<spanng="EN">Holden’s POV


    <spanng="EN">I had my driver take me back to my parents‘ home after we lost Ana in the parking garage. Her words caused both Seth and me a great deal of confusion. I know she loves Seth, and for her to say what she said, we both agreed that we had to have missed something. It was around the time we went to our second year of college that things changed. Had Tiffany hurt Ana? Is that why she was so angry with me? Because I didn’t protect her. I knew for a fact that I wouldn’t have done anything to hurt her. I cared for Ana, she was a sweetheart, and I couldn’t for the life of me remember anything that I had done that would have hurt her.


    <spanng="EN">She has been avoiding Tiffany for years as well. Since Mom wanted to pin this on me, she always said it was something that I had done. But maybe she was wrong. Maybe this was something that Tiffany had done, and I was just guilty by association. Tiffany wasn’t nearly as nice as Ana was. Tiffany was willing to sell her soul to maintain her current lifestyle, and she knows her time is running out. Tiffany was twenty–eight years old, and she was still trying to find someone she considered her equal, or worthy enough to marry.


    <spanng="EN">She was always on me to speak to Seth about marrying her. I already knew that wasn’t going to happen. He could barely stand to look at her, let alone talk to her. He hadn’t made a secret about it, and our parents had finally stopped bringing it up after Alicia had gently told my parents that Seth was never going to marry her. It didn’t mean she still doesn’t have her sights on him. It just means that while she is test–driving the other men in our circle, she still has her eyes on Seth.


    <spanng="EN">My mother was excited to see me and immediately came to greet me. “Holden, I’m so d you came to visit. To what do we owe the honor?” she asked before heading back to the ind in the kitchen to continue trimming the flowers she was putting in a vase. I had been gone for thest five years. Onlying home asionally. I knew I’d eventually take over thepany for Dad, but I also wanted to leave my own mark on the world.


    <spanng="EN">“I wanted to talk to you privately, Mom. Is Tiffany here?” I asked. before taking a barstool on the other side of the ind from her.


    <spanng="EN">“No, she and Gretchen are out buying dresses for the auction on Sunday. Which reminds me, son, Tiffany wants you to take her and Gretchen into the auction with your invitation,” Mom replied.


    <spanng="EN">“I really don’t want to escort them, Mom. Tiffany will just walk off and leave me with Gretchen again, trying to force some sort of love connection. Which is not going to happen, Mom. Gretchen makes my skin crawl. I hate every interaction that we’ve ever had. Plus, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to escort them. Seth and the Caldwells are asking me to follow through with the arranged marriage. We have all agreed it’s what’s best for Ana, but we’re still trying to get her to agree with it,” I responded with a smile.


    <spanng="EN">I already knew my mother would be thrilled, and she was, for several minutes. “So, have you sat down with Ana and discussed what her issues were? You have to clear the air before you get married. It would be best for you to know, so you can get past whatever it was. She still hasn’t told me, or Alicia. We’re still concerned about it, but I was so happy when Alicia told me that Ana’s engagement was over. I knew you had a good chance to get her back. You need to make sure to charm her son. She is such a sweet girl, and she would make a wonderful wife. I’ve known her since she was born. She’s never acted this way before. I wish she would just say it and get this whole thing over with,” she asked.


    <spanng="EN">“I think the issue might have been less on me and more on Tiffany if what she said earlier was true,” I replied. “Seth was saying that we’ve both always tried to protect her, and she asked if we would be willing to bet our lives on that being true.”


    <spanng="EN">Mom froze in ce, then slowly turned towards me, giving me her full attention before asking. “Tiffany? Are you sure, Holden? I thought we sat Tiffany down after Ana changed. Tiffany swore that she had always protected Ana. Do you think she was lying to us? If that is the case, Alicia would never forgive me. I won’t be able to forgive myself either, as it would be my fault.”


    <spanng="EN">“Mom, it wouldn’t be your fault. Tiffany has always done as she liked, but she wasn’t a bully. Also, if she had done something to Ana, that would be on her, not you. You and Dad taught us right from wrong. It’s the only thing that makes any kind of sense. I honestly can’t remember a reason for Ana to have made such a drastic change. I liked her, and she followed us around for years. We did protect her in high school. You know as well as I do that Gretchen’s a bully, too. She was so jealous of Ana. That’s why we asked Tiffany to keep an eye on her.


    <spanng="EN">Only Tiffany would have been able to protect her from Gretchen. Seth and I were heading back to college, and we both wanted to ensure Ana’s safety. She didn’t have many friends, which worried us. Tiffany might be spoiled, but I don’t believe she was a bully. I also don’t think that she would allow it to happen in front of her. I just know that something bad had to have happened for Ana to still be holding a grudge,” I replied.


    <spanng="EN">My mother chewed her lip before looking at me. “Let me ask Tiffany about it first. She might get defensive if you do it. She always hated how protective you and Seth were over Ana. You’re not the most diplomatic person in our family. I will ask her and get back with you. I think you’re right. Tiffany liked Gretchen and might not have protected Ana very well. I will hate it if that’s what urred. Alicia and I are best friends. I won’t be able to apologize to her or Ana enough if that’s the case. I hate to admit it, but it does make sense. Gretchen was always jealous of Ana and always madements about her weight. I hope you’re wrong, Holden, but I think you’re onto something. I’m sorry for using you all this time. It’s just she hung on your every word. Then all of a sudden, she couldn’t even bear to look at you,” she said.


    <spanng="EN">“Well, we don’t know it wasn’t me yet, Mom, I just can’t imagine what I could have done to make her so angry that she’s still holding a grudge. However, I can see her gaining weight over the years because of being bullied. I want to find out too, so we can get past this. I asked her if she would go to the auction with me. I also asked if we could talk. She hasn’t answered my text. I’m still blocked. So, I had to send it through my assistant Kevin’s phone, but she hasn’t replied. He’s supposed to send me a screenshot when, or if, she replies. She probably won’t answer, but I’m not giving up. I want to marry her; she has grown up to be a beautiful woman,” I replied.


    <spanng="EN">“Who’s a beautiful woman?” a voice asked from behind us.


    <spanng="EN">I turned to see Tiffany and Gretchen looking at me with smiles on their faces. I knew I needed to leave, as I could already tell that Gretchen was thinking that I was talking about her. I have to shut this down quickly.


    <spanng="EN">“This was a private conversation, but I wasn’t speaking about the presentpany,” I said in a cold tone.


    <spanng="EN">“Well, I’m still d you’re here, Holden. Can you take me and Gretchen to the auction? We just got some new dresses for it,” Tiffany asked. She even pouted, thinking that it came off as cute, but she’s nearing thirty. There’s no need for her to do that, it justes off as childish.


    <spanng="EN">I can’t. The Caldwells have asked that I honor the arranged marriage with Ana, and I’ve agreed. In fact, that is who I was talking about earlier. Ana is an aplished designer and a beautiful person, inside and out. So, I can take you, Tiffany, as you are my sister. But I will not be able to escort, Gretchen. It wouldn’t be proper as I’m now officially off the market.” I replied.


    <spanng="EN">“Ana is already engaged to be married, in just two weeks‘ time, Holden. You must be mistaken. You can’t be marrying her; it doesn’t make sense. She can’t marry two people,” Tiffany cried out.


    <spanng="EN">“Her engagement is off. If everything works out, I will be taking his ce at their ceremony. But you need to keep that to yourself. If you report it, don’t think the Caldwells are going to just let you off. They will find out who leaked it ande after you,” I stated confidently. I wasn’t lying. There would be nowhere for them to hide if either of them ‘identally‘ let it slip to a reporter.


    <spanng="EN">I see Gretchen react to that with a start. She was the one I had been talking to. I could almost see the wheels turning. She was definitely going to try to leak it. “Well, who can tell where rumors evene from. I can’t see Ana forgiving you or epting you. She has been mad for a decade. I don’t believe that she would forgive you all of a sudden,” Gretchen replied.


    <spanng="EN">“Well, the fact that her family, and our family, are the only ones who know, it person would be exposed quickly. There’s no way for it to stay hidden, as I can promise you that not only would they sue whoever reported it. I would join in with them. Even if it’s my own sister,” I replied, keeping my eyes trained on Gretchen. I was letting her know that if she thought she could get away with it, she needed to think again. The reporter would eventually cave and tell the truth. Gretchen is one of the few who know the truth now. It wouldn’t be a stretch of imagination to figure out who did it.


    <spanng="EN">“Holden is right. If the news leaks, you and Tiffany would be the primary suspects. You both need to think carefully about what you do with this information. We will coborate with them to ensure the guilty party is discovered. There will be a fitting punishment for whoever did it,” my mother stated in an icy tone.


    <spanng="EN">“You’re acting like you love her more than you love me?” Tiffany gasped out.


    <spanng="EN">“Why? Are you nning on being the weak link, Tiffany? Because I swear if you do, your allowance will be cancelled, forever. You will also have to get a job and pay your own bills. Ana does, and she is younger than you. I can promise you that won’t be all of it, either. You’d better think long and hard, Tiffany, because there won’t be anying back from this,” Mom coldly stated.