He Only Realised He Loved Me After I Was Gone

Bruce Sutton was gentle and refined. Even though our families had arranged our marriage, he took care of me in every way. He always arrived 30 minutes early to pick me up for dates and insisted on driving me home himself at night. When I had my period, he put work aside to look after me. He never failed to make my birthdays and our anniversaries special. After 3 years together, our relationship was as sweet as ever. He'd even helped me choose my wedding gown and shoes himself. Everyone envied me. They said I'd found the perfect, most thoughtful husband. Then came our pre-wedding party. I stepped out to use the restroom. When I returned, Bruce, who was always so composed and restrained, was drinking like a madman, clutching a microphone and belting out songs without a shred of dignity. Our friends couldn't stop him, no matter how hard they tried. When videos of his karaoke performance spread that night, everyone said he'd never gotten over his first love. But he issued a public statement saying he only regretted not meeting me sooner so he could have treated me better. Watching him lie without so much as a flicker of expression, I felt my heart sink. "Bruce, you're as good at public relations as you are at playing the perfect boyfriend. "But I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a performance. "We're done." ***** I couldn't bear another moment surrounded by lies. I got up to leave. Bruce caught my wrist. "Nancy, I admit they're right. But that's all in the past... We're adults. Who doesn't have a past? We're getting married in a couple of days. Don't do this now." He sounded sincere, his gaze tender, exactly as he had every time he'd apologized over the past 3 years. I looked into his gentle, loving eyes, and a chill suddenly ran down my back. "How many times?" Bruce froze for a moment. "What?" I turned to face him. "How many times have you used me as a cover story because of that woman?" Whenever the media reported on something Bruce did outside work, he always found a way to make it about me. When he was photographed at an auction, he said he'd gone to buy me jewelry. But that ring had never ended up on my finger. When he went to a resort island alone, he said he was scouting it for our honeymoon. But to this day, I hadn't seen his honeymoon itinerary. Everyone said he worshiped the woman he was going to marry. Even I had been swept up in the sweetness of it. Only now did I finally see clearly. He was putting on an act. Bruce looked at me solemnly. "Just this once. Nancy, believe me. I swear on my mother's grave... If I'm lying to you—" I hurriedly covered his mouth. "Enough!" I stared into Bruce's eyes for a long time. "I believe you." Bruce had been raised by his mother alone. No one mattered more to him. Once, a business associate had gotten drunk and spoken badly of her. After that, the man had vanished from their business circles entirely. After his mother died, Bruce had taken her words to heart, handling every detail of my life. He would never lie to me about something like this. Bruce let out a relieved breath and wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin against my neck. "As long as you believe me, Nancy. Trust is the most important thing between a husband and wife. "I promise this is the first and last time. From now on, you'll be the only woman in my life and in my heart. I'll be completely devoted to you." To cheer me up and back up his public explanation, Bruce voluntarily doubled the amount of the wedding gift he was giving me, just 2 days before the ceremony. The sheer amount left all of Bellhaven stunned. When reporters interviewed him, Bruce said lightly, "As my wife, Nancy can never receive too much from me. I'll always feel I haven't given her enough." At my mother's suggestion, he even made my wedding gown himself. He'd never done anything like that before. The hands that signed multimillion-dollar contracts now bore a dozen needle marks. Watching him concentrate on his sewing, I softened despite myself. Everyone had a past. There were very few men who would go as far as Bruce had. Besides, I'd felt his love for myself throughout those 3 years. Even if it were an act, no one could fake that much care and effort. I was wondering whether to tell my best friend, Brenda Turner, what had happened when she sent me a message: Brenda: Nancy, my flight lands at 9 a.m. tomorrow. You have to come pick me up! I can't wait to try on my bridesmaid dress! Nancy: Of course. I'll be there on time. This was the sort of thing better discussed in person anyway. I drank the glass of milk Bruce handed me, set my alarm for 7 a.m., and went to sleep. But when I opened my eyes the next morning, it was almost 9 a.m. Forgetting everything else, I jumped out of bed and rushed to the airport. I sent Bruce a message: Nancy: Bruce, did you turn off my alarm again?! He replied with a voice message, his tone gentle, "I've already picked her up. I saw your messages last night and wanted to let you sleep in. I thought I'd surprise you."