Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Hank’s apologies kept coming and coming, yet they couldn’t call Yelena’s rationality back.

Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of the most heartbreaking part of her story, and she couldn’t help but curl into herself. “I was truly in pain at that time. I hated myself for not protecting the child. It was also then that I knew that there was no possibility left between us.”

She would never be able to accept him as a potential partner if she couldn’t get over her baby’s death.

He caressed her head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “That’s not true. You just need to turn around. I’m always right here waiting for you.”

She raised her head and looked at his chiseled jaw and tender gaze with tearful eyes. Just then, her lips trembled in a miserable attempt at a smile. “I can’t. It’s too late now.”

“Then, let me ask you this. Do you still love him?”

She blinked. “Of course, I love him. I’ve always rejected his advances, but I’ve never denied loving him.”

When he heard that, he finally felt relieved. “Since you love him, he will surely protect you. He won’t let you be hurt anymore.”

Yelena rubbed her eyes, and her head felt heavy. “But… you’re not him. How could you possibly know that? Anyway, it doesn’t matter. My relationship with him is already over.”

Hank remained silent, his fingers slightly curling, seemingly discouraged.

After that, she suddenly lifted her head and asked, “Since it’s impossible between him and me now… It doesn’t really matter who I marry now, does it? So, would you like to marry me?”

Her words shocked him once again.

“I’ve thought about it. Since this is my emotional baggage, I know I’d feel guilty if I held him back. That’s why I’ve decided to find a random person to marry. This way, he can finally move on.”

afraid that he’ll be angry or unhappy after learning about all this?” His tone was icy as if his words could cut

I’ll never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life.” As Yelena spoke, there was a hint of nostalgia in her voice. “Actually, I’m quite reluctant

this for him or

in her words. I really shouldn’t let her drink this much from now on. Luckily,

not talk about anything else. Just tell me, do

were someone else, would you still ask the same question?” he needed to ask this right now for his peace of mind. It was because he knew that she couldn’t recognize him at

was going to find someone.” With that, she stood up abruptly and looked at the time, feeling slightly dizzy. “Luckily, there’s still time. City Hall hasn’t

He was already being pulled

she quickly returned home and retrieved her birth certificate from some

“Where’s your birth certificate?”

many of the family’s documents

from his car’s compartment and

“Since we both have the

drove, he asked, “You didn’t even ask me for my name,

you are. You’re Hank.” She rubbed her

a hint of happiness rising in his heart. “What do you mean? You know who I am? So, you want

marry anyone?” She laughed heartily. “I was just

left him speechless. Alright, you

really, really want to marry you.” As she spoke, her head was throbbing intensely. Right now, she could barely recall anything but this plain

caress her head upon hearing her words. “Alright, don’t overthink things now. We’ll be

would be too late for all of this. I have to take her to get the marriage certificate before she sobers up.

forcefully, accelerating as he quickly drove them toward