298 Forgiven

If that did not show his sincerity enough, especially coming from someone like him, Nova wouldn't know what else would.

She had to admit that she was lucky to have him. It was not that she wasn't still hurt but that she was thankful that he told her irrespective of what may be.

"I am sorry," Nova spoke after a long time of keeping silent.

Cullen's eyes became more fixed on her. She was sorry. Those words could mean anything, both the good and the bad. Which was it? He did not know.

He could not fathom what it meant and coupled with her sad smile, Cullen was at a loss for words and his thoughts became blank.

"I am sorry, Cullen." She repeated those words again, throwing him into deeper confusion.

'I do not think, she would be able to forgive me. Even if she does, it would be over between Nova and I.' Cullen concluded in his mind.

Irrespective of the outcome, he was happy to have found love and felt it with the right person.

"I am sorry, Nova. I know you do not want me anymore, so you do not have to feel bad about us. I deserve this and more."

He could see the hesitation in her eyes, so before Nova could kill his heart further, he already murdered it with his words and turned his head away as he made to get up from the bed, letting her hands go.

A pair of small hands grabbed unto his jacket, keeping him in place and preventing him from leaving.

Cullen turned his head back so he was now facing her.

"I do not, not want you anymore, Cullen."

"Huh!"

"Hehe," she let out a soft chuckle, her face beaming a little at him. "What I am trying to say is that Cullen I do not want us to break up. I still love you irrespective of what happened."

"I do not understand, you mean…"

Nova leaned in at that time and kissed him fully on the lips, swallowing whatever it was he was about to say to her.

He forgot to respond to her kiss as his brain was still processing all that he heard. By the time he finished comprehending her words, Nova pulled away and stared at him.

She knew he was shocked by what she said, but never knew as to what extent.

A slight frown was evident on her face as she looked at her beloved. When she still did not get any response from him, she arched her brow at him.

It was then that Cullen's brain worked well and he pulled her closer and kissed her back. They shared a brief kiss and broke apart, then sat down straight with hands now joined together.

Although he could still see and sense the sadness in her eyes and smile, she tried her best to put up the best of smiles.

"Nova…" Nova raised her hands to stop him from talking and he paused.

She cleared her throat and decided to speak first." I am sorry Cullen. Sorry, you had to go through all that to voice out your wrong."

"Before you came, I sensed it and that was why you met me crying. I knew something was wrong, something that should not have happened, ended up happening. As a lady, my instincts kicked in and it became more convincing when you started apologizing to me. I knew you had done something bad. But just like every woman, I needed to know if you would lie to me about it or be truthful to me."

'You see what I told Owen. Sigh, he just doesn't know women as much as he thinks even though they flock around him.' Cullen mentally noted.

"In as much I already knew or suspected it, when you finally said it, my heart still ached. I thought I had built a shield to protect her but it wasn't strong enough."

"Don't you hate me? Aren't you angry at me?" Cullen finally blurted out the words he had been holding in. He had expected her to be angry at him but surprisingly she showed none of that.

"Honestly I am. I am very sad and angry right now. How could you say you love me and still do that with someone else but my anger cannot change anything and I know you better. If this was your nature, then you would have done it since, long before you met me."

"Oh," those were the only words Cullen could utter back.

"Yes. You have so many girls flocking and fawning over you. I expected it back then when we first met and even when we just became lovers before we had sex, thinking you were doing that outside but after some time, I became convinced that you were better than that."

'WOW!'

"So, I can choose to be mad at you or just forgive you and be thankful to the heavens for blessing me with a man like you. You promised me you would never lie to me and till this minute, you kept your word, every bit of it, Cullen."

Hearing her talk was like a newfound flame of life. She was awaking new sparks of love within him and he knew he was lucky to have her as well.

"I am still truly sorry, Nova."

"I know and that is why I am forgiving you. If you had lied to me, then my trust would have been broken but you didn't and in as much, as it hurts me to share you with someone else…"

"You are not sharing me with anyone, Nova. I made a mistake and I promise you here and now, on my life. I would never do it again. I would never betray you and do anything to hurt you. If that ever happens, not that it will, you have all the rights to leave me."

"There is no need for that. I know you wouldn't. I trust you to keep your word and your promises."

"Thank you, Nova. Thank you so much for forgiving me."

"I love you Cullen, more than you would ever know. Please do not hurt me like this again."

"I won't. I promise." Cullen was almost going on his knees to apologize to her, but Nova held his arm and prevented his knees from touching the ground.

"Don't, Cullen. Get up." He did as she said and sat back up on the bed with her. "Welcome back."

"Thank you. I am happy to be back, back here with you."

"I am too. I missed you so much."

"I am missed you much more that it hurts to be apart from you."

"Are you sure?" Nova asked and twisted her lips to the side as she teased him.

"Of course. How can you doubt that?"

"Hmm, let us see." She lifted her hands to her lips in a thinking manner.

"Hey, you really are thinking about it?" Cullen asked, pretending to be shocked by her reaction.

Nova smiled at him and widened her eyes, as she arched her brows continuously. "Why shouldn't I, considering you had a nice time with another girl? I wonder if you really missed me."

"Hey, I apologized."

"Doesn't change the fact that you did, darling."

Cullen's smile immediately dropped at her words and his face fell. "I am sorry. I really am."

Nova smiled to herself and leaned closer to him. "I know you are. I was only teasing." She whispered in his ears.

As she sat back down, Cullen pulled her closer and made her fall in his arms."Sounds to me that you are jealous, huh?"

"Should I have a reason to be? Why wouldn't I be a little bit when I was here thinking of you and…"

She did not want to say it again as the mere thought of it brought her sadness. Noticing the sadness and pain return to her eyes, Cullen hugged her tight to his body.

"I truly am sorry, baby. I wish I could take the pain away and the thoughts out of your mind. I would do anything to make it up to you."

"Just love me forever," Nova whispered her wish to him and pulled back to look at his face.

"You have my word. I am yours forever and only yours."

"I know. I am sorry I still haven't gotten over it and I am teasing you with it. It is just my way to trying to get over it. I am hoping that by joking about it, the pain would lessen and in time disappear."

"No matter how long it takes, I would readily bear it till we can both heal. This is a little burden to bear as compared to losing you. I love you, Nova."

"I love you more, Cullen. Thank you."

"I love you most."

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