AN UNEXPECTED GROOM

The competition officially started at 10 a. m.

Contestants were allowed to choose from two themes which were ‘Four Seasons’ and ‘Hometown’.

Roxane chose the theme “Hometown”. She sat down at the easel and didn’t think long before starting to paint.

Leila, who was invited as a proctor for the competition, walked around the room. Her expression changed slightly when she saw Roxane, who was sitting in the center of the room.

“Why is she here?”

Roxane didn’t tie her hair up today. Her black hair cascaded down her back and shoulders, contrasting with her pale face. Her bright, clear eyes were focused on her painting so she naturally didn’t notice Leila.

Leila didn’t have time to ask around when she saw a figure standing at the window. Joy arose in his heart and was immediately revealed on his face. She rushed with light steps and shouted:

– Diego, you…

Leila’s voice suddenly stopped abruptly when she followed the direction of Diego’s gaze and saw that he was looking at Roxane. The smile on his face instantly froze.

He finally turned to look at Leila and asked:

– Leila ? Why are you here?

Leila’s nails dug into the flesh of her palms as she maintained a dignified smile on her face. She said:

– I was an art student. Have you forgotten?

Diego didn’t say anything.

She went on to say:

– I was invited to be a proctor for the Golden Brush competition. Later I will also note the competitors’ paintings.

He nodded.

-You have always been remarkable.

It was a very typical and superficial response.

Leila moved to stand next to him. Her eyes darkened as she looked at the center of the room. However, her voice was soft as she said:

– I heard that your company is one of the sponsors of the competition? Did you come today because of that?

He nodded without looking at Leila. His eyes were still fixed on Roxane.

Leila looked silently at Diego. She felt like her heart had been pierced by a sword, causing it to bleed profusely.

…

The competition lasted five hours. That was how long Roxane sat in front of her painting. She was so focused that she didn’t realize she was the only one left in the hallway. One of the supervisors had to remind him.

After submitting her work, she turned around and saw Leila standing at the door. Her expression was calm as she walked past and out of the hall. It was as if she had just seen a stranger.

“Roxane,” shouted Diego, who was standing in the corridor.

Roxane, who assumed Diego was there to look for Leila, only nodded slightly in response before walking past him.

Diego’s expression immediately froze. He turned to look at her back, intending to call her again.

However, at this moment, Leila came out of the room and shouted:

-Diego…

He turned to Leila and asked:

– What is the problem?

She waited for people to leave the room before slowly saying:

-I actually agreed to return to the country to be a competition monitor because I knew your company was one of the sponsors. Apart from that, I want to tell you that I have no plans to leave the country again.

Diego was stunned. He looked at Leila quietly.

She moved to stand in front of him and looked at him tenderly before continuing to say:

“I heard about you and her from Mina. Diego, to be honest, all these years I have been…

Before she could finish speaking, Diego interrupted her and said:

– Leila, I think you misunderstood something.

“Our relationship ended a long time ago,” Diego said. His tone was gentle, but his words were cruel.

Leila froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at him. Her words were spoken to her, but it was as if she was convincing herself by saying:

“But, but you clearly still care about me. You even missed your wedding because of me…

Diego’s expression didn’t change as he said:

– You were alone abroad and you came to ask me for help. Naturally I can’t stand aside and do nothing. Besides, it’s my fault we broke up. I thought I had to catch up.

Tears welled up in Leila’s eyes as she choked up and said:

– So, you only did that to make up for me…

– Is it only out of guilt?

– Roxane has always been very kind and obedient. I thought she would understand me, Diego said. His voice carried a hint of helplessness and regret as he spoke. He didn’t expect that she would break up with him so decisively and marry another man. If he had known, he would not have abandoned her during the marriage.

– But she is married now, said Leila reluctantly,

– She doesn’t want you anymore…

Diego’s heart sank and his voice became cold as he said:

– I know.

– Diego, if it wasn’t for her, we could already have a child now, said Leila. Her face was stained with tears as she asked, carrying a glimmer of hope in her heart:Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

– Could it be, could it be that you really fell in love with her?

‘Shouldn’t he hate Roxane? How could he fall in love with her? How could he!’

Diego did not answer the question. Instead he said:

– Leila, people change. Over the years, I have changed, and so have you…

She took a step back as if she had been hit. Her slender body trembled like a rose stem in the middle of a storm that seemed about to fall at any moment.

Guilt surged in Diego’s heart when he saw Leila like that. However, he didn’t console her in the end. He turned and strode away. He was in a hurry to run after Roxane.