“I don’t think that’s true.”
“How can you say that? You don’t think someone can do anything that can take away any good will you might have towards them?”
“Perhaps they could but that doesn’t mean they never deserve to be happy again.”
“Then I will simply say I am glad no one has ever made you feel that way, but that doesn’t make it untrue.”
“You haven’t said anything to prove it is true, and even if it was, I still think you deserve it.”
“I don’t know how you can say that after seeing him,” Christopher shook his head, shoulders weighed down with years worth of guilt. Even with that he still knew it was less than he deserved.
Veronica shook her head. “I don’t understand how you can look in a mirror everyday and still feel this way.”
“As I said, I don’t know how you can say it after seeing Alexander. I hve put him though so much.
“Even if any of it was your fault, which it isn’t. It’s easy, because I’m saying it after seeing you. You are a good person, Christopher. You have proven it time and time again.”
He shook his head. “I haven’t. Just look at how I treated you. I all but ignored you when you first arrived here. I was so cold to you. I ignored you and pushed you away. I never reached out after the fire and only showed up because I thought you had moved on.”
“And I was so grateful when you did. If you hadn’t, I would have been forced to marry that awful man.”
“But I didn’t know you didn’t care for him. For all I know you could have had a great love story. I didn’t care one way or the other. All I knew was that you had to be mine.”
Veronica took a step towards him and he didn’t move, encouraging her to approach him. Cautiously, she reached out, pressing a hand to his arm.
“I love you. Do you think I would feel that way if you were the terrible person you think you are.”
He looked at her, eyes wide in shock. “Do you really mean that?”
“Of course I do. Do you think I would say it if I didn’t?”
He hesitated. “You can see how upset I am. You could just be trying to make me feel better.”
She shook her head. “I would never lie to you, especially not about something like this. You once promised me you would try. Do you really want to walk away from that? From what we could have together?”
“No,” he whispered. “I don’t.”
Then he crumbled, turning and all but collapsing into veronica’s arms.
For a long time, the pair just stood there holding one another before Christopher pulled back, clearing his throat.
“I’m sorry, Veronica, I should never have ran off and left you alone at the ball. I should have came and told you what happened.”
“I agree, but I can understand why you didn’t. You must have been so upset, so scard. You acted without thinking, I can forget it and move on, but try not to let it happen again.”
“I’m sure it won’t.”
“I mean it, if Alexander ever says anything to you again, please come talk to me.”
He let out a bitter laugh. “Somehow I doubt he will want to come see me again any time soon.”
Veronica gave him a strange smile. “Somehow, I doubt that.”
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
Alexander’s eyes were locked on the stone in the center of the clearing.
