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I perchedher run her hair beneath the stream of water “Why didn’t you tell me about your mother? About your father and your financial situation?” I asked, needing to hear why

“I was ashaton is”

“But I’ton”

She turned her head to look at lass “No You ton But your opinion ofand over everyone else So I hid everything to try to preserve that” She sighed “And in the end, I ht to know the truth My truth”

“I don’t hate you,” I confessed “The opposite, in fact”

She turned off the water, and I handed her a towel Her hand brushed ain “The opposite?” she asked, her voice quivering as she did

“I love you, Bellamy” I took her into“I’ve always loved you… since the first days in the high school lunchroom”

“I love you,” she“So much”

“I just wish I had known,” I murmured into her hair “I would have helped”

She shook her head, her face still against my chest “I never would have asked that of you” She pulled her face away and looked up at me “And I still won’t I know you are a man of your word, but it’s not fair to expect you to marry me by force”

“It’s not by force,” I said, loweringher softly “I would have never bid on your hand in ood on it”

She groaned and pressed her face back into ht… on me”