Chapter 2

LILIAN ROSEFORTH POV

I stood there frozen in the middle of the aisle, feeling as though every single word Carlos had spoken was etched deep into my soul, burning and tearing me apart from inside out.

The sound of people whispering, laughing, and murmuring around me felt like sharp thorns piercing my ears, every sound stinging and hurting me more than I could ever explain.

I wanted to run, I wanted to scream, I wanted to fall down and cry my heart out until I had no tears left, but my legs felt like heavy lead, completely unable to move, and my throat felt tight and blocked as if someone was tightly squeezing my neck, stopping me from breathing properly.

Everything I believed in, everything I trusted, and everything I worked hard for in the last five years was destroyed and shattered completely within just a few minutes.

The man whom I treated as my whole world, whom I supported through every hardship, whom I loved more than my own life, and whom I trusted blindly with everything I had… had thrown me away like rubbish, right in front of everyone, telling me clearly and loudly that I was nothing, absolutely nothing to him.

I looked around me with blurry tear-filled eyes, seeing all those familiar faces—friends, relatives, colleagues, and neighbors. Some looked at me with sympathy and sadness, shaking their heads pitifully as if saying

"We told you so, you foolish girl," while others looked at me openly with amusement and mockery, whispering and smiling cruelly as if they were enjoying seeing me humiliated and broken completely. In their eyes, I was just a foolish poor girl who tried to reach too high, who dreamed beyond her station, and who deserved exactly everything happening to her now.

Slowly, painfully, I turned around and walked out of the cathedral, dragging my heavy trembling feet step by step. I didn't care about my wedding dress trailing behind me, I didn't care about my veil slipping off my hair, and I didn't care about the tears running uncontrollably down my face. All I wanted was to leave this place, get far away from everyone, and disappear completely from this world.

I walked aimlessly along the busy streets, ignoring the people passing by, ignoring the vehicles honking loudly, and ignoring everything happening around me.

My mind was completely blank and empty, my heart was dead and numb, and my whole body felt weak and exhausted as if I had been carrying heavy rocks on my shoulders for years.

I walked until my feet hurt and bled inside my beautiful heels, I walked until I reached the quiet riverside park located far away from the city center, a place I used to visit when I felt sad or lonely years ago.

I sat down heavily on the cold stone bench near the flowing river, buried my face in my hands, and finally let out all the pain and grief I had been holding inside my chest.

I cried loudly and bitterly, letting all my tears flow freely, crying until my chest hurt and my head throbbed painfully.

"Why…?" I whispered painfully to myself, my voice shaking and trembling with deep sorrow. "Why did you do this to me Carlos? I gave you everything! I loved you faithfully! I sacrificed everything I had just for you! How could you treat me like this? How could you throw away five years of our life together just like it was nothing at all? Am I really that worthless and unworthy? Am I really just a tool you used and discarded once you got everything you wanted?"

I sat there crying and asking myself these painful questions over and over again, but I knew deep inside my heart I would never get any answers or explanations that could heal my wounds or ease my pain. Carlos made it perfectly clear today exactly what he thought of me and exactly where I stood in his life.

As I sat there completely broken and devastated, lost in my deep sorrow and misery, I suddenly felt someone sitting gently beside me. I didn't bother to look up or move away.

I thought it was probably just another stranger passing by or someone who felt pity seeing me crying alone. I didn't care who it was or what they thought of me, I just wanted to be left alone with my pain and sadness.

"You know…" A low, deep, and gentle voice spoke softly beside me, calm and soothing like warm water flowing gently over rocks. "Tears are useless when people don't deserve them. You are hurting yourself, breaking yourself completely for someone who doesn't even care whether you are alive or dead, happy or sad."

I slowly lifted my tearful eyes and looked at the man sitting beside me. He looked young, around the same age as Carlos, tall and handsome with sharp attractive features, dark mesmerizing eyes, and thick dark hair.

But unlike Carlos who always dressed smartly and expensively, this man was wearing simple old clothes—faded jeans, a plain white shirt, and worn-out shoes. His clothes were clean but obviously cheap and old, clearly showing he was from an ordinary humble background just like me.

He looked at me calmly and gently, his eyes were deep, dark, and full of mystery, yet they held a kind of sadness and understanding as if he knew exactly what I was feeling and going through.

There was no pity, no mockery, and no judgement in his eyes, unlike everyone else I met today. He looked at me simply and sincerely, as if he truly saw me and understood my pain deeply.

"Who… who are you?" I asked shakily, wiping my tears roughly with my hands, trying to compose myself even though I was still trembling uncontrollably. "Why… why are you talking to me?"

"My name is Gabriel," he answered softly, smiling faintly and sadly at me. "I am just… someone who knows exactly how it feels to be betrayed, deceived, and thrown away like trash by the person you trust and love the most. Someone who knows exactly how painful it feels when the whole world turns their back against you, and everyone treats you like you are nothing and worthless."

Hearing his words, my heart suddenly felt strangely comforted and touched. I looked closely at him and realized there was indeed deep sadness and hidden pain in his eyes, exactly the same kind of pain I was feeling inside my own heart.

"What happened to you?" I asked softly, forgetting my own sorrow for a moment and feeling curious about this mysterious stranger sitting beside me.

Gabriel looked away toward the flowing river, his expression turning heavy and dark, his eyes cold and distant as if recalling painful memories deep inside his heart.

"I was once engaged," Gabriel spoke slowly and quietly, his voice low and full of hidden emotions. "I loved her with all my heart, gave her everything I had, trusted her blindly, and planned our whole future together. I thought she loved me sincerely and accepted me exactly the way I was. But eventually, I found out… she never loved me at all. She was just with me because she thought I came from a wealthy and influential family, and she wanted to use me to gain status, money, and reputation. But when she discovered that I had been disowned and cut off completely from my family inheritance and wealth, when she realized I had absolutely nothing to offer her anymore… she immediately left me without hesitation, ran away and married another rich powerful man within just a few days. She told me clearly exactly what you heard today… that I was poor, useless, and completely worthless, and that she was too good and too high-class to waste her life with someone like me."

Gabriel turned his eyes back toward me, looking deeply and straight into my tearful eyes.

"She told me exactly the same cruel words… 'You are nothing, you have nothing, and you will always remain nothing'…" Gabriel whispered painfully, a bitter sad smile appearing on his handsome face. "Just like you heard today, Lilian."

My heart skipped a beat hearing him speak my name. My eyes widened in shock and surprise, staring at him in disbelief.

"You… you know my name?" I asked confused and surprised.

Gabriel nodded calmly and gently.

"I was there, inside the cathedral," Gabriel admitted honestly and softly. "I came there to attend my distant relative's wedding, but I witnessed everything that happened. I heard every cruel word spoken against you, and I saw everything clearly. When everyone walked away and left you alone crying and humiliated… I followed you here because I couldn't just leave you alone like that. Because looking at you, crying, broken, and hurt… it was exactly like looking at myself years ago."

He reached out slowly and gently wiped the tears rolling down my cheek with his rough warm fingers, his touch gentle, kind, and comforting.

"I know exactly how you feel Lilian," Gabriel said sincerely and softly. "I know exactly how painful it is when you realize you wasted your whole youth, your heart, and your life for someone who never truly loved or appreciated you. I know exactly how it feels when you realize you gave everything you had only to be treated like trash and thrown away when you are no longer useful. I know exactly how it feels when everyone around you judges you, looks down on you, and treats you like you are nothing because you are poor and simple."

Gabriel paused and held my trembling hand tightly in his warm rough hands, looking deep and intensely straight into my eyes.

"But listen to me carefully Lilian," Gabriel spoke firmly and strongly, his voice filled with determination and conviction. "Being poor or simple does not make you worthless or low-class. It doesn't mean you are inferior or less valuable than anyone else. It just means you were born differently, and your path in life is different from theirs. Those people who look down on us, humiliate us, and treat us badly… they are the ones who are truly poor inside. They have no heart, no kindness, and no true dignity inside their souls. They measure everything by money and status, but they don't know that these things are temporary and can be lost within seconds. But what you have inside your heart—your kindness, sincerity, loyalty, and goodness… these things are priceless, permanent, and truly valuable."

His words entered deep inside my heart, warming my cold numb heart and bringing strange comfort and strength I hadn't felt in a very long time. For the first time since the incident happened, I felt like someone truly understood me, someone truly saw my worth, and someone truly treated me as equal and human being worthy of respect and love.

"But what is the point Gabriel?" I asked sadly and hopelessly, fresh tears filling my eyes again. "Carlos was right… I have nothing, I know nothing, and I come from nothing. I spent five years supporting him, helping him, and loving him faithfully… and yet when he became rich and successful, he discarded me instantly like rubbish. Everyone says I am foolish and stupid for believing in love and loyalty. Maybe they are right… maybe love is truly useless and meaningless in this cruel world. Maybe only money and status truly matter and decide everything in life."

Gabriel squeezed my hand tighter, looking at me seriously and intensely.

"No Lilian," Gabriel answered strongly and clearly. "Don't let them destroy your belief and goodness just because they are rotten and evil inside. Don't let them change you into something cruel, cold, and heartless just because they hurt you deeply. You are better than them Lilian, you are far more precious and valuable than all of them combined. You have a heart that knows how to love sincerely, how to give generously, and how to remain loyal and faithful. These qualities are rare and precious, and one day, someone worthy of you will come and cherish you and treat you exactly the way you truly deserve."

He paused for a moment and looked at me with deep emotion and seriousness written clearly all over his face.

"Lilian…" Gabriel spoke softly and carefully, his voice shaking slightly as if nervous and unsure. "I know we just met today, and I know everything is happening so fast and suddenly. I know I am nobody special, I am just a poor ordinary man with nothing to my name, no money, no power, and no bright future. I have no job, no savings, and nowhere to call my own home right now. I live in a small rented room, I struggle everyday just to survive and put food on my table, and I have absolutely nothing beautiful or luxurious I can give or offer you…"

He stopped speaking and took a deep breath before continuing, looking deep and straight into my eyes.

"But… seeing you today, broken, hurt, and crying exactly like I used to be… and knowing exactly how cruel and cold this world is toward people like us… I have a proposal for you Lilian," Gabriel said seriously and sincerely. "Since both of us were betrayed, hurt, and abandoned by people we loved and trusted the most… since both of us are poor, helpless, and despised by everyone… why don't we get married? Let’s be each other’s companion and support. I promise you Lilian… even though I am poor and have nothing to give you, I will treat you with respect, kindness, and honesty. I will never lie to you, I will never betray you, and I will never hurt you intentionally. We will live simply and humbly, work hard together, and struggle together. We may not have wealth, luxury, or status, but at least we won't be alone and helpless in this cruel world anymore."

His words shocked me completely, making me freeze and stare at him in disbelief and shock. I never imagined hearing such words coming from a stranger whom I just met less than an hour ago.

"Marry… marry you?" I repeated softly and confusedly, shaking my head slowly in disbelief. "Gabriel… we barely know each other! And you said yourself… you are poor and struggling, and I have nothing as well. If we get married… our lives will only become harder and more difficult. Why would you even suggest such a thing? Why would you want to tie yourself with someone like me who has nothing and is hated and despised by everyone?"

Gabriel smiled sadly and gently at me, his dark eyes shining with deep sincerity and determination.

"Exactly because we are the same Lilian," Gabriel answered calmly and softly. "Because I know exactly what you are going through, and I know exactly how hard and painful life is for people like us. I know that people like us, without money, background, or influence… we are treated like trash and stepped on by everyone wherever we go. We are always looked down on, humiliated, and treated unfairly. And being alone makes everything ten times harder and painful. If we are together, we will support each other, comfort each other, and face all the hardships together. I am not offering you wealth or happiness Lilian… I am offering you safety, companionship, and loyalty. I am offering you someone who will stand beside you no matter what happens, someone who will never look down on you, and someone who will truly understand you."

He reached into his pocket and took out a simple plain silver ring, small, cheap, and obviously not expensive or valuable. He held it gently in his rough hands and looked at me seriously and intensely.

"This is the only thing I have and own," Gabriel said quietly and sadly. "It was given to me by my mother before she passed away, and it is the only precious thing left to me. It is cheap and simple, but it is the only thing I can give you now. I am not asking you to love me immediately or pretend that everything is fine. I am just asking you to give us a chance to be together and help each other survive this cruel life. I promise you Lilian, as long as I am alive… I will protect you, respect you, and treat you well as my wife and partner in life. I will never ask you for anything, I will never force you to do anything, and I will never make you regret your decision."

I looked at Gabriel kneeling in front of me holding that simple ring, his eyes full of hope, sincerity, and understanding. For the first time today, amidst all the pain, humiliation, and heartbreak, I finally felt like I wasn't completely alone in this world. I looked deep into his eyes and realized that despite being poor and having nothing, Gabriel was offering me something Carlos never gave me even when he had everything… sincere understanding, genuine respect, and unconditional acceptance exactly as I was.

Carlos wanted me only when he was struggling and had no other choice, and discarded me instantly the moment he became successful and powerful. But Gabriel was offering me partnership and loyalty exactly when both of us were at our lowest points, completely broken, and having absolutely nothing to offer each other.

I looked at the simple ring shining dimly inside his palm, tears falling silently and slowly down my face. I thought about my situation… I had no parents left alive, no home of my own, and nowhere to go. Everyone I knew had seen me humiliated and abandoned publicly, everyone was talking about me and laughing at my misery. If I went back to my old life, I would only face more pain, humiliation, and loneliness every single day.

Maybe… maybe this was fate giving me a second chance, a new path to take and a new life to start. Maybe this was God’s way of leading me away from pain and toward safety and peace. Maybe two broken hearts together could make each other whole again, and two poor struggling people together could make life easier and bearable.

I looked deeply into Gabriel’s sincere eyes, wiped my tears away, and slowly nodded my head determinedly and firmly.

"Okay Gabriel," I whispered softly and clearly, my voice shaking but full of newfound courage and determination. "I accept your proposal. I will marry you. We may have nothing, we may be poor and despised by everyone… but as long as we are together and honest to each other, I am willing to face everything with you."

Gabriel’s face instantly brightened up, a genuine happy smile spreading across his handsome face, his dark eyes shining with happiness and relief. He slowly and gently slipped the simple silver ring onto my trembling finger, holding my hand tightly and gently kissing the back of my hand with deep respect and tenderness.

"Thank you Lilian," Gabriel whispered emotionally, his voice trembling slightly and eyes turning moist. "I promise you… I will spend my whole life proving to you that you didn't make a mistake trusting and choosing me. I may not be rich or powerful, but I will be the most loyal, faithful, and sincere husband you could ever ask for. And I swear… one day… all those people who hurt you, humiliated you, and looked down on us… they will regret every single word and action they did against you."

Little did I know at that very moment, Gabriel wasn't just a poor broken man like me. He wasn't just an ordinary person who lost everything. He was actually Gabriel Sterling… the richest, most powerful, and influential man in the whole country, whose wealth and power could shake the whole nation and change destinies easily.

He had been hurt and betrayed before by women who only wanted his money and status, so he decided to hide his identity completely and pretended to be a penniless, helpless man to test and find someone who truly loved him sincerely for himself and nothing else. He had seen me, observed me secretly for months, and deeply admired my pure heart.

TO BE CONTINUED