I understood his intention-to bolster the legitimacy of our relationship and earn the trust of Veronica and the others.
Such attention was unfamiliar to me, and it unsettled me.
At this moment, thoughts of the man from my dreams surfaced.
Despite his indistinct features, his gentle beckoning stirred my heart.
Quietly, I pondered how my husband, if he existed, would respond to todayâs events.
Would he feel sad?
Reality didnât afford me time to dwell.
Veronicaâs voice snapped me back.
She smiled, querying, âDebra, is Andrew speaking the truth?â
Despite Veronicaâs smile, her voice chilled like ice.
She shifted her gaze back and forth between Andrew and me before fixing it on me, implying, âIf itâs false, the truth will surface easily.
Debra, we harbor a strong aversion to deceit.
Surely youâre aware of this, arenât you?â
The threat in her words hung heavy in the air.
I clenched my hand slightly.
I felt torn between Andrewâs plea and the gentleman from my dreams beckoning me.
What path should I take?
Veronica seemed to perceive my uncertainty.
Her lips curled in a satisfied smile.
âWellâ¦â
But I interrupted her before she could continue.
âMs.
Harrison!â Meeting Veronicaâs gaze squarely, I spoke calmly.
âAndrew speaks truth.
My husband and I are divorced.
I am now Andrewâs fiancee.
I apologize, but a man cannot have two wives concurrently.
He cannot fulfill your request.
â
As soon as I spoke, the scene erupted again.
âOh, so Andrew has taken a liking to this lady.
â
âAh, that explains why he kept her in the manor and resisted marrying Shirley.
â
âEven though Debra is a lowly mixed-blood witch, she does possess a more pleasing appearance than Shirley.
â
The surrounding chatter escalated.
Veronica struggled to maintain her composure, her expression darkening in an instant.
Coldly, she inquired, âDebra, are you certain? Words, once spoken, cannot be unsaid.
You cannot retract them.
â
My grip on the dress tightened.
Honestly, I didnât wish to offend Veronica, nor did I desire to fabricate such a ridiculous lie.
I held on to the belief of having a husband, even if I couldnât recall him or his appearance.
Yet Andrew needed my help in his predicament, and I owed him for saving my life.
Considering Andrewâs thoughtful preparations and the stewardâs attentive care, I nodded firmly.