Chapter Three: What if he find out?

Rosa's POV

As I continued to revel in the excitement of Donald's proposal, I went to work the following day. My finger's ring glistened like a tiny star, serving as a continual reminder of the joy that now permeated my existence.

My friends surrounded me as soon as I entered the office, their excitement brimming like kids at a birthday celebration.

The first to speak was Evelyn, who was always the life of the party. Her eyes gleamed like diamonds as she exclaimed, "Soon-to-be Mrs. Donald!" Her long, smooth blond hair brushed my face as she threw her arms around me.

I was showered with congratulations as the others joined in with cheers and laughter. As I thanked them, I could not help but blush because I felt like the happiest woman alive.

Eager to have a private moment, I sneaked off to my office while still smiling. I closed the door after entering and sank into my chair, grinning broadly as ever. I was unable to take my eyes off the ring on my finger, and I kept turning it around in awe of its beauty. The thought of Donald's sincere proposal kept coming back to me.

All of a sudden— BANG!

I was jolted back to reality by a loud knock. "Enter!" Straightening myself, I called.

Evelyn appeared as the door opened, her radiant smile illuminating the space as she entered. I returned the smile, but there was a glimmer of worry in her eyes beneath her normal joy.

"Hi," she said, her tone light but deliberate. I paused to smile. I felt like a dagger was pointed at my heart by the question. Her voice was firm but gentle as she went on. "Remember what happened the last time, Rosa. You can not hide this from him indefinitely. What if—?

I interrupted, raising my voice, "Stop."

I gave her a stern glance. Donald loves me just as much as I do. Do not mention Ryan here ever again, please.

I did not mean to sound harsh, but the mention of Ryan's name made me feel raw. Evelyn sighed, her face displaying a mixture of resignation and worry.

"Rosa, I just do not want you to suffer harm again.

However, if this is your decision... Her words hung like a black cloud in the air as she quietly left the room.

I shook my head when she was gone. My chest constricted, and my mind started to race. Like a haunting echo, her question kept coming back to me. "What happens if he discovers?" My voice was shaking as I whispered to myself.

What if the wedding is called off by him? What happens if everything we have created together vanishes like dust?

I was unaware that I had spoken out loud until my best friend Lilian unexpectedly entered the office.

"Rosa!" she exclaimed, her voice piercing my mental haze.

“Hey? Are you here at all?

I was not quick to reply because I was still preoccupied with my worries. With a soft click of her heels on the floor, she took a step closer and tapped my shoulder.

Are you alright, Rosa?

Her voice was worried as she asked. I turned to her and blinked quickly as I jolted out of my reverie. With a forced smile, I said, "Oh, Lilian. You already arrived here."

The smile was not returned by her. Instead, she narrowed her piercing eyes as she absorbed my face and studied me intently. She said quietly,

"What is wrong? Rosa, what are you keeping from me? You are not like this."

Her remarks struck a chord. With my fingers twitching on the edge of my desk, I hesitated. I finally said,

"I am fine, babe,"

but my voice lacked conviction. She said,

"If you say so," but it sounded like she did not trust me. She let it go for the time being and focused the conversation on my engagement, asking about the proposal and our plans.

I was grateful for the distraction, even though the heaviness in my chest persisted. The day progressed slowly after Lilian left.

I tried to concentrate on my work, but Evelyn's words kept gnawing at me. Ryan. Hearing his name reopened old wounds. Ryan was my first love, I loved him then. Our love started like a fairytale romance, later ended with betrayal and heart break. He dated my step sister. My stepmom and sister hated me. Ryan gave me hope, disvirgined me, all because I always run to him whenever my stepmom and sister treat me badly. He was our close neighbor. He took the advantage and claimed he loved me. He betrayed me. I was disappointed when I saw him with my stepsister. I thought I was dreaming, I saw him countless time with her. I couldn't help but ran away from that miserable house I called a home then. The thought of experiencing that much pain again was unbearable.

However, Donald was not the same person. He valued me. He was compassionate, patient, and genuine. He would never intentionally cause me harm. That was something I needed to believe. Was I wrong? The weight of my secret weighed me down like a physical burden later that night as I sat by myself in my apartment. I stared at the engagement ring on my finger, its brilliance dimmed by the shadows of my doubts. I decided to distract myself by calling Donald. Hearing his voice will calm me down and reminded me of why I had said yes to him in the beginning I thought. But, as I dialed his number, something unusual happened.

My phone got a text message from an unknown number. "I am aware of your previous experiences. "Tell Donald before I do."

My blood ran cold. My hands shook as I read the message again, my mind racing. "Who could this be? Who know about my past?"

I was afraid and I remembered my love, the CEO. If he finds out, I have jeopardize my future ambition.

I held myself and said to myself, "Are you caused Rosa? The good name I have for myself will be a past history because of my past! What will I do?"

I kept thinking to find the solutions to this. My heart was tightened and couldn't reason positively. The phone slipped from my grasp and dropped to the floor with a dull thud, but I did not notice. My entire world is as if is spinning.

My phone buzzed once more. Yet another message.

"Ryan's regards."

My breath became strained. Mentioning that pretended fellow's name, Ryan got me upset. Why is he disturbing my life? "So he has my contact all this while or someone is trying to use him to destroy my relationship with the CEO.

I used to be soft back then, not any more. Terror and confusion flooded through me as I sat frozen, the phone's screen glowing ominously in the dim light of my room.

For the first time, I began to wonder if my past was as hidden as I had previously assumed. Worse still, what if Donald already knew?