LOGINMary's POV I had also told him about my feelings for Danny, my one-sided love. I had told him about my struggles, and he had known most of the pain I was trying to hide. I also let him know that he was the one who pulled me out of the shadows, and he made me smile again. He put the seed of hope somewhere in the depths of my heart and it was already blooming, trying to grow. Maybe these were the reasons why he had started seeing me as someone more than a friend to him. I was even starting to think that he might have fallen in love with me but I shoved it aside as quickly as the thought came. It was foolish. I only saw him as my friend, and that was never going to change. That was what I should believe. But will my heart listen to reason? Or is he the one to take Danny away from my heart completely? The college was buzzing with excitement as preparations for the highly anticipated basketball tournament were underway. It wasn’t just any game, it involved multiple colleges parti
Mary's POV Rosa hesitated and fidgeted while pulling the hem of her sleeve. “I didn’t mean to make it sound like gossip, Mary,” she said carefully. “It happened when we were in high school, there were rumors about Reid’s family. People talked, but no one really knew the truth. Later, I was able to piece things together from what I overheard and from someone who knew him well.” I narrowed my eyes. “Who is that?” Rosa sighed. “He was a friend of his from middle school. He told me some of it, and the rest I just noticed and picked them from rumors. The way he avoids talking about his family, how he always works part-time jobs, and the way he looks at his sister like she’s the only thing that keeps him going made everything seem true.” My chest tightened as I had always felt there was something Reid was hiding deep within him, something he wanted to keep deeply buried. Now, as I heard it laid out like this, I quickly understood his reasons. “I never told you all this while, as you
Mary's POV I was on my way to college when I noticed Danny’s car parked outside the villa as if he were waiting for me. I frowned as I didn't want him to show up at the college anymore. It would be a matter of time before rumors would circulate that he was my contract husband. But just as I was about to walk past him, he stepped out and casually leaned against his car. “I was waiting for you,” he said and my mind erupted in anger. I halted as I didn't know how to express my mind. “You don’t have to.” I finally shrugged “You need to and I don't mind.” He smiled lightly I hesitated as getting into the car with him was clearly a bad idea. It would be better to keep my walls up and keep pretending that none of this was affecting me. “You don't have to be waiting for me,” I said stiffly. “And if Donna finds out you took me to college, she won't be happy about it.” Danny smiled and walked closer to me. “I have told her that I want to drop you off.” I clenched my jaw as I was fee
Mary's POV Danny and I stood in the garden with a thick silence between us. The silence was deafening and it was almost suffocating. He had called me here, but now that I was standing in front of him, it seemed like he didn’t know what to say as shame weighed heavily on his shoulders. After a moment, he cleared his throat and still hesitated before he asked, “How, how have you been, Mary?” My response was flat and lifeless to show a clear disinterest in the conversation. “Fine.” It was just a single word but it hit him harder than he must have expected. There was no warmth in my tone and all the traces of the being the girl who used to be so open with him had been removed. I stood before him like a stranger with my emotions guarded while keeping my distance. Though I still appeared broken, I wasn't giving him any chance to capitalize on it. And he knew all this but there was nothing he could do to change my mind. Danny clenched his fists as if he was trying to hide his awkwardn
Mary's POV "It's not someone important!" As I dropped the lie, my heart ached painfully. As Reid and I arrived back at college, the day had already ended, and most of the students were already heading home. The campus had almost emptied out. But as I reached the entrance, I came to an abrupt stop. A car was waiting and standing beside it was a figure that I never expected to see, Danny Williams. My heart sank thinking that he must have heard the rumors. The scandal of signing a contract marriage had spread like wildfire. Although the college students could be warned that anyone who continued spreading it would face legal consequences, the damage was already done. I took a steady breath and walked toward him while masking my emotions as possible as I could. As Danny's sharp gaze landed on me, he asked with a stern expression on his face. “Where have you been?” he demanded coldly while his eyes flicked toward Reid for a brief second before turning back to me. “And who is
Mary's POV "It's not someone important!" As I dropped the lie, my heart ached painfully. As Reid and I arrived back at college, the day had already ended, and most of the students were already heading home. The campus had almost emptied out. But as I reached the entrance, I came to an abrupt stop. A car was waiting and standing beside it was a figure that I never expected to see, Danny Williams. My heart sank thinking that he must have heard the rumors. The scandal of signing a contract marriage had spread like wildfire. Although the college students could be warned that anyone who continued spreading it would face legal consequences, the damage was already done. I took a steady breath and walked toward him while masking my emotions as possible as I could. As Danny's sharp gaze landed on me, he asked with a stern expression on his face. “Where have you been?” he demanded coldly while his eyes flicked toward Reid for a brief second before turning back to me. “And who is that bo







