The Road to Rebirth Her Fresh Start and His Late Sorrow by Helena R. Bates

Chapter 12

"It's not like you wanted to be at someone's mercy. It's not like you chose to drink that spiked milk. If you could, you'd wish this never happened more than anyone else.

"The one at fault is the jerk who took advantage of you! Nancy, why would you even think I'd be too scared to marry you just because you're repulsed by what happened? I'm not that weak. I don't mind. If I could, I'd want to protect you for the rest of my life."

Nancy felt a wave of dizziness, and large tears that she could no longer hold back began streaming down her face. The once firm and confident Cyrus in her mind suddenly became unrecognizable.

'Cyrus, you broke your promise.' Nancy thought bitterly, 'You did mind. You minded it from the beginning to the end.'

Nancy felt like her heart had been torn out and crushed repeatedly.

Suddenly, Nancy found herself in a warm embrace.

Instinctively, Nancy struggled, but then a gentle voice reached her ears. "Nancy, don't waste your tears on someone who doesn't deserve them. I'm here for you; lean on me."

Nancy paused, looking up to see Baldrick's face full of sympathy.

But she saw the bruise under Baldrick's right eye, and his lip split.

Nancy grabbed Baldrick's hand, sensing something. "With

said some nasty things, and I couldn't hold back, so we fought." Baldrick looked at his empty hand, a hint of sorrow flashing through his

but find it amusing, so even an outsider knew how foul-mouthed Cyrus could be. But Cyrus didn't seem to think

hand. "Nancy, my car is nearby. Let's go sit inside, away

pulled Nancy into the car, shutting the

feel the cold leaving her body, warmed by

Nancy a clean towel. "Dry

only showing self-mockery. Home? Whose home? She

up the rental

there, I can take

couldn't finish

you make me return to see Cyrus and Hayley flaunting

Nancy's straightforward words, Baldrick

these past six months." Baldrick paused, "I saw Cyrus and Hayley coming out of a hotel in

sharp enough to understand what that meant, even without saying it

while, her expression