Chapter 231 - The Same Pain

~ At  Anderson Family Mansion ~

When they were done cooking, Renz and Selene started to serve the food on the table. They were the only people in the house right now.

The surroundings were too quiet and peaceful. Selene couldn't understand where the others went tonight.

She didn't see any sign of Azrael and Levi. Even Sach and Aunt Ling were not at home. And the person she missed the most was not there as well.

Fortunately, Renz was there to accompany her during dinner, or else she would feel really lonely. Once she felt lonely, she couldn't stop thinking about Grandma Elysa.

Renz and Selene started eating dinner.. Renz was very attentive to her, giving her food on her plate to make sure she would eat a lot.

"Selene, how is the project you are working on?" Renz asked her to open up a conversation.

"If you need my help, don't hesitate to tell me, okay?" Renz said, holding Selene's hand that was placed on top of the table.

Selene just gave him a faint smile.

"Everything is going well. We are about to launch the project soon. I am really excited about it. Samantha and I are doing good with our collaboration," Selene informed him.

Renz nodded his head with a smile. "I'm so glad to hear that. Am I invited to your project launch?"

"Yes, of course. You, your parents and Grandpa Ivan! I will inform you of the final date, so make sure that you will come."

"Yes, I will. I will save the date."

The two of them continued eating until they had their fill. They also helped each other in washing the dishes. They looked like a newlywed couple as they cleaned the dining area and the kitchen.

When they were done, Selene asked Renz to follow her to the balcony. She was too quiet, contemplating how she would start.

Renz was also thinking about how he would confess to Selene. For the past few months, he realized that Selene was truly special for him.

His feelings were no longer the same when he was treating her as his younger sibling. Surprisingly, he could now see her as a woman… a fine lady.

It took him a lot of time before realizing it. He had to admit that he was taking her for granted before. But when Selene started to change her attitude little by little, Renz began to take notice of her.

Selene looked beautiful and any man would certainly fall for her including him. He wondered why he didn't realize it sooner.

But now, he wanted to tell her and confess to her his real feelings. He liked her not because of the agreement between their families. It's not because they were already betrothed to each other since they were young.

Renz truly liked her because that's what he truly felt. He could explain the reason why. He just woke up one day and realized that he had already fallen for her.

Before, he was hesitating about marrying her. But now, he couldn't wait for them to get married. If Selene would be fine, then he would suggest that they could register their marriage first and do the wedding ceremony next year.

Selene was now alone without Grandma Elysa by her side. Renz wanted to be with her and accompanied her so that she would no longer feel lonely.

Renz was still mustering up his courage when Selene suddenly spoke up.

"Renz, there is something I want to tell you."

Selene was so serious as she looked at him. Renz was puzzled seeing her troubled expression.

"Go ahead, Selene. You can tell me anything. After that, there is something I want to tell you as well," Renz softly said, holding Selene's shoulders. He was now facing her as they stood on the balcony.

There was still hesitation in Selene's eyes. She was afraid that she would hurt Renz's feelings. But she could no longer pretend.

Selene took a deep breath and raised her head to meet Renz's gaze. She didn't want to be unfair to Renz anymore. Maybe this would be best for the two of them.

"Renz, let's break off the engagement…"

Renz: "..."

Renz didn't know whether he heard it right or not. Those were not the words he was expecting to hear from her.

"Selene, I'm sorry but what did you just say?" Renz hoped that he just heard it wrong. 

Selene clenched her fists. She didn't know if she could repeat those words. Was she ready to let go of Renz. If she would do this, it was like she wasted Eros's efforts to help her win Renz's heart.

'But there is no point in continuing this. I already have a change of heart,' Selene thought to herself.

This reversal of the situation was so amusing. In her previous life, it was Renz who asked her to break off the engagement. However, in this lifetime, she was the one asking Renz to forget about their engagement.

"Renz, I think it is time to let go of the past. My grandmother already passed away. We don't need to fulfill her wish anymore. This engagement… we can't continue it. Let's have the freedom to choose whom we want to marry."

Renz was shaken after hearing Selene's words. His heart clenched inside his chest. He felt like her heart was being stabbed by sharp objects right now and he was bleeding.

"We don't have to honor the promise our two families made to each other. Renz…"

"Selene, why? Why do you want to do this? Did I do something wrong? Tell me…" Renz shook her shoulders. He had a hurt look in his eyes as he questioned her.

"I thought you liked me? I thought you had feelings for me…"

Selene lowered her gaze as she couldn't look straight into his eyes. It was not Renz's fault. It was hers. She could not teach her heart to love him. Her heart got tired of loving him. Or that was not love at all.

"I'm sorry, Renz but… I am no longer in love with you. I know that what we had for each other is not love. You just see me as your sister while I was too naive to realize it before."

"I was just inconsiderate enough when I continued pestering you, thinking that I had the right to do it since you were my fiancee."

"Renz… this is not real. I just conditioned myself ever since we were a kid that you would become my husband."

Renz shook his head in disbelief. "But what if you are wrong? What if my feelings for you are real? What if… I am already in love with you and I want to marry you not just because of the promises between our families?"

Selene was at a loss for words when she heard that. Was Renz telling her now that he loved her? But how come? He slept with another girl? He had sex with another girl?

"Selene… can't you give us a second chance?" Renz held her hands, squeezing them gently. He felt helpless.

"Let me prove it to you… how much I care… how much you mean to me."

Selene fell silent for a moment. She was assessing her own feelings. She should be happy to hear these words from Renz. She had longed for this moment to come.

But now, her heart was no longer fluttering unlike before. She didn't feel the same joy whenever she was with him.

"Renz… I'm sorry… I… I already love someone else. I didn't plan on this to happen. I just woke up one day… and you are no longer the man occupying my heart."

"Let's stop this, Renz. I don't want to become unfair to you. So I am telling you this now."

Selene would lie if she would tell herself that she was not sad about this. If she could just tell her heart to continue loving Renz, but it was so hard.

This time she wanted to be true to herself and to Renz.

Renz slammed his eyes shut while gritting his teeth. He was still holding Selene's shoulders. "Who is he? Is he… is he Gabriel?"

Renz always had this nagging feeling. He could tell that there was something going on between Selene and Eros also known as Gabriel.

Whenever he would see them together, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy inside his heart.

"Gabriel… he has a boyfriend Selene. Don't tell me you fell in love with your gay friend?"

"Or did you just lie to me about Gabriel being gay?" Renz decided to confront Selene.

Selene could only nod her head, feeling apologetic to Renz.

"I'm sorry, Renz. I'm sorry. I tried to fight it. But I can't."

"Selene… you lied to me. And you betrayed me." Renz was hurting right now. He experienced the same pain Selene had experienced before when she learned about Renz-s and Micaela's betrayal.

With eyes burned with tears, Renz walked away, leaving Selene on that balcony.