Chapter 408 - Holding Back

"Why are you saying these things to me?" One tear followed by another started flowing down from her eyes. She was now filled with mixed emotions.

"Because you are being unfair Lily! I want to open up your mind so that you could see other possible things." Lance sounds aggrieved and this made Lily felt worst. She regretted that she ignored and avoided him. She should have waited for him. She should have talked to him.

"How could you just started to avoid me without even talking to me about what happened?" Lance felt that Lily wasted a good few weeks that they were supposed to be getting closer. But somehow, he knows that he is also partly to blame. If only he tried and talk to her earlier.

Being too meticulous has a disadvantage as well. Because, while you were still trying to make sure that what you feel towards someone is truly love and not just a short-term infatuation, you will realize that that someone has already been stolen from you. By the time you were sure, you already missed your chance.

"I.." Lily tried to say a word in between her tears that had already turned into soft sobs.

"Because you believe that I don't care." Lance finished the words that Lily could not say. But Lily shook her head because it was not what she was trying to say. She wanted to apologize but she cannot form a word. She felt a lump in her throat and her crying is making it worse.

"I always cared about you. Back then, I already liked you. But I won't commit just because I like you. I might only hurt you in the end." Lance looked at Lily who was crying. God knows how much he wanted to hug her that moment. He felt his heart-tugging at her state.

"But now, I don't just like you Lilybeth. I'm in love with you. And you made me realize that when you started avoiding me and dating another man." Lily raised her head and looked at Lance who is looking at her affectionately. Did she hear it right? He loves her and he even called her by her real name? Damn, no one has ever called her by her real name as sweet as he did. Her tears-filled eyes were wide in astonishment. "I thought you like me?" She heard Lance asked her and she wanted to shout out 'I do!' but she suddenly remembers something.

"Aren't you a little bit late?" She and Andrew were already dating and their parents arranged for it. Both families have already approved of it.

"Am I?" Lance looked at her inquiring. Lily wanted to pounce on him and hug him and never let him go.

"I love you Lilybeth." Lance's words were so gentle. Thou it was not a question, Lily knew that he is waiting for an answer.

"Damn you." Was Lily's only reply.

Lance frowned. "I confessed and you're reply is 'damn you'?" This girl is really something. "Am I really that late?"

Lily was already starting to calm down but her emotions were still unstable. "Andrew and I…" She wanted to say that she and Andrew don't actually have a relationship and were only making it appear so to please their parents but Lance beat her to it.

"I know that you and Andrew were just friends. I already made a background check of the man. I was not your sister-in-law's right-hand man for nothing. I already talked to your brother and he is not in favor of Andrew, thou he is not also in favor of me at least he gave me an approval to pursue you. And I also talked to your parents and asked their permission to pursue you, I know they were the one who matchmakes you with Andrew but luck is on my side and they gave me their blessing. So, there is no reason for you to hold back." Lance said confidently.