Emotionally, Debra didn''t want Marion to hide anything from her.


    But she wasn''t stupid. What Andrew had said earlier was practically a hint.


    Marion tightened his grip on her hand and murmured, "I love you."


    Those words came out of his mouth less smoothly than usual.


    He gently brushed Debra''s head and added, "Don''t overthink it. Just give me some time, okay?"


    There was an almost pleading tone in his voice. It was something Debra had never heard from him before.


    He was definitely hiding something, and it was serious.


    Debra caught those two pieces of information.


    "Did you cheat on me?"


    "Absolutely not."


    "Am I not your first woman?"


    "You''re the only woman I''ve ever had."


    "Have you done anything against your principles?"


    "No."


    Marion''s answers were surprisingly quick, almost anxious.


    Debra smiled in relief, "Then I''m not worried."


    Marion seemed taken aback.


    Debra continued, "What I want is a man who loves mepletely. He might not have money or power, but he has to love me, respect me, walk through life with me, and never betray me. Can you do that?"


    Marion nodded earnestly.


    "That''s all I need," Debra said. "In a marriage, besides love, we should respect each other and see each other as the most important person in our lives. That''s enough. As for the things you''re hiding from me, I don''t want to know right now. When you''re ready to tell me, I''listen. Besides, I can''t think of anything so big that you could be hiding from


    me."


    His money and properties had all been given to her, and he always stayed glued to her side. She could feel his love for her.


    She believed Andrew was overthinking things. Nothing here seemed to be able to shake their rtionship. Hand in hand, they returned to their room.


    Barton watched for a moment before pushing open the door and stepping inside the bedroom.


    Andrew was watching two swallows outside the window. Before Barton could say anything, he spoke up. "I heard everything."


    "Then..."


    "Let it be. One day, she''ll know."


    "What if she couldn''t ept it?"


    1.n


    "See those swallows outside? They are lifelong mates. If one dies, the other will stay by the nest, living out its life alone. But if you love someone with all your heart, how could you live without them? Can you say the remaining swallow doesn''t love the one who''s gone? In matters of love, there''s no certainty. It just manifests differently."


    As the sky darkened, Liza grumbled downstairs, "Is Jordaning back or not? Wasn''t there supposed to be


    a wee dinner?"


    Gand had prepared fireworks and party hats, but it wasn''t just Jordan who was missing. Erica and Randy hadn''t returned either.


    The whole house felt eerily quiet, like no one lived there.


    "Should we just eat without them?" Gand suggested, starving.


    It was already seven o''clock, and no one hade home. He wondered if he had made a mistake.