章節 100: CHAPTER 100: Renewed Determination

　　The past two days had been a blur starring my carefully constructed lie about a sudden bout of the flu.

　　The lie had been a necessity. I'd fabricated the perfect flu story, my voice raspy as I choked back coughs whenever he called. The thought of facing him, while knowing that he was about to be ambushed with a public engagement announcement, had been enough to send a fresh wave of nausea through me.

　　He'd come over each night after work, a silent guardian angel tending to his 'ailing' girlfriend. In the quiet moments, I watched him, studying the lines of worry etched on his forehead, the way his jaw clenched in his sleep.

　　There were times when I almost blurted it out–the truth about the diary, the secret of the engagement party that was disguised as his father's birthday. But the words wouldn't come. The fear of shattering this fragile trust, of watching the warmth in his eyes turn to icy disappointment, held me captive.