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My head was a mess after the events that took place this evening. This whole night has been a crazy dream. I can hardly believe that Reese turned up out of the blue like I imagined he would so many times during the past three years. He opened his heart to me, he handed it over to me at that restaurant table. I was dumbfounded. He even said the words I've been fantasizing about since I moved away.

I recall the weeks that dragged by after we broke up. My heart ached and I had a strong urge to call him and apologise. I thought we could work through things but I knew deep down that it just didn't feel right.

And yet as he sat across from me tonight and told me all the things I longed to hear from him, it was already too late.

My heart ached for him, ached for the future we might have had together. I'm committed to another man -- a good man.

I think about Ethan often while he's away. He is exactly what every girl dreams of. A handsome blond-haired, blue-eyed Adonis with a charm like no other.

I was smitten from the very first day we met. He treated me like a princess. When he asked me to marry him I was caught off guard, I didn't understand why he wanted to rush things. We weren't even intimate.

When I asked him about this, he told me he was a traditional man and wanted to wait until we were wed, like we were living a hundred years in the past. Considering I'm still a virgin, I accepted to marry him.

Am I a fool to accept his sudden proposal? Yeah, maybe.

I don't know whether I'm in love with Ethan yet, I don't see him enough due to our busy schedules but I am close to having those feelings. I guess that's why my heart ached after I spent the evening with Reese, my first love.

Of course, I still have feelings for Reese.

Why did he wait this long? Why couldn't he have told me this a year ago? Would it have made a difference? Would I have given Reese another chance after he claimed he was a changed man?

Over the last few years, I have seen various pictures of Reese and Rosalie James together -- looking extra cosy. I felt a stab of jealously. It took a while to get over the hurt and longing from the realisation that Reese had moved on. She is an extremely beautiful supermodel, popular in the fashion world and they look really good together. I couldn't even compete with a woman like her.

So when Reese told me they were just friends, I nearly fell out of my seat.

Yet it doesn't mean he doesn't have other females swarming around him.

Do I believe he's changed? I mean he sounded genuine. Even if I believed him or not, we couldn't be any more than friends. I made that perfectly clear to him tonight.

We weren't destined to be together in high school and I suppose it's a sign we shouldn't be together now.

So why do I feel so sullen? So disappointed when I should feel that this is the right choice?

My dreams have finally come true. I'm lucky to be where I am now, with the man of my dreams. Ethan is the one I'm supposed to be with.

Get it together Marnie. Reese is your past and Ethan is your future.

My phone rings and rings. When I look down at the screen, I groan internally.

Oh gosh, I forgot to call Theo and tell him I got home in one piece. He's probably freaking out right now.

I accept the call immediately. "Hello?"

"Are you okay? What did that jerk want?" Theo's gravelly voice rings through the speaker.

I sigh, walking through my empty penthouse. I look out of the clear, wide windows, gazing at the flashing lights of the city. It's so beautiful at this time of night. "I'm okay Theo, don't worry. Reese was a gentleman. He took care of me."

I can picture Theo pacing the room, frustrated. "I don't trust the guy Marnie, he'll only hurt you again."

That's exactly what I've been thinking since I came home. It's probably not a good idea to tell Theo what Reese shared with me at dinner, he'll only worry about me.

"Yeah maybe he will, but it doesn't matter Theo. I'm engaged. Even if Reese came back for me, that ship has long sailed." Why does my heart feel heavy? Reese and I split years ago. Although now I feel like I'm finally letting him go... for good. What's wrong with me?

Theo stays silent for a good few seconds and when he speaks again, my breath catches in my throat. "Do you love Ethan, Marnie?"

"I think so." I stutter pathetically.

"Let me rephrase, are you in love with Ethan?" I close my eyes, taking a steady, deep breath. I want to say yes, but I know that would be a lie. I've never lied to my brother and I won't start now.

"I guess it's too early to know." His next words form tears in the back of my eyes.

"Why are you marrying him then?"

There it is. The question I've been asking myself since I said yes. What the hell am I doing?

Why did I accept this proposal if I have doubts?

"I didn't want to say no. I believe we can have a good future together. He makes me happy Theo." It's true. On the one hand, I know what my brother is saying. How do I know I'll fall in love with Ethan? I hardly know the man. On the other hand, I enjoy his company and he's an amazing guy.

Theo sighs down the phone. "Yeah, you're right. I guess I'm just worried you might look back in years to come and regret the decisions you make now. You know I want the best for my little sister."

I smile, my heart warming. "Thank you for caring for me. You know I don't know what I'd do without you and Sky in my life. You guys are the best."

"We love you!" I hear Sky yell over the phone and I laugh. Theo also chuckles through the speaker, agreeing with his future wife.

I bend down to take off my five-inch stiletto heels from my aching feet and sigh with relief.

"I have to go, Theo, I'm tired and I need to be at the studio tomorrow morning."

I hold the device between my shoulder and ear while I reach for the other shoe. "Okay, call me if you need anything. Love you, little sis."

"Love you too." with that said, I tell him goodnight and get ready for bed, thinking about the boy with forest orbs, breathtaking smile and irresistible voice.

It's been two weeks since I saw my ex-boyfriend Reese. I haven't spoken to him since we caught up that night at the restaurant. I've nervously checked my phone, waiting for a call or text. I received nothing from him.

A few times I've picked up my phone to call his number or text him though I decided against it.

It kind of feels awkward speaking to him, not to mention I'm engaged. It would look so bad if I start casually talking to my ex. What would Ethan say if he found out?

Speaking of Ethan, last night he told me he's flying home late tonight and he's excited to see me. I felt elated, I get to see my fiancé. To spend quality time with him. I can't wait.

By the time I get home from the studio, my phone lights up with tons of messages and notifications. Some people on my team sent me the same article with an attached message saying 'You need to see this' or 'Is this true?'

I furrow my brows, thinking the media have yet again made up another false story about me. I seem to be getting them more frequently these days.

Out of interest, I tap on the article and I'm immediately shown a bold headline with a picture underneath.

My breath catches as I stare at the photo. My eyes zone in on the handsome blond who I know as my fiancé, Ethan. He's locking lips with a stunning redhead in a skimpy black bikini.

My brain takes a minute to process the image and then my eyes snap to the headline.

My heart drums in my chest and my hands begin to shake. This can't be true, this must be an old picture or something. There has to be an explanation for this.

I stare at the photo for several seconds before my phone lights up with Ethan's name. I take a deep, shallow breath as I accept his call and place the device up to my ear.

"Hello?" my voice comes out small, uncertain.

Ethan speaks quickly but I can hear the guilt in his voice. "Marnie baby, I don't know whether you've seen the headlines but--"

I cut him off, anger and frustration building up rapidly. I need to know the truth. I don't care how much it will pain me. I need to know if this is all a lie.

"I've seen them and the picture too. It's sort of embarrassing having my team send me this, Ethan. What the hell?"

"Baby, listen to me--"

"Just tell me, is it true? Did you cheat on me?" the line goes silent and my lip begins to tremble. I already know what he's going to say. I just need to hear him say it. Say it, coward.

"Yeah, but it was a mistake. I was drunk and I was missing you. Mikayla and I... we've been around each other every day, shooting the movie. It just happened and now I feel awful about it."

I close my eyes, sucking in a ragged breath. I can't believe this is happening to me, again. Do I have the words 'cheat on me' written on my forehead?

How could he do this to me? He was the one who proposed to me! He made it clear how special I was to him. Or was that lie too?

"Thank you for telling me the truth instead of making up some bullshit story," Tears burn the back of my eyes but I refuse to sound weak in front of him.

"Ethan, you proposed to me and I trusted you. Yeah, we haven't spent a lot of time together because of our busy lifestyles, but Jesus Christ. I would never do that to you. How are we supposed to tell everyone about our engagement now that this is out, huh?"

He curses and I can hear him shuffling on the other side of the phone. Is he out somewhere? Is he with the pretty redhead? "We can still get married. I want to marry you, Marnie. She doesn't mean anything to me. It's you I want. I can fix this, we can make this right, baby."

Is this a joke?

I shake my head, biting my lip. I don't think I can ever trust Ethan again. What If he stars in a new movie somewhere with another beautiful female lead? Maybe he's done this before and he's finally been caught out? No, I can't go through that paranoia.

"I don't want you to fix this Ethan. It's over, we're done." I feel relieved once the words are out like I should have said them at the beginning of this phone call.

"Marnie, wait, please. I'm sorry, just give me another chance." Ugh... I've heard this before. Ethan sounds frantic but I refuse to listen to any more lies and bullshit.

"Goodbye Ethan, I just hope she was worth it." I disconnect the phone call.

My hand drops the phone to the floor. I take the silver band off my finger and walk to the bathroom. I quickly throw the ring inside the toilet and flush it down. Like our relationship. I already have tons of messages coming through. I don't want to read any of them.

Instead, I cry. Not because of Ethan. Because of myself.

The world already watched me through a microscope from a very young age, waiting for me to crack. Watching me fall, like my mother with her addiction.

This headline will make everything worse. I won't be able to run away from this for a while, but I have to stay strong. And I will.

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