Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption-Chapter 177: Promise made...

"Can you not let go of my hand, no matter what happens? And... can you always remember me?" he asked, his voice low but sincere.

Jessica was stumped, her breathe caught in her throat while her heart thumped wildly yet she met his question with silence.

She didn’t expect such a question. In as much as she has her fears of what tomorrow might be for them; she hadn’t taken any time to consider who is holding on or who is not holding on at the moment.

With the knowledge that tomorrow might come with its challenges, she felt herself lacking of the confidence needed.

She is really afraid, having witnessed her mother’s painful end, she lacks the confidence to trust any man. She can only believe what she has today.

But it is more scary to hear him make that request, —request? No, it’s certainly not a request, he is asking for a promise.

A promise about tomorrow. Jessica felt her head throbbing as she analyzes the situation.

She wanted to make that promise that she will not let go of his hand, that she will always be there to stand by him through thick and thin but she had to weigh her options, she has to consider her heart.

"What are the chances? What are the possibilities?" She murmured to herself.

Seeing her silent Davis heart thumped wildly in trepidation, he might not have thought about it when he asked but he was certain this is what he wanted.

He is quite sure that in every thing, he will always come back to her solace. But then, what if she is unwilling? Why is she contemplating? Why is she keeping silent?

His hand unintentionally clenched lightly on her arms. A subtle tension creeping up his body. His fear deepening.

He doesn’t want to imagine what his heart will go through should she say ’No’. He is not ready to lose the only light shining in his path.

He doesn’t mind whatever price he has to pay but then at this minute at this moment, he felt fear, fear of her response, fear of her rejection though his wife but then it was someoneelse plot.

Jessica took a deep breathe, her thoughts racing in her head. May be it is time to live the reality and not dwell in fantasy. It is really time they focus on the truth and not rely on their imagination.

In as much she is afraid of the future, she can only live the present to pursue the future. She stared at him for a while, her eyes taking note of the several emotions swirling in them -the expectation, the hope and the fear of rejection.

"May be you are right, may be you are wrong about the future, may be we can still suffer greater trials than this or probably we might be all good after crossing this sea but what ever it might be....",

She paused lightly probably searching for the right word but for Davis this brief pause was already taking the life out him. "I will walk the path with you and not let go of your hand." She replied.

Davis sighed in relief but his relief was short lived with Jessica’s next sentence "on one condition?"

"Condition?" He asked, his heart skipping a bit. But then he is not surprised because every situation had a condition attached to foster it. "I can meet up any condition." He answered readily eliciting a light smile on Jessica’s lips.

She carefully studied his face, her eyes never leaving his—searching, weighing, questioning. "Yes, one condition," she repeated, this time with more certainty in her voice.

Davis gave a slight nod, his gaze steady but filled with anticipation. "Name it." She hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.

"Don’t lie to me," she said simply.

He blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected request. Of all things she could have asked—wealth, security, loyalty—she asked for truth?

"No matter how painful it is," she continued, "no matter how ugly the truth may be... I’d rather face it than live in a world built on comforting lies." She said.

"If I’m to walk this path with you, Davis, then I need to know what’s real. I can’t promise forever to someone who hides behind shadows." Her voice trembled ever so slightly as she concluded, but her eyes were fierce. Brave.

Davis’s lips parted, words stuck in his throat. He had expected something else—anything else—but not this kind of raw, honest vulnerability. He reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. "Then I promise you... no lies," he said solemnly.

"Not even the small ones. You’ll have all of me—flaws and all. I won’t hide from you, not matter when or where but then can you not doubt me when I say the truth?" He asked.

In as much as she wants the truth, he wants her unwavering trust, her believe, her understanding. She nodded slowly, letting his words settle deep within her heart. "You don’t have to worry as long as you said it, I will believe you."

Part of her still wavered. Part of her feared she might wake up one day to find herself abandoned... again not by father or family but by him.

But another part—small but burning—wanted to believe him. Wanted to take the leap. "And you?" he asked softly, his thumb still lingering near her cheek. "Will you promise the same? That no matter what tomorrow holds, you won’t run from me?"

Jessica inhaled deeply.

"I won’t run," she whispered. "But you must understand—if ever I feel the ground crumbling beneath my feet... I may need you to remind me why I chose to stay." She doesn’t want to forget but he sure has to remind her.

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. "Then I’ll be your anchor. When the ground shakes, hold on to me. I won’t let you fall." He said pulling closer into his arms. With the promise of the future together, the hope of tomorrow, Davis felt his heart calmed down.