Chapter 3 Breaking Up With Stacey

• Jared's POV
• I don't know if Stacey would agree to this but I didn't want to let her know about the details of my marriage. I decided to tell her that I had to marry Coleen and that's all. I didn't want her to think that, because of the company, I was willing to throw out our four-year relationship.
• To be honest, our relationship was too good to be true. We didn't fight or argue. Stacey was good at handling our relationship. She never gets mad at me. She was always understanding of all my flaws and it was as though she didn't have any.
• There were times when I didn't manage to get to her on time and she was in a boutique until it closed. The clothes she wanted were sold to another customer because I was late in getting to her because I was out of the country and my flight got delayed.
• She never gets mad at me, she said she understands and that she didn't take it against me. I felt so lucky when she said that. If it was another woman, they would have gone wild and initiated the fight. But she didn't. That's what made me fall for her.
• She's not the type to be so clingy either. When I said I couldn't do it, she wouldn't force it. She'd let me. Everything between us was running smoothly and I didn't think that mom would do such a thing.
• Last night I was thinking of many ways of how I should tell Stacey about my marriage to another woman. But I will try to make it up to her if she lets me. Stacey was a very understanding person, as far as I know, and I couldn't believe that mom and Ingrid couldn't see how good she was.
• For four years, they didn't say anything about her. That's why I was very shocked when they told me that I would have to marry Colleen and break up with her. Though I don't have any plans on marrying her yet, I looked forward to being her husband.
• I went to the Poppy Hotel where we usually see each other. I plan to get us both a villa we could stay in but I always change my mind and end up staying there. Maybe I was too early and I waited for her for more than an hour. I started to get worried when I heard the door open.
• As she came in, I stared at her. I was sad that we had to end up this way. She was smiling and she sat on my lap as soon as she neared me. She kissed me and I kissed her back.
• "I missed you honey," she said. We just met about a couple of days ago and there she is saying she missed me. Yeah, a couple of days. It was natural for us, there were times when we just saw each other once a week. Sometimes it was because of my business and sometimes because she was busy.
• "I missed you too." I decided to reply so she wouldn't get disappointed. "What took you so long?" I asked her. She smiled at me and said,
• "Now I'm sure that you missed me." She kissed me and I kissed her back. We only stopped when we needed air to breathe.
• "What do you want to talk about? I could feel that something was bothering you," she said. I already felt guilty knowing she was feeling uneasy as well.
• I looked at her intently. I didn't want to break her heart, but I had to do it. I am not the kind of man who took advantage of a woman's feelings that would continue our relationship that would destroy her.
• I would rather hurt her than continue what we had and give her a reputation as a mistress. Another thing, I may not be in love with Colleen, but I know how to value a woman. I had my mother and my sister to consider before hurting other women.
• Stacey, who was looking at me, smiling, was waiting for my response. So, I dropped the bomb and told her what I needed to tell her.
• "Let's break up." I said. Stacey was looking at me as if trying to comprehend what I had just said. After a few minutes, she asked.
• "Let's break up?" and I nodded, sadly. I couldn't say a word so I just did that.
• "Why? Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you in any way?" she asked continuously and I shook my head in disagreement with all her questions.
• "Then, why are you breaking up with me?" She asked.
• "Mom and Ingrid have arranged a marriage for me." I told her.
• "But you don't love her, you love me, right? Why did you agree to marry her?" She asked, crying. I was so hurt deep inside seeing her like that.
• "I'm sorry, I cannot say no to them." I just told her.
• "Is she rich? Would she help you with your company? Would it expand your business if you married her?" she asked again.
• "No, she's a nobody. She doesn't have any background at all," I told her. I wanted to tell her that Colleen was nothing compared to her, but I didn't want to have her hopes up. I don't want to encourage her. That may lead to my infidelity, which would only ruin her.
• " I'm sorry, Stacey. " I told her. She was crying already and I didn't want to see her that way, so I stood up and left the hotel. Leaving her all to herself, crying.
• I feel so worthless, I couldn't defend the woman I love. I hate myself for being so greedy. I know I was so bad that I broke up with her because of the company and I don't have a face to look at in the future. I just hope she will become successful with all her endeavors.
• And I think I would forever hate and punish myself for doing this to her.