The Woman He Couldn’t Forget
1288 Words
Naomi’s heart pounded as she looked from Victoria to Jaxon.
The silence inside the Hayes mansion became suffocating.
Victoria folded her arms across her chest, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her designer handbag.
“You didn’t tell her?” she asked with a mocking smile.
Jaxon’s expression remained unreadable.
“There is nothing to tell.”
Victoria laughed.
“Oh, Jaxon. You still lie exactly the same way.”
William frowned.
“Victoria, enough.”
She turned toward the old man.
“I’m only trying to protect this poor woman.”
Naomi shifted uncomfortably.
She had walked into this mansion less than an hour ago, yet she already felt trapped inside a family drama she didn’t understand.
Victoria looked directly at Naomi.
“Did he tell you how we met?”
Naomi slowly shook her head.
“No.”
“Did he tell you we were engaged for almost three years?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you we had already chosen our wedding venue?”
Jaxon’s jaw tightened.
“Victoria.”
She ignored him.
“We were the perfect couple. America loved us. Every magazine called us the nation’s power couple.”
Naomi glanced at Jaxon.
His face revealed nothing.
Victoria smiled bitterly.
“Then one day, he disappeared.”
William sighed heavily.
“Please stop.”
“No.”
Victoria’s voice trembled.
“I deserve answers too.”
She turned back to Naomi.
“He ended everything with one phone call.”
Naomi frowned.
“Why?”
Victoria laughed softly.
“That’s the funny part.”
She looked at Jaxon.
“He never gave me a reason.”
Naomi searched Jaxon’s face.
He still remained silent.
The silence itself felt like an answer.
Victoria wiped away a tear.
“I loved him.”
The room became painfully quiet.
Naomi suddenly felt like an intruder.
This conversation was never meant for her ears.
William stood slowly.
“Victoria.”
“You should leave.”
She looked at the elderly man with sadness.
“I came because I heard he got married.”
Her eyes returned to Naomi.
“I wanted to see the woman who replaced me.”
Naomi opened her mouth to speak.
“I…”
Victoria raised a hand.
“Don’t apologize.”
“You didn’t steal him.”
She looked at Jaxon one last time.
“He was never mine to keep.”
Without another word, she walked toward the front door.
Just before leaving, she paused.
“Oh.”
She looked over her shoulder.
“If he hasn’t told you the truth by now…”
Her smile faded.
“He probably never will.”
The front door closed.
Silence filled the mansion.
William lowered himself into his chair.
His breathing sounded heavier than before.
Jaxon immediately walked over.
“Grandpa.”
“I’m fine.”
William forced a smile.
“I just need a moment.”
Naomi noticed the old man’s hands shaking.
She quickly poured him a glass of water.
“Here.”
William smiled warmly.
“Thank you, dear.”
He accepted the glass.
“You remind me so much of my late wife.”
Naomi smiled politely.
“I’m honored.”
William looked at both of them.
“I’m getting tired.”
Jaxon nodded.
“I’ll help you upstairs.”
“No.”
The old man smiled knowingly.
“You stay with your wife.”
The word still sounded strange.
“I can manage.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“I’ll assist Mr. Hayes.”
William squeezed Naomi’s hand before leaving.
“I’m happy.”
He smiled at her.
“Don’t let this stubborn grandson of mine push you away.”
Naomi forced a smile.
“I won’t.”
After William disappeared upstairs, Arthur quietly followed.
The enormous living room suddenly felt empty.
Only Naomi and Jaxon remained.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally, Naomi broke the silence.
“So…”
She looked at him.
“Was she telling the truth?”
“Yes.”
“You were engaged?”
“Yes.”
“For three years?”
“Yes.”
Naomi nodded slowly.
“I see.”
She turned toward the window.
The city lights sparkled in the distance.
“I suppose I should have expected baggage.”
Jaxon walked beside her.
“I ended it.”
“Why?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Naomi laughed quietly.
“You can’t?”
“It’s complicated.”
“No.”
She turned to face him.
“It’s simple.”
“If I’m pretending to be your wife, I deserve honesty.”
He looked into her eyes.
“You deserve honesty.”
“But I can’t give it.”
“Why?”
“Because it isn’t only my secret.”
Naomi sighed.
“So someone else is involved.”
He didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
She rubbed her temples.
“This fake marriage is becoming more complicated by the minute.”
“It won’t affect you.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“Your furious ex fiancée just insulted me in your living room.”
“It already affects me.”
Jaxon looked genuinely apologetic.
“I’m sorry.”
Naomi blinked.
She hadn’t expected him to apologize.
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“I should have warned you.”
She nodded.
“Thank you.”
Silence returned.
Then Naomi looked at the diamond bracelet around her wrist.
“I can’t keep this.”
“You should.”
“It belonged to your grandmother.”
“Grandpa wants you to have it.”
“But it’s based on a lie.”
His eyes softened.
“For him…”
“It’s hope.”
Naomi looked down.
Her heart grew heavier.
She had accepted five million dollars because she needed money.
She had convinced herself it was only business.
But William’s kindness was making everything feel painfully real.
“I hate lying to him.”
“So do I.”
She looked up.
“You do?”
He nodded once.
“He deserves better.”
For the first time since meeting him, Naomi saw genuine sadness in his eyes.
Not arrogance.
Not confidence.
Pain.
Deep, silent pain.
Before she could ask another question, Arthur returned.
“Sir.”
Jaxon turned.
“What is it?”
Arthur hesitated.
“The media is outside.”
Naomi frowned.
“What media?”
Arthur handed Jaxon his phone.
“The news leaked.”
Jaxon looked at the screen.
His expression darkened.
Naomi stepped closer.
The headline filled the display.
AMERICA’S MOST ELIGIBLE QUARTERBACK SECRETLY MARRIES MYSTERY WOMAN.
Below the headline were photographs.
One showed Naomi stepping into the mansion beside Jaxon.
Another showed him holding her hand.
Another captured William hugging her.
Dozens of television vans had already surrounded the estate.
Reporters pushed against the security gates.
Camera flashes lit up the night.
Naomi felt sick.
“They know.”
Arthur nodded.
“Every major news network.”
Naomi’s breathing became shallow.
“My boss…”
“My neighbors…”
“My family…”
“They’re all going to see this.”
Her knees weakened.
Jaxon instinctively caught her before she could fall.
His hands steadied her.
She looked up into his eyes.
“What have I done?”
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
Arthur glanced at the screen.
His face turned pale.
“It’s the team owner.”
Jaxon answered immediately.
“This is Jaxon.”
A furious voice echoed loudly enough for Naomi to hear.
“You’ve got exactly one hour to explain why you’ve turned our franchise into the biggest scandal in America.”
Jaxon closed his eyes briefly.
The fake marriage had survived less than a single day.
And already, everything was beginning to fall apart.
- Writer
