Marino paced along the pebbled walkway while he waited on Juri to arrive. Ari had left not too long ago for the beach, and he promised to join her as soon as he could wrap things up with Juri. He didn't know why he felt so nervous about meeting up with Juri.
Still, he felt responsible for Juri, and he knew he had to hear from her lips that she wasn't being coerced by the prince. This marriage was something she wanted for herself, he might no longer be in love with her, but he still genuinely cared for her needs and feelings.
Juri did not have to be persuasive; he just wanted to see that her mind was not being warped or under the influence and control of others, things weren't always so back and white as they appeared.
Marino closed his eyes, just thinking it did not make it a reality, he had to be prepared to do anything it took to get a clean slate in life. For he now realized that he had to deal with the past in order to ensure a future he could be proud of.
