Love Beyond Deception's Veil

The next day, right before I was about to finish work, Otis sent me a message saying he was going out for dinner with colleagues and wouldn’t be home. In the past, I wouldn't have thought twice about it, trusting him completely. But now, with seeds of doubt growing in my heart, I couldn’t resist checking his location.

It turned out to be an upscale club, the kind that required a hefty membership fee. Helplessly, I stood around a corner outside, waiting. And I waited late into the night.

Just as I felt like I was about to freeze, Otis finally came out, accompanied by several men dressed head-to-toe in designer gear. They gathered around a luxury car, chatting loudly, with arms slung casually over each other’s shoulders.

"I say, Otis, you’ve got a luxury car but still choose to take a cab. What’s up with that?" one of them joked.

"Ah, maybe Otis here is tired of the high life and wants something more low-key for a change," another added. "But Otis, if that girl finds out you faked bankruptcy and divorced just to protect your ex-wife and son’s interests, do you think she’ll ask for a big payout for wasting her youth?"

Otis frowned, casting a warning glance at them. "Cleo’s not like that. You guys don’t understand. I've got to go now; she'll worry if I’m late."

With that, he slipped into a taxi and left. The group continued chatting.

"What do you think Otis is playing at? If it’s just a fling, three years is quite a stretch," one mused.

Another sighed, "If it’s for fun, that’s one thing. But if he’s truly caught feelings, that’s a mess. He could never marry her."

That last comment hit me like a ton of bricks, echoing in my heart. My tears began to fall uncontrollably.

Now I understood why he never introduced me to his friends. They were all heirs of wealthy families, and meeting them would risk me learning the truth. Looking back, over these three years, there were rarely any moments when he openly held my hand in public during the day.

We were together, but there was always an undeniable sense of secrecy. It was all just a façade. Despite being together for so long, our relationship could never be out in the open for him.

I wasn’t sure how I made it back home, only that the coldness around me seemed to deepen.

As soon as I walked through the door, Otis rushed over and wrapped me in his arms. "Where have you been this late? You didn’t answer your phone. I was worried sick."

His embrace was as warm as ever, yet it did nothing to dispel the chill in my heart.

"Otis, do you love me?"

"Of course I do, silly. What’s up?" he replied, flashing that reassuring smile.

I gently pushed him away and asked seriously, "Then can you marry me?"

His gaze wavered, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "I dream of marrying you, but marriage isn’t that simple. We need to take our time."

If I hadn’t overheard his friends’ conversation today, I would have been moved, embracing him without hesitation. For eight years, I had believed every word he said without question. But this time, I didn’t believe him.

"Alright, got it," I replied, expressionless, and headed to the bedroom.