"Betrayal is the only truth that sticks."― Arthur Miller

William knew he had opened up the pits of hell when he confirmed he was part of the news published in the Ledger of her Library debacle.

But he was here to tell her the entire truth and then he would accept whatever punishment she would give him.

"I can explain everything," William said earnestly.

"Does it matter?" Kathalina said tersely.

"It does, it matters, please listen to me," He said begging, "I want to be truthful to you. I do not want to be a deceiving lying politician to you. I want to be only me in front of you."

Kathalina glared at William.

"Let's have a seat," Kathalina said monotonously, "Let's tell each other all the truths and see if we can forgive each other."

"Kate," William said in agony. It was like their role was reversed. She was now stone cold and William could barely contain what he felt.

"You should start first since you took so much effort to come here," Kathalina said sharply.

"Kate," William whispered once again, hoping she would be back to herself and not act so coldly with him.

When Kate didn't budge, William had no choice but to speak his truth. He didn't have much time and he couldn't go back without accomplishing what he came here to do. He needed to speak his truth not to ease her but free himself from the guilt.

"It is true that I was behind your library escapade published in the ledger," William said his eyes on his feet, he couldn't look at her.

"It is true but not in the way everyone thinks," He continued, glancing at her. She was trying her hardest to control the tears threatening to fall.

William moved without thinking, embracing her once again. Kathalina didn't make effort to move away but neither did she embraced him back. It broke William's heart, he wish he could change the past but then he would have never known her, never known love.

He was living a happy carefree life before she came into his life like a hurricane but he wouldn't want to change anything. If not for everything that happened he would have never realised how much of his soul belonged to her.

"It is silly, so stupid of me to get drunk that night," William started still holding her, "I was frustrated that Oliver didn't think of my career, that I have to pretend in front of the world. The world thought all of us Kentshires stood together for Oliver and my family thought I was against them with the world and I ended up all alone. No one paused to think how much I had to give up. It is not fair."

William took a pause breathing in so as to not completely break down in front of her. No one understood how deeply he was impacted by the things happening around him. That his dreams and the career that he worked for would be snatched away from him in an instant by the actions of those close to him.

"I didn't let selfish thoughts take over. No one owed me their life. But that night everything came crashing down on me and I, like every other silly man drowned myself in liquor," He said tears falling freely.

"I was so inebriated that when a party member came to me about how he can use your name against your father by seemingly harmless news in the ledger I didn't think much and gave my consent."

Kathalina jerked herself away from him at his confession.

"Do you mean to tell me you were intoxicated while you decided to add more stain to my reputation?" Kathalina asked angrily.

William stayed silent, nodding his head at her question keeping his mouth shut in fear of saying something wrong.

"You were intoxicated while consenting to what seemed a harmless thing for you," Kathalina asked defeated, "What am I supposed to do now? Excuse you because you were drunk or that it was harmless to you. Do you even know how much I suffered before that? It was the last straw for me too."

"My behaviour cannot be excused because I was inebriated. Neither do I have the right to pass judgement on what could be harmless or harmful for you," William said. He understood the implication of his action but it was too late.

"If I could I wish I would go back and change so many things if that meant you would not suffer," William said sincerely, "But there is this selfish part of me that does not want to change anything, afraid it might change everything and I would never get to stand in front of you here."

"I don't know what to do, William," Kathalina sighed her voice defeated, "But I do understand. I am afraid too if I change even the slightest of the past I will simply not exist for you. And it pains me more than anything. There is this feeling that I do not understand the accompanying guilt properly makes it even more difficult to decipher."

William wasn't brave enough to name that feeling. What if he says it and it wasn't true. William stopped himself from going down a dangerous path at a time like this.

"Why did you come here? What did you expect to get out of this meeting? What do you want from me?" Kathalina asked.

"I wanted to free myself, "William said softly, "I wanted to find some peace after I tell you the truth. I wanted to get rid of this heavy burden on my chest."

"Is that all?" Kathalina asked her face dull.

"Yes," William said softly.

"You do not want my forgiveness," She asked softly, her anger gone.

"I do not deserve it."

"And what about me? I deceived you too."

"We both did inexcusable things to each other but all of it was caused because of my stupid mistake. It was me that started all this," William interrupted her, "You do not need to ask me for forgiveness, but if you feel remorseful I have one request."

"What is it?" Kathalina asked apprehensively.

"Can we put the past behind ourselves?" He asked hopefully. Everything was so complicated. It wasn't easier to go through all they did in the past nor was it easy to forgive everything blindly but they had to find a way to move forward.

"What about the future?" She asked calmly, "What if I did something that will affect your future?"

"What do you mean?" William asked not understanding her.

"I did something to save myself," She said facing away from him.

"If it is to save yourself I do not mind at all," William said reaching out to her.

"Do not be hasty my lord," Kathalina said sharply.

"You found my note in the Kentshire manor. It never reached my parents. They thought I was carrying your child. I couldn't bear for them to look at me with those eyes," Kathalina's voice wavered.

William embraced her. His arms circled her waist while her back rested on his chest giving her comfort.

"I told them about the Inheritance bill. The conservative party is ready. They are planning to squash it at its first presentation. You will not be able to win, William," Kathalina whispered.

She removed herself from his arms and faced him. Her face was void of all emotions.

"I did it so that you would feel at least some amount of pain that I feel. I did it to make you suffer. Now, you tell me will you be able to forgive me?"

William stood frozen. How could she do this after everything? She knew how important this was for him. The person he loves betrayed him. The emotions were a mixture of hate and love, anger and sadness. His mind was barely able to think but in all that he knew he still loved her.

But love doesn't mean you would be happy.

Loving her doesn't mean he can pretend she never broke his heart intentionally.

Love doesn't guarantee happily ever after.

But even through all this pain, he wanted to spend his life with her. He was ready to suffer forever if he could get forever with her.

"You should leave now," Kathalina words resounded in the quiet place.

His pain and suffering wouldn't mean anything if she suffered too. The only pain he couldn't live with was the pain of seeing her suffer.

William placed a soft kiss on her temple and left the way he came.

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