Mark took a deep breath, the pause stretching between us as he gathered his thoughts. “Your father and I… we go back a long way. There was a time when I owed him everything,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and regret.
His confession was a puzzle, each piece slowly falling into place as he continued to speak. “When you were younger, your father helped me out of a difficult situation. I promised him that I would always be there for you, for your family,” he explained.
“So this marriage… it was part of that promise?” I asked, the realization hitting me like a cold wave.
Mark nodded, his expression one of apology. “I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. I thought it would help, make things easier for all of us,” he admitted.
His words brought a mix of emotions, anger mingling with understanding. I realized that the choices that had led us here were not solely my own, but part of a larger tapestry woven long before I had any say in the matter.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked, my voice breaking slightly as I grappled with the truth.
“I didn’t know how,” he replied, his eyes filled with a sadness that mirrored my own. “I didn’t want to burden you with the past.”
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