link


    “Are 你 sure 你 are not coming? Lancelot wants me to persuade 你 and he isn’t going to be satisfied with your answer, Arthur,” Gwen says as she arranges the vegetables inside the refrigerator. She did to do some shopping at Arthur on Merlin’s request. Though she didn’t know what the lads needed, she practically bought most of the vegetables and products on sale.
    Arthur, seated at the dining table, shakes his head. “I have some things to get done here… sorry, sweetheart. Send my wishes to Morgana and tell Lancelot I’m sorry… oh, maybe I’ll tell him myself later,” he says.
    Gwen arranges the cartons of 牛奶 neatly on the glass shelf, the berries on the left and the eggs on the egg shelf, yanks herself out and closes the door. She crumples the shopping bag in her hand, tosses it into the litter bin and moves over to 食物 cupboard. “I can do all that but Lancelot… he’s not going to like it,” she adds and arranges the dry foods on the appropriate shelves.
    “I know darling, but…”
    “Well, if that’s your wish, there’s nothing much I can do I suppose,” Gwen sighs, takes out a can of soda and walks towards Arthur.
    “You sound disappointed,” Arthur guesses, noticing the grumpiness in Gwen’s voice.
    “That’s because I am,” Gwen 答案 shortly.
    “Come on, I told you…”
    “Yeah, yeah, yeah… I know!” she 答案 again.
    Arthur smiles and extends out his hand. At first she ignores it but after further pressing from Arthur, she takes it and he pulls her closer to him. Circling his arms around her waist, he reaches up and clips her chin. “I know this is a big disappointment for you, sweetheart, and how much it means to 你 but I really can’t make it. I have some things to do, and… hope 你 understand. Please don’t be gutted with me,” he asks, caressing her chin.
    Gwen keeps quiet.
    Noticing Gwen’s quietness, Arthur trails his hand to cup her cheek. “Is there any way I can make it up to 你 for this?”
    Gwen sighs. “I don’t know, Arthur…”
    “Guinevere, please…”
    Gwen feels her 心 sink. Watching and listening to Arthur pleading actually softens her and makes her feel guilty. There’s nothing wrong with him saying he doesn’t want to come along and there’s no reason why she should be upset about it. She looks at him and smiles when Arthur pouts his lips, pleading for his forgiveness. He looks cute when he does that and eventually Gwen will give way for that particular look. Just like now. “Fine,” she sighs.
    “Don’t be angry with me…”
“I’m not angry at you, Arthur… so there’s no need to make it up to me.”
    “But I want to. I might be blind but I can feel the hurt and disappointment in you.”
    “Good,” She tells him flatly.
    “Guinevere… I hope 你 understand…”
    “I do, Arthur. Like I told you, I’m not angry, hurt 或者 disappointed. I’m just curious why 你 prefer to coop yourself up in your apartment when it’s best to spend some time with your 老友记 and myself, outside.”
    Arthur laughs. “Just this one time, Guinevere, I promise. I have something really urgent to be done and I can’t 移动 anywhere without it getting done. But I promise the 下一个 time, no matter where 你 invite me, I’ll follow.”
    “Really?” Gwen asks.
    “Really,” Arthur promises.
    “All right then,” she 答案 with a smile.
    “You’re not angry, are you?” Arthur asks again.
    “Nope.”
    “Promise?”
    “Yeah, promise,” Gwen finishes it shortly, playing with his hair.
    “Thank you, Guinevere. When are 你 leaving?”
    “After lunch.”
    “And when will 你 be back?”
    “Miss me already?” she laughs teasingly.
    “I miss 你 all the time,” Arthur smiles and kisses Gwen’s hand. “But I need to know when you’ll be back.”
    “Probably evening, why?”
    “Can 你 come over for a short while?”
    “Why?” she asks again.
    “No 问题 please… just do me this favour, all right?”
    “I’ll see what I can do.”
    “Thanks,” he answers.
    “But I’m still curious why 你 need me back here,” Gwen eyes him keenly.
    “Trust me… you’ll be in for a surprise,” he says.
    Gwen smirks and runs her hand through his hair. Arthur closes his eyes and savours the sensuous feeling creeping up him. He loves it when she does that and he could let her go on for hours, savouring her fingers in his hair. Just when Gwen bends down to 密封 her lips with his; the doorbell rings. She sighs and straightens herself. “Saved 由 the bell,” she remarks to herself, leaves Arthur and walks towards the door. Clutching the knob in frustration at being interrupted, she pulls the door open only to stand petrified looking at the person outside the apartment.
    “Hello, Guinevere, is Arthur in?” Elena asks, standing with her hands clasped together.
    “He… he… hello,” Gwen stammers.
    Elena smiles and waits for Gwen to invite her in.
    Realising she hasn’t moved 或者 spoken since finding out Elena standing outside the door, Gwen shakes her head and steps back. “I’m sorry… I was just… please, come in,” she invites and urges Elena to enter.
    Elena steps in and looks around.
    “Arthur’s in the kitchen,” Gwen 答案 as if 阅读 Elena’s mind.
    “Thank you.”
    “Who is it, Guinevere?” Arthur’s voice is heard from the kitchen. Both Elena and Gwen smile at each other, listening to him.
    “Maybe 你 should surprise him,” Gwen suggests.
    “I’m not sure if he’ll like it.”
    “Trust me, he will,” Gwen says and leads the way as Elena follows closely behind.
    “Guinevere?” Arthur calls out, his face worried as Gwen hasn’t answered his call a while ago.
    “Yes, I’m here, Arthur.”
    “Who is it? Was someone at the door?” Arthur asks as Gwen comes around and stands beside him while Elena stands quietly in a distance from them, her eyes fixed solely on both Arthur and Gwen.
    “Yes,” Gwen answers.
    “Who is it?”
    “Someone you’ve known since childhood.”
    “Merlin?”
    “Nope… someone 你 hold very close to your heart,” Gwen tells him, looking Elena.
    “Elena? Is she here?” he straightens up, his face brightening immediately.
    Elena looks up at Gwen immediately. Her eyes are both questioning and surprised. Surely Arthur wouldn’t have known of her presence? But he does. And he guesses right as well! How? Perhaps Gwen is right after all. He does think of her and this is a proof that he does. Gwen winks at her and clasps Arthur’s hands warmly.
    “Guinevere? Is she here? Elena… are 你 here? Why are 你 not talking to me? Are 你 still gutted after that night? Elena?”
    “Arthur?” Elena calls softly.
    “You’re here!” he says excitedly.
    “Yes I am Arthur. I came to see you,” Elena says. And that’s the truth.
    Gwen watches both Elena and Arthur struggling to talk with one another and she suspects her presence around could be one reason why. They both need to talk and she is just going to be a barrier between them, so it’s best she be gone. She does have a place to attend and it will be perfect if she can take her leave now. She squeezes Arthur’s shoulder.
    “Guinevere?”
“I have to go, Arthur. I’m going to leave 你 both alone,” she tells him, almost in a whisper.
    Arthur catches her hand and clasps it tightly. Gwen pats it gently, realising his grip is unusually tight.
    “It’s all right, Arthur. Everything will be good, trust me. Have a good time together and be nice, all right?”
    “You promise to come here once you’ve returned?”
    “I will, promise,” she tells him warmly, bends down and kisses him on his lips. Elena looks away. Gwen releases Arthur, caresses his cheek and looks up at Elena.
    “Elena?” she calls her.
    “Yes?” Elena turns back at Gwen. Her 心 is still aching watching Gwen 吻乐队（Kiss） Arthur. But what can she do? He chose her and she 迷失 her opportunity. Now, she must 吞, 燕子 her pride and get matters solved as smoothly as ever.
    “I have to leave to meet a friend of mine so, can 你 stay with him until Merlin arrives?”
    “Until Merlin… ermm…” Elena isn’t sure because she does have an appointment with her dermatologist at three.
“Merlin will be here at noon, could use the help,” Gwen asks.
“Erm … All right then, sure,” Elena agrees.
    “Thanks, bye Arthur,” Gwen says and leaves. Arthur holds on to Gwen until her hand is completely out of his reach and Elena watches how close both Gwen and Arthur are. Gwen picks her 涂层, 外套 and bag and leaves, closing the door behind her.
    Elena clears her throat.
    “Elena?”
    “Yes Arthur,”
    “I was wondering if you’d ever come… thank 你 for coming.”
    “I wanted to talk, Arthur.” Elena removes her 涂层, 外套 and hangs it on the chair and sets her handbag on the table. She circles around the table, pulls out a chair and sits opposite Arthur.
    “About what happened?” he guesses.
    “Yes,” she 答案 shortly. “So, that’s her?”
    “Yes, Guinevere.”
    “She’s pretty,” Elena leans and crosses her leg.
    “I wouldn’t know, Elena… I have never seen her,”
    “Yet 你 爱情 her?”
    “Elena…” this is not starting off as well as he wants.
    “No, I mean it as a compliment. 你 haven’t seen her and 你 爱情 her, but… you’ve seen me and can’t find a reason to 爱情 me? It’s kinda weird, isn’t it? What is it 你 find in her that 你 couldn’t do in me?”
    “Elena, is this why…”
    “Arthur, look…” Elena cuts him first. “I’m not here to argue with 你 或者 hurt each other further. I’ve had torrid time with that already… I just needed to know something and I’m expecting honesty from you. I guess I didn’t give 你 room to explain the other night, so I’m granting 你 that now. Just tell me what 你 see in her. Please.”
    Arthur swallows. This is going to be harder than he thought. He knows Elena expects 答案 but how is he going to give her without hurting anyone. Will she be able to handle whatever he gives her? Will she throw another tantrum? 或者 will she use this against him later? Arthur doesn’t know why is she here 或者 why is she demanding the 答案 from him though he knows he should give her one. But, how will he put it into words?
    “Arthur?”
    “Elena…” Arthur sighs and gets to his feet. He taps his way to the 墙 and stands there, leaning his head against it. “I don’t know how…” he pauses. How is he going to do this? “Guinevere and you… are different in many ways,” he begins and pauses again. “I’m not saying 你 and she are… miles apart, no… that’s not what I mean, but… it’s…”
    “Arthur, I know why it’s hard for 你 to tell me this, but trust me, I really want to know. Just tell me, please.”
    “You are my friend Elena, that’s how I’ve seen 你 all my life and will do forever, but it’s different with Guinevere, because I felt something connecting us from the moment we met. 你 are right, Elena. I have never seen her, nor have I known her before recently, but still, I feel connected… there was chemistry, a feeling between us that I have never felt that with you. With Guinevere, I feel a 火, 消防 in my heart, but I never felt that 火, 消防 with you.”
    Elena thumbs off a tear from her cheek. She knew this was coming and yet she wanted to hope. She thought there might be another reason but she is wrong. She hates hearing this but since she started it, she has to finish it.
    “I don’t want to hurt you, Elena, but I never wanted it to end like this and I didn’t think 你 thought differently of my kindness. I never in my life ever behaved 或者 thought of 你 更多 than a friend. If I did in any way gave 你 a different impression, than I am truly sorry.”
    “When?” Elena pauses as she chokes back her tears. “When did 你 meet her?”
    “When I was in the hospital. She paid me a visit and after that our paths crossed 更多 than we thought. It was like… destiny. We kept bumping into each other and became friends. Friendship blossomed into 爱情 and now, we can’t keep ourselves away from each other. I 爱情 her, Elena. I have never felt happier with anyone else than I am with her. I… can’t explain how I feel because the 爱情 we feel is wordless. It’s beautiful and poignant in our future. We need each other and I can’t imagine a world without her, Elena. Do 你 understand?”
    Elena wasn’t listening because her 心 is aching, scorching and tearing in pieces. She loved him but after discovering his 爱情 belongs to someone else, she knows the heartbreak will be devastating. And it will take ages to cure. But despite the heartbreak, she feels the 爱情 that flows between Arthur and Gwen. She saw how close they are, how loving they have been and Arthur is right, they belong with one another.
    “If I marry 你 Elena, I can never make 你 happy and we will both strive to maintain a loveless and unhappy marriage. But if 你 still want that, I can give 你 that sort of marriage. But trust me, it’s not something 你 want,”
    “And what about Guinevere? If 你 marry me, what’ll happen to her?”
    “She’s tough Elena. And this is in fact her idea. She told me she’d rather spend a 分钟 with my 爱情 than live a thousand years without me. So if I decide to marry you, she’d be happy to carry on with my memories.”
    Elena is awed. She hasn’t the chance to know Gwen better but from what she hears from Arthur, now she knows why he is in 爱情 with her. She’s kind, honest and respects the feelings of others. She is willing to give Arthur away as long as Elena is happy despite not knowing anything about her. Elena has never come across anyone like Gwen in her life before. But now, she’s glad she did. Suddenly her 心 lifts and her sorrow subsides. She is still nursing her pain but she is happy Arthur found someone who can keep him happy. She suddenly understands 爱情 and a new sense of appreciation for 爱情 dawns upon her.
    “Elena?”
    “I’m here, Arthur. You… are still willing to marry me if Gwen tells 你 so?”
    “Yes, and I won’t lie to you, Elena. I would do it for her,” he puts it firmly and turns around to meet her.
    Elena wipes the tears streaking down her cheek and closes on him. She reaches out and takes his hand. “I came here with a hope Arthur, hope that 你 might, just might have a change of 心 and accept me. But I was wrong and I know what Gwen means to 你 now. I understand 爱情 better, thanks to yours,” she tells him. “I thought all this while that I knew about love, but I didn’t. I didn’t understand it as good as 你 did but now I do… thank you,”
    “Elena, I hope 你 are not disappointed with me.”
    “Off course not, Arthur. I am thankful 你 are being honest with me. Since you’ve been frank, I will do the same, so… I won’t lie. I am hurt, in pain and devastatingly 心 broken. But I am also freed from the cage that puts us both together. Knowing 你 have never loved me means I am no longer bound 由 the promise your father made mine. I am now my own person, free to make my own choice. And I will make one with my heart, no longer with my head. I will find someone who loves me as I 爱情 him. And thanks to you, I will have better understanding of 爱情 from now on.”
    “I am happy to hear this, Elena.”
    “Thank you, Arthur, and… 你 couldn’t have found a better person than Gwen. Keep her happy, Arthur, I know 你 will. I apologise for all the misunderstandings and… for everything.”
    “Elena, I am partly to be blamed, too.”
    “I hope my father understands when I tell him,”
    “I am sure he was looking at your interests, Elena. Can’t really blame him, 你 know?” Arthur replies.
    “What about your father?”
    “He’ll come around,” Arthur says and he isn’t sure if Uther will do that. Knowing how temperamental his father is, Arthur is hoping Elena’s father will solve the matter quickly.
    “Well, what now?” Elena asks, looking around, releasing him.
    “Can 你 stay with me until Merlin arrives?”
    “Sure, I promised Gwen I would… let’s head to the front and 你 can tell everything about Gwen. I like to know her better,” Elena tells Arthur, rushes to get her bag and coat, walks back to him, takes his hand and leads him to the living room.
    Arthur smiles and follows her quietly. He is happy with Elena’s change of heart, but it surprises him how quickly she turned over a new leaf. He ignores his suspicions when he recalls her words. She seems genuine and Arthur is willing to trust her. Elena’s only fault was to fall in 爱情 with him, and apart from that, she is a good girl. She has been a good friend of his for years and still remains so. And that alone is enough for Arthur to put his full trust in her. Perhaps one 日 when she meets her own man, she will understand. And until that, Arthur is happy to teach her about love.


    Gwen switches on the light in Arthur’s apartment and walks inside, dropping her bag on the couch, searching for him. “Arthur?” she calls out. There’s no answer. She walks ahead and reaches the kitchen. There is a cake on the 表 with one candle lighted on 最佳, 返回页首 of the cake. Gwen nears the cake and takes a look. The words Guinevere, my 爱情 are written on the cake. Gwen smiles, swipes the cream and licks it. It was creamy coffee flavoured icing and Gwen licks off all the cream from her fingers and looks around. There is still no sign of Arthur and she arches her brow. ‘Where could he be?’ she thinks and takes another swipe of cream. And then she notices the small note beside the cake. She licks off the remaining cream and picks the note, unfolding to read the contents. ‘Come to my room.’ Gwen reads it twice to fully absorb it and looks behind, towards Arthur’s room. The content might be a little fishy but is Arthur in there? She leaves the note on the 表 and walks towards Arthur’s room. “Arthur?” she calls as she enters the room.
    “Wait there Guinevere!”
    “Arthur?” Gwen really can’t see anything as the room is dark. The only light in the room came from streaks of moonlight creeping silently from the window. But it was enough for Gwen to notice someone kneeling 由 the bed. It is Arthur.
    “Arthur…” Gwen steps 前锋, 期待 but Arthur’s voice cuts her off immediately.
    “Guinevere, please… not another step forward,” he tells her.
    “But why? Why are 你 kneeling down?”
    “Because there is something I need to give you.”
    “Arthur, what…”
    “Guinevere, it’s all right. Just listen and don’t say a word until I have finished, yeah. This is something I’ve been planning for a long time and I don’t want to lose another day, putting it off.”
    “You’re scaring me, Arthur.”
    “I’m trying not to, but I need 你 to listen patiently. Just 熊 with me, Guinevere.”
    “All right.”
    “All right,” Arthur takes a deep breath and waits patiently. When he is confident enough, he starts. “Our meeting came 由 an accident. I still think it’s funny that we should 交叉, 十字架 paths in such an incredulous manner, but now it makes sense. It was destiny. 你 and I were destined to meet each other and I mean this not just based on our meeting but on every other detail that surrounds our encounter. My accident, your father’s death, your hatred and my guilt… they all were reasons. And they make sense, too,” he laughs nervously. “But I was relieved to meet 你 Guinevere, because something about your presence in the hospital that 日 gave me hope.” He sighs. “I was tired, Guinevere, tired of living and tired of pretending, but all that changed the moment 你 stepped in. Your charm, your spirit and your strength 圣女魔咒 its way into my 心 and it left such an impression that I was looking 前锋, 期待 to meeting 你 again. But that never happened and 你 know the rest don’t you?” Arthur says. “But what I’m trying to say is, you… Guinevere, 你 偷了 my 心 from the very first 日 I heard your voice. 你 left an impression in me, 你 圣女魔咒 me, 着魔 me… I can go on and use as many words there are in the dictionary to describe that particular moment but nothing can come close to explain the way my 心 beats each time I hear you. Yes… it still does, Guinevere, though I don’t 显示 it on my face, it does,” he laughs again. This time he hears Gwen laughing too. ‘Good, she hasn’t left’ he thinks.
    “I always thought God abandoned me since my mother’s death, my father’s neglect and my luckless life, but he didn’t. Because he kept the biggest surprise from me all this time and I am glad he did. 你 are my light, Guinevere. 你 are my beacon of hope and I don’t want to lose out on 你 again. I’ve thirsted for 爱情 since my mother’s death and 你 filled that void; 你 gave me 爱情 and I want to give 你 something 更多 than just love. I want to give 你 my promise, my life, my body and my soul. I want to bind this relationship into an unbreakable bond.”
    “And I can do that only 由 sealing this relationship, Guinevere,” Arthur says and pauses. This is the hardest part and he has only a couple 更多 lines to complete his task but as he nears the very important line, his 心 rams faster. He feels sweat trickling down his forehead, down his lids and he ignores it. He is wondering what Guinevere is be thinking right now. Will she like what he is about to offer?
    “Guinevere, I… 爱情 你 very much. I can never think of a life without 你 and I can never live without you, not even a second. 你 brought back happiness in my life and I haven’t 给 你 anything at all…”
    “Arthur …”
    “No, Guinevere… let me finish. I want 你 in my life forever… till eternity. I want us to have a future together. So, the only way we can have that is to 密封 our 爱情 with something powerful, like… matrimony,” Arthur licks his lips. His 心 beats like a drum in his ribcage while his stomach churns. He is nervous and scared, afraid of what she might say. He braves himself and sighs, taking in huge gulps of air. No matter what she might say, Arthur has to respect her decision and though it’ll pain him, this is something he must accept. But he is confident she might accept what he is about to offer. “Guinevere, will 你 do the honour of becoming my wife?” He finally says it and await the results nervously.
    Gwen feels her world spinning. She didn’t anticipate this; not from Arthur and not so soon. She is petrified. She didn’t know how to arrange her words to form the sentences. Arthur has 说 his part and now it was her turn. But will she say? Arthur is surely expecting an answer and does she has one? She loves him, but marriage so soon after her father’s death is not in her plan at the moment. She knew someway down the road, she will commit herself but is she ready now? She thinks back to the night Arthur came to 晚餐 and impressed Elyan. There have been constant taunts of brother in law inserted in their conversation and later on the way home, Arthur did mention about marriage but she didn’t think he means it! She seriously thought he was joking but now it seems he wasn’t. Gwen sighs and looks uneasily at Arthur. What is she going to tell him?
    “Guinevere?”
    “I’m here, Arthur…” she steps closer and kneels down in front of him. She takes his hand.
    “No… 你 have to stand up, that’s how it should be,” Arthur jokes. Gwen smiles and kisses both his hands.
    “Is something wrong, Guinevere?”
    “No, Arthur…” she lies and watches him. She loves him and there’s no doubt in that but why is she afraid of what he’s offering? Why is her 心 sinking down the moment he asked her to marry him? Why?
    “So?”
    “Arthur…”
    Arthur’s smile fades as he recognizes the tone. She seems unsure and he recognizes it immediately. It disturbs him and his face darkens with hurt. He lowers his face.
    Gwen’s 心 tugs the moment she sees him sinking. She didn’t want it to be this way but how will she explain it to him without hurting him? She reaches and cups his cheek. Lifting his face up, she caresses his cheek. “Arthur, I…”
    “Don’t say it Guinevere,” he stops her, removing her hand from his face. “What ever 你 have, please don’t say it. Don’t tell me…”
    “But I…”
    “No, I’ve been hurt far too long and too much and I can’t accept another rejection in my life. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to force 你 to accept me. I respect your wishes and if this is what 你 want, I’m happy for you. Your happiness means the world to me so if this is how it’s supposed to be, then so be it. But please don’t say that word… I’d rather not hear it.”
    “But if 你 don’t hear my reason, then…?”
    “I don’t blame you, Guinevere. I understand why 你 decided such, but… I just don’t want to hear 你 say it, because it’ll break my heart. I’d rather live on with hope than to carry on without one. Please… try to understand it,” Arthur says.
    And that was it. Those words were enough to convince Gwen to rethink her decision. She was sad to see him hurt and wished there had been another solution for this matter, but the moment Arthur assures her that he is fine with her decision and fully stands 由 her, she knows she’ll be making a big mistake; the biggest in her life if she decides to reject his hand in marriage. She will not find another man like Arthur and like he said, they are both destined for each other. If she refuses him now, God will find another route to bring them both together again. She was afraid, nervous and edgy with the thought of starting a family so soon; but somehow later on in her life she will have to eventually do so… so what’s the big difference anyway? 由 rejecting his hand in marriage, she would hurt him again, and this was something she promised herself not to repeat regardless what the situation is. So if that occurs again, and if he is hurt beyond words she will not be able to forgive herself.
    Gwen watches him keenly. He is hurt and clearly disappointed with the way the events have turned out. Gwen is sorry to have caused this uneasiness in him but she is also thinking about his words. The way he handles her refusal, without eventually hearing it, makes her proud. He understands her, seems to put her first before him and it’s a trait not easily available on most guys she came across before. And his word, those strong words gives her strength, security and encouragement. To be honest, she has been afraid of committing to marriage, but after listening to what he said; Arthur is the one she wants to have her future with. And she isn’t afraid to commit with him. She beams with hope and excitement. The worry and nervousness she felt earlier is now replaced with happiness and excitement. Arthur is still sad and she wants to let him know about her change of 心 but she plans to do it in a way he likes it. She leans forward, bends to her left a little and grazes his lips with his. But he keeps his lips sealed tightly. She smiles and nibbles his lips; stirring Arthur’s well cocooned passion.
    “Guinevere…”
    As his lips part, she thrusts her tongue inside, catching him 由 surprise. She hears him gasp but ignores as she drinks in his love. Though her action catches him off guard, Arthur immediately regains his guard, responds to Gwen and lifts his hand to 圈, 圈子 her back, pulling her close. His chest crushes against her bosom, weakening Gwen as Arthur presses his lips demandingly. Gwen feels her 心 throbbing as Arthur teases, probes and drinks greedily. One hand of his leaves her back and trails back to cup her cheek, stroking it gently. Gwen gasps and Arthur takes that opportunity to trail down to her neck, placing soft kisses all along her nape. Gwen opens her eyes, lifts his face and places a 吻乐队（Kiss） on his forehead.
    “I accept Arthur,” she says.
    At first Arthur thought he is dreaming. But after she repeats herself, he knows he isn’t dreaming anymore. A smile flashes on his face and he cups her cheek with both hands. “You… what?” he has to hear it again.
    “I will become your wife,”
    “Oh, my… I 爱情 你 Guinevere!” and he presses his lips against hers, hard and hungry. Gwen reaches up and circles her hand around his neck while Arthur keeps his lips cemented against hers. Only after a while he releases her yet he still trails short kisses all over her face, along her jaw line and finally her forehead.
    “And I 爱情 you, Arthur.”
    “Wait…” Arthur releases her and digs into his 涂层, 外套 and fishes out a small box. Gwen’s 心 races. Could it be…?
    “I want 你 to have this, Guinevere,” Arthur says and opens the lid of the box. Inside, lays a 金牌 and platinum band with a three carat blue diamond surrounded 由 smaller brilliants. The combination is striking and Gwen is in awe, looking at it. She looks up at Arthur, quite not believing what she sees.
    “Arthur, this is… beautiful.”
    “It’ll fit you… please, help me remove it from the box,” he requests and she does like he instructs. She places the ring on his palm and waits. Arthur feels the ring with his fingers and takes her hand, carefully searches for her finger and with care, he slips the ring into her ring finger.
    Gwen feels her eyes moist as she watches the ring slips around her finger with ease. Her 心 tugs and she just wants to savour this moment all 日 long. Once Arthur has slipped the ring, Gwen lifts it up and admires the beauty of the workmanship. “It’s beautiful, Arthur.”
    “Thank Merlin… he had it done and I suppose he did a brilliant job?”
    “He nailed it,” she tells him. “Thank you.”
    “Let’s celebrate, Guinevere, let’s go out.”
    “Sure…” Gwen says and gets up and helps Arthur to get back on his feet.
    As soon as he stands up, a sting of pain shoots up his knee 帽 and he grimaces, clutching his knee. Gwen bends down and places her hand over his knee, looking worried.
    “Are 你 all right, Arthur?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine… I’ve been on my knees too long, I guess…”
    “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”
    “I didn’t know when you’d be back and I wanted to be ready when 你 arrived so I decided to wait on my knees.”
    “All this while Arthur?” Gwen is shocked.
    “Hmmm…”
    “God… 你 had no idea when I’d be back… what if I didn’t, how long would 你 wait?”
    “For as long as I needed, I suppose,” Arthur says with a smile as he massages his knee softly.
    “Oh, Arthur…” Gwen is moved. Her 心 goes out to him and she just wants to give him a big warm hug. “I am truly sorry,”
    “No, don’t be, love… it was all worth it,” he finishes.
    Gwen sighs and helps him to stand up straight. Arthur grimaces as he begins to walk but as they head out from the room, the pain starts to lessen. Gwen picks up his 涂层, 外套 and supports him out, his hand around her waist. “Where shall we go?” she asks.
    “Your choice…” he tells her.


    Uther is finalizing the financial plan for 下一个 年 in his study. The reports are well prepared 由 his accountant and he is keen to see the plan put into action 下一个 year. If everything goes according to plan, his company will reap 更多 profits than they do this year. He puts his signature at the end of the plan and flips the 秒 page. But his concentration is diverted 由 the hurried knock on the door. Uther looks up from his work, frustrated being interrupted.
    “Who is it?’
    “Geoffrey, sir… there is a phone call for 你 from Mr. Godwyn. Shall I put it through?”
    “Godwyn… right,” Uther says and he hears Geoffrey walking away. After five minutes, the phone on his 台, 办公桌 rings. Uther picks it up.
    “Hello?”
    “Uther?”
    “Yes, Godwyn… what is it? Is something wrong?”
    “No, I’m fine… fine, actually and better than I expected,” Godwyn says from the other side of the line. His voice seems cheerful and all the anger he unleashed at Uther before has vaporized.
    “You seem happy.”
    “Of course I am … remember I asked 你 to convince Arthur to marry Elena some days back?”
    “Yeah… about that, Godwyn.”
    “Well, forget it, Uther. There’s no need for 你 to do that anymore because my daughter isn’t interested in him any longer.”
    “WHAT?”
    “Don’t sound too stunned, Uther… we knew this was on the cards all the time but we decided to keep quiet, didn’t we? I kept it quiet because of my 爱情 for Elena and 你 did because of your 爱情 for power and money. 你 didn’t care for your son’s welfare, Uther, only yours… everyone knew that, including me, but I opted to keep quiet for my daughter. But now that she isn’t interested in this agreement any more, I won’t be wasting my time.”
    “Wait, wait, Godwyn… I don’t understand. Why did Elena… I mean, why the sudden change?”
    “She 迷失 interest in him, that’s what she told me. She 说 she wanted a marriage based on 爱情 not infatuation 或者 promises. She wants commitment from both sides and it’s obvious she stands alone in this matter. Which is why she decided to bring this agreement to an end.”
    “And 你 agree with it?”
    “Of course I do Uther! Elena is my daughter, the 苹果 of my eye and I care for her well being only. Everything else comes in second, so if she’s unhappy with your son and wants to end it, I am fine with it. She wants to pursue her education and meet someone who will 爱情 her as she is. This is the life she chooses and as long as she is happy, I am fine with it,”
    “But the promise…”
    “Uther,” Godwyn sounds pretty disgusted from the other side of the line. “As far as I know, this arrangement was in your best interests and no one else’s. And I know 你 will be reaping 更多 rewards and benefits than my daughter 或者 your son through this marriage and I would have 给 it to 你 blindly if Elena chose your son. But she doesn’t anymore, and with that I have end the agreement and carry on with my life. We will still remain 老友记 and partners in business but other than that, it’s a closed deal. Get it? Now… I am sure Arthur will be happy with this news and I’m giving 你 the liberty to pass this news to him personally. He is a good boy, Uther, and 你 should pay 更多 attention to him. Let me know when he’s getting married and I’ll inform 你 of Elena’s… goodnight Uther,” and the line goes dead.
    Uther holds the receiver, staring at the 墙 in front of him like a man hypnotized. The line goes from long stretching sound to beeps and any moment now the line will start alarming off. Uther stirs and places the receiver back properly and leans back against his chair. Godwyn’s conversation plays back in his head and he couldn’t find the words to describe how pissed and disgusted he is right now.
    ‘This is all your fault!’ he thinks in anger. ‘You ruined everything!!’ he slams the side of his chair. ‘You will pay… 你 will pay for this. I will never let 你 near my son!!’ he hisses bitterly and pounds his table.