HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 64: His sincerity (1)

That....was your reason?

Ayana almost wanted to say, but she held her tongue, feeling her words would be deemed as rude. No...it definitely seemed a bit rude.

Axel Kratos, her stoic ex-fiancé in her past life, and fiancé in this life, wanted to meet her because of her tears?

If it wasn’t that they had met before, Ayana might have suspected that this man was not Axel Kratos. Or he could have also returned from the past just like her.

To be honest, she had dismissed that day in the office as nothing more than another day to shed her guilt and sadness through tears.

Indeed, she remembered that day as one when she and her fiancé engaged in a chat for the first time. It all had started through his sudden parade of gifts and ended with her guilty cries.

His words had undoubtedly stirred a heart likes hers that had suffered deeply from betrayal and had also betrayed.

’’You....shouldn’t be concerned about that.’’ Ayana slowly said as she averted her eyes elsewhere. Whether from guilt or something else, she couldn’t handle the pure honesty from this man.

Would he have been like this if she kept the verbal engagement between them intact in her past life? She couldn’t help but wonder silently.

’’.....’’

’’I was just a little emotional on that day.’’ She continued regardless of his silence. ’’You just wasted your time on this meaningless visit.’’

’’...’’

Ayana didn’t know if it was her imagination, she sensed a drop of temperature in the atmosphere around them outside the balcony.

Her words must have made him angry. She thought, not feeling good about it as well.

With the excuse of her silent avoidance, Ayana admired the nightly view beyond the railings.

’’Do I take this as you do not approve of our engagement?’’

’’I approve.’’ Ayana answered almost too quickly, her head snapping toward him. ’’I certainly approve of this engagement between us.’’ She said, delibrately slow as though spelling out each words.

Her eyes held his with a heartfelt sincerity that she hoped could be conveyed to him.

’’But...’’ Her voice held a hint of hesitation. ’’I just want to make things clear.’’ Ayana added with a pause as she collected her thoughts.

"If you fall in love with another woman during our engagement, Don’t hide it from me and let’s call the engagement off.’’ She told him in a clear tone. ’’if this happens during our marriage....let’s end things with a divorce, Young master Kratos."

This was the best for them.

Even if she was different from her past life, it did not change that she was not right woman for this man. This life was for her to atone her sins alone, and also have her revenge.

Perhaps experience happiness like the Old master Kratos had advised her. But, not through this man.

Her savior deserved much better.

’’...’’

Axel stared deeply at his fiancée who had already lowered her gaze. Whether she was uncomfortable with his stare or the tensed atmosphere around them was unbearable, this sight wasn’t new to him.

The employees at the Kratos corporation were the same. Matt had also complained about his behavior often.

’’May I ask why you have come to this decision for me, Young miss Kingston?’’ He asked in a very calm tone. Since she had not let go of the formality, then he would go alone with her for now.

’’...’’

’’Perhaps you are already aware, but you are my first.’’ He revealed quite bluntly. ’’I have never been in an intimate relationship with another woman. I doubt if I’ve ever held the hands of a woman apart from my mother.’’

Cheating? Axel scoffed inwardly at the word. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Thanks to Matt’s gossipy nature, he knew the outcome of men who had multiple mistresses. The family would never be peaceful with inheritances battle between the legitimate and illegitimate children.

Why should he cheat when such disaster would be the consequence of his unfaithful actions?

Right from chilhood, Axel had grown up with a sense of duty. He was disciplined to the core, and highly strict with himself. His parents were not the loving kind and had groomed him to be a perfect heir.

This engagement was approved by the previous generations. Surely, his late parents must have been aware and would have approved of his grandfather’s decision.

Ayana was his fiancée and future wife. He had a duty of taking care of her as a husband, and also being a father to their children in the future.

’’You speak as if I would fall with another woman during our engagement and our marriage, Young miss Kingston.’’

’’...’’

’’If I promise right here, right now that I will have no woman but you in my life, will you believe my words?’’

’’.....’’ Ayana only pursed her lips in response, avoiding his scorching gaze on her face. Promises have been made in her past life. She need no one to remind her the result of those broken promises.

’’Indeed, I have to prove it through my actions in our future together.’’ Axel answered for her, and suddenly narrowed the gap between them. Before Ayana could react, he took one of her hands, and slipped his fingers through hers.

She blinked, staring up wide-eyed at him. This man just kept on surprising her with his unexpected actions.

’’Matt has always said that it would be a miracle for a woman to fall in love with a person like me.’’ His breath fanned against her forehead. Her cheeks flushed slightly at the warmth. ’’I don’t expect you to give your love, but I want your trust more as a my future partner.’’

’’Over the years, I did nothing because I wondered if this engagement had ruined your life. We can’t deny that we’re still strangers to one another. However, this year is different. You’re eighteen and of legal age. It should be safe to actively pursue you as a woman and my fiancée.’’

’’...’’ Ayana continued to stare at him without a word.

’’My name is Axel Kratos.’’ He suddenly introduced himself. ’’I am twenty-two-years old and my birthday is February 14th. I am boring, strict and discipline according to a friend’s observation. I don’t have particular likes and dislikes. What about you, Young miss Kingston?’’ He turned to the whole ideal on her.

’’...’’ Ayana did not reply immediately to his question, clearly showing her hesitation.

Even she did not want to admit, her heart was the opposite. Those words had indeed touched her deeply.

This man seemed serious with their relationship. His sincerity made her feel special and guilty at the same time.

’’M-My name is Ayana Kingston.’’ She began, her voice trembling slightly but growing stronger steadily. ’’I am eighteen years old and my birthday is March 14th. Many have said that I was arrogant and selfish in the past. I don’t know about now, but I am strict and disciplined with my work as the President. I love tea and hate coffee. My favorites are my brothers, and chrysanthemum tea. I’ve been compared to flowers sometimes in the past, I guess I do like them now, Young master Kratos.’’ She finished with the same ending.

All of a sudden, Ayana wondered if this was the blind dates that she heard of in her past life. Two strangers would dine together and learn more about each other with the purpose of marriage.

’’Axel.’’ Axel addressed the sense of formality between them. "My name is Axel and it’s nice to meet you, Ayana." His lips curved faintly upward, almost imperceptibly under the light spilling from inside, illuminating one side of his face.

’He’s smiling.’ Ayana caught herself holding her breath, her heart skipping a beat. This was the first time she had ever seen him smile, and the sight left her momentarily stunned.

’’....Ayana.’’ She managed to say. ’’Nice to meet you....Axel.’’ She mustered up a grin, wanting to match his sincerity.

Silence settled between them afterwards. However, this kind of silence was comfortable and not tensed, even without their words. There was a sense of acknowledgement and understanding that did not need words to be exchanged between them.

Axel gazed deeply at those hazel eyes that seemed to be finally looking at him. For some reason, whenever he and Ayana met with each other, he had a faint feeling that she was not looking at him, but someone through him.

The light in her eyes would dim with sadness when he met her gaze. She also seemed to carry a sense of guilt and regret around him like she had done terrible and unforgiveable.

’Ivan!’ Before Axel could make a sense of the weird feeling, a blurry image with fragments flashed across his mind.

’Ivan!’ A voice that seemed so hollow as though the person was in a faraway land accompanied the blurry image.

’I love you, Ivan!’