Page 192 of Broken Destiny

Her lips trembled as another sob escaped her.

“I don’t know.”

Oh, God!

The words echoed in my ears, hollow and final.

I looked away briefly and exhaled slowly through my nose, trying to process the finality in those words.

“Tatiana,” I said quietly, my voice firm but compassionate. “Do you want to get married?”

Her eyes darted back and forth, searching the floor, the walls—anywhere but my face.

“Forget about your parents,” I continued. “Forget about the people in the church. Forget about the media.” I paused, making sure she heard every word. “Doyouwant to marryme?”

Seconds stretched into an eternity as I waited for her answer, my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

“No,” she said, sniffling. “I don’t. I don’t want to get married. I don’t think I was ever ready.”

Relief washed over me so suddenly that my knees felt weak.

I bowed my head and let out a slow, steady breath, as if releasing months of tension that had been trapped inside my chest.

If she had said yes, both of us would have walked straight into a marriage built on guilt, obligation, and resentment.

Neither of us deserved that.

“If it makes you feel any better,” I said gently, “I’ve had my doubts about this whole thing too.”

She looked up at me, her eyes widening in surprise. “Really?”

I nodded.

“I just wish we had told each other sooner,” she said softly, wiping her cheeks.

“I know,” I replied, meeting her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry too.”

A softer silence filled the space between us, no longer painful and suffocating.

“Then it’s settled,” I said, rising slowly to my feet. “I’ll tell everyone that we have decided to cancel this wedding. You don’t need to say anything to anyone if you don’t want to.”

Her eyes filled with fresh tears as she looked up at me.

“You’d do that for me after what happened?” she asked, blinking rapidly.

I nodded without hesitation.

“Ready to go?” I asked, extending my hand toward her.

She placed her hand in mine and stood up.

“Yes,” she said softly. “Thank you, Caleb.”

She leaned forward and kissed my cheek, then wiped the remaining tears from her face. “Thank you for everything.”

I walked backdown the church aisle with Tatiana’s trembling hand in mine.