NEVER BROKEN

Where the TRUTH lies

"I want you," Darien had whispered agonizingly a number of times whenever they made love. But never the word Serena had been longing to hear from him.

The closest she could remember from Darien was an 'I need you; which must have meant closer to 'want' instead of love. Especially as he had spoken those words while holding her steadily away from him—after kissing her senseless.

It was drizzling on her wedding day but she was beyond caring. Only close friends and family were invited.

Samuel searched for and found the contentment and bliss in her eyes. He was all set to entrust her to Darien. Their father was another matter. James's approval, which would say a lot about his peace of mind, was also important to her. But her father, for all his misgivings about the match, did not oppose her decision altogether.

"I trust you, Reena. You've always followed your heart and it has never failed you."

"Thank you, Dad."

Ami gave her polite congratulations and Donovan Lawson murmured his best wishes. Gerhard showed his generosity by handing over the keys to his resthouse in France as a gift. Darien and she were to spend less than a week in the place.

The honeymoon was over. Darien had already bought a house a couple of days before tying the knot and she had no complaints. He also had a bachelor's pad near work, and a room in his grandfather's mansion—he did not forsake both, but he always went home. To her.

She would wait for him until he had finished his work for the day. The nights with him could compensate for the long stretch of days that Serena had to put up with.

Ami insisted that they throw a party for their new house and Serena was more than happy to have work to do. She was already helping Lita in her friend's Cake and Tea House but hadn't discussed the idea of working with Darien yet. She didn't think he would mind.

When she asked Darien whom he wanted to invite, he was too tired to bother. Mina and Lita were the only ones she could think of. Lita was a transferee in her high school and Mina was a college mate. Molly was abroad for a seminar then.

"Remind Ami," was Darien's only contribution.

The party seemed one because Lita and Mina brought their male friends. Ami invited her boyfriend Greg and as Serena learned later, Darien's would-be secretary—Rei Farley. The woman was no stranger to her husband, being Ami's friend for some time.

She was very beautiful. With Rei's gleaming raven hair and cool violet eyes, Serena thought the lady was near ideal.

She suddenly felt a little sad that this woman would be seeing more of Darien; work closely with him. He would be spending more time with Miss Farley, too.

But her natural friendly disposition got hold of Serena's reservations. Left together to prepare coffee, she remembered her first attempt at a conversation with Rei.

"How long have you known Darien?" Rei asked.

Serena managed a smile and found it not an effort to remember the dates. "We've been married for about three months now, so that would make it four... more or less."

Rei didn't smile back. "Do you know that he would have married me if it wasn't for his father's debt?"

She turned to face her from pouring the coffee on the cups. She carefully replaced the coffee pot on the table. "No. I wasn't aware that his father was indebted to our family in any way. We could not compare with them in terms of wealth, you know."

"Yes, I know." She sounded so cool. "But it's not about the money I'm talking about."

She wondered if Darien personally told Rei about this.

At the moment she could only ignore the numbness that seemed to have covered her heart. She didn't even have the strength to feel hurt. He had to marry me...

She tried to hide her uneasiness by a small, unsure laugh. "That being said, I still hope we could be friends. You see "

"It's you who don't. And how could I be friends with the woman who stole my only chance at happiness?"

Lita chose that time to make an appearance.

"Really, Reena, what's taking you two so long? The men are getting impatient out there for their coffee. I'm really at a loss now how you convinced me to consider you as my assistant." Lita's brown curls were glowing. There was a content expression on her face that made Serena want to sigh. It must be her old friend Ken.

She gave Lita a mocking expression. "I create the best designs for your cakes and flowers, that's why."

"Uh-huh. Not to mention the time I waste explaining to boys four years old and above that you are already married."

"You are exaggerating. Come on, why don't you serve us tonight? After all, I'm a very bad waitress, am I not?"

"Beats me why all that grace lacks coordination."

"Thank you." She handed Lita the tray. "Their coffee is getting cold."

They laughed as the taller woman moved to get out of the kitchen. "Miss Farley," Serena turned to the striking lady behind her, "thank you for talking to me." She had a feeling that the smile she wore was the last she could bestow for the beautiful Rei.

It took Serena two months to form the question to Darien. It had been bugging her since that tete-a-tete with Rei. Warmly cocooned in his embrace after being made love to, she felt enough courage inside for the words to escape her lips.

"Darien?"

"Hmm?"

She could tell that he was half-asleep. She turned around, and was now facing his wide chest, her head directly under his chin.

"Did you marry me because your grandfather asked you to?"

"Yes," he clearly stated.

Tears pricked her eyes. So what Rei said was true. He did marry her because he needed to. Dad must have been trying to tell me that...

"Where are you going?" he asked when he felt her move.

Her throat felt too constricted, but she managed to let out the words. "T-to the bathroom. Go to sleep."

Upon reaching the confines of their magnificent bath, she turned on the tap in full and wept. Oh, how she wept.

He was leaving for a one-week overseas business trip the following day. Serena was thankful that she didn't need to see him off the airport. He would have noticed her puffy eyes and that was the last thing she wanted.

She was barely aware how she lasted the week without him, and the usual work to occupy her. Lita noticed her frequent visits to the store but Serena neither confirmed nor allayed her friend's suspicions. She had agreed to Darien's suggestion that she resign from her job at Lita's weeks after they have come back from their honeymoon.

Now, she suddenly wanted to have her job back. But she didn't want to arouse Lita's concern. It was kind enough of her friend not to pry. At any cost, she could not afford to make Darien look bad in the eyes of her friend, or anyone else for that matter.

He didn't promise anything. She assumed everything right from the start.

Her insecurity was her own fault.