. Their eyes met, and at that unexpected moment… Fate saw the real Norman, the man who loved her with all his heart.
“Can you pretend to love me even if for just a few days? Can you do that please?” he begged.
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