The car journey kept stretching on longer and longer. I glanced at Hayden, who was focused on the road. Then, I checked the time; it was three in the morning. I shifted in my seat, feeling somewhat uncomfortable; we had been on the road for several hours."Where are we going?" I asked for the umpteenth time.Hayden didn't look at me; he just shrugged. I wanted to hit him with my shoe, but I hadn't even been allowed to bring one."To the end of the world," he replied with a smile.I grimaced, but I felt too drowsy to start an argument with him, so I fell silent."You're going to love the place; it'll just be the two of us. I've taken care of everything, so don't worry," he said.I nodded slowly."You'd better, because I won't forgive you so easily for this. How could you drag me out of the house without shoes and in pajamas?" I scolded him.Hayden turned to look at me and started laughing. I looked away so he wouldn't see that I was also smiling; of all the crazy things that have happe

The trip back was mortifying; I didn't want to return. I wanted to stay alone with him and make love wherever we wanted. I wanted to have him all to myself, see him walk naked around the house while he smiles."What are you thinking about? You're blushing," Hayden said as he drove.I looked at my engagement ring and smiled. I always dreamed of a dream ring, with a huge stone. I believed that the more expensive the jewel, the more love the other person felt. But now, looking at this red plastic ring, all those stupid ideas ended up in the trash. I wouldn't trade this ring for anything because it meant all the love we felt for each other; it was simply perfect."Kat?" Hayden called me.I stopped looking at my ring and looked back at him."I'm thinking about you naked," I said.Hayden started laughing."If you want, I can undress now," he proposed.Although the proposal was very tempting, I shook my head. If a cop stopped us and realized Hayden was naked, we'd be in trouble, and the trut

Jona approached me, looked at me, and gave me a couple of pats on the back. I looked at him and smiled a little; these days I had been somewhat distracted. Ana called me and, shouting, told me that Kat had caught Carlo's eye, that she didn't care that he had a family, and that I was crazy if I continued with her. My father also called me to demand that I leave her."Is everything okay?" Jona asked me.I looked at him and smiled a little."Troubles never cease," I replied.Jona stared at me; he knew me very well."Dad wants me to leave Kat, in fact, he demanded it, and I'm afraid he'll take away our sponsorship. I know how much you've worked for this, I don't want to hurt you, but I can't leave her either, I love her," I told him.Jona nodded."Then fight for her, your mother called me and told me something, but I doubt it's the truth. Kat doesn't seem like that kind of person," he said."She isn't; in fact, she was the first to tell me, and I believe her. You, more than anyone, know w

In the following days, two more sponsors left, and Jona was visibly stressed, while Hayden, even though he tried to maintain a positive attitude, couldn't hide his helplessness in the situation."What if we break up?" I asked one night, as he told me about selling his apartment."Are you crazy? This is just a phase, we'll get through this soon," he replied with a smile."But all this is happening because of me, and I don't want you to hate me," I said.Hayden came closer and hugged me."I just need your support. Be my beacon, Kat, and I promise I'll reach the goal," he said.We separated, and he looked into my eyes."I just want you to be happy. I... I love you, and I couldn't bear to see you unhappy," I confessed.Hayden hugged me again and kissed my head repeatedly."Silly, I could never hate you. You're the love of my life, so get those crazy ideas out of your head," he assured.I hugged him back, feeling powerless. If only I could do something more, but I felt tied up.[...]When

Grace approached me and hugged me tightly. I cried on her shoulder like a little girl; the slap on my cheek didn't hurt as much as the pain I felt in my soul."Why did you do it, Kat? You didn't deserve something like this," she said to me as she held me close.I began to sob, unable to answer, not feeling capable of speaking; the tears and the huge lump in my throat prevented it."He hates me," I managed to say.Grace pulled me away from her and looked into my eyes; then, she gently caressed my bruised cheek."He shouldn't have hit you. I know you pressured him too much, but he shouldn't have done it, and you... you shouldn't have said all those things to him. You both made mistakes," she said.I knew all too well about that, but this was the only way to keep him away from me. I just wanted him to shine because if he stayed with me, sooner or later he would hate me for not letting him reach his dreams and goals. Maybe one day he'll thank me for what I did."It's done now, and I know