Juliana's pov
I look at the woman standing before me with mixed emotions. I don't know what to do right now. "Hello, Juliana. I am Thelma, Marcus's ex-fiance, it's nice to finally meet you," she says, her voice pleasant but with a hint of smugness in her tone.
I try to put on a smile and greet her politely, but a part of me can't help but feel insecure and anxious. What if she still has feelings for Marcus? What if Marcus still has feelings for her?
I force a smile, trying to appear confident, "It's nice to meet you too, Thelma."
She sits down across from me, her presence making me feel uncomfortable. I try to remain polite, but I can't shake the feeling that she is here for a reason. Maybe she wants to intimidate me.
"I must say, you and Marcus make a cute couple. But I can't help but wonder how long it will last. After all, Marcus and I have history, I know him and his habits very well." Thelma says, her words dripping with venom.
I feel my heart sink at her words, and I struggle to find a response. I know Marcus has told me about his past with Thelma, but I never expected to come face-to-face with her at this gala. I had a feeling she would be here but I didn't think she would try to talk to me.
"Your history with Marcus has nothing to do with me. Whatever happened between the two of you is in the past and always will." I tell her with confidence.
"But it does dear, We were engaged, I am sure you know that," she says.
I nod, feeling a knot forming in my stomach. I know Marcus has a past, but I never expected to come face-to-face with it like this.
"I just wanted to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into," she continues, "Marcus is someone who loves his work so if you expect him to put you first then you will be disappointed."
I glance over at Marcus, who is still talking with the woman at the bar. Thelma's words linger in my mind, and I can't shake the feeling of unease. I know that Marcus loves me, but I can't help but wonder if his past will always be a shadow over our relationship.
Before I can say anything, Marcus appears beside me, placing a protective hand on my shoulder. "Is everything okay here, Juliana?" he asks, his voice firm.
Thelma looks unfazed, but there is a glint of annoyance in her eyes. "I was just introducing myself to Juliana, Marcus. I wanted to wish you both the best of luck in your relationship," she says, her tone saccharine sweet.
Marcus's jaw tightens, and I can sense his tension. "Thank you, Thelma. I appreciate your well wishes," he says, his voice strained.
Thelma gives me one last smug smile before walking away, leaving me feeling shaken and insecure. I look up at Marcus, and his eyes soften as he looks at me.
I watch as she walks away, I let out a sigh of relief, feeling grateful for Marcus's presence. He senses my uneasiness and smiles, pulling me into a gentle hug. I feel safe and loved in his embrace.
"Please don't listen to her, Juliana. What Thelma and I had is in the past. You are my present and my future. I need you to trust that I will always love you no matter what." Marcus says, his voice filled with sincerity.
I feel a wave of relief wash over me as I look into Marcus's eyes. I know that Thelma's words can't shake the bond we have built together. I take his hand in mine, feeling reassured by his touch.
"I trust you, Marcus. I know that what we have is real," I say, feeling a renewed sense of confidence. I take a deep breath and remind myself that Marcus chose me and that he loves me. I refuse to let Thelma's warnings ruin what we have. I will continue to trust in our love and in the bond we share.
"Are you enjoying the gala, Juliana?" Mr Mwale Marcus's father asks as he gets a glass of wine from the waiter.
"Yes, I am. It has been a wonderful evening," I say, smiling warmly at him.
He nods, returning my smile. "I am glad to hear that. Marcus has talked a lot about you, and I can see why he cares for you so much. You make him happy, and that's all a father could ask for."
I feel a rush of gratitude towards Marcus's father for his kind words. It's reassuring to know that he sees how much Marcus and I care for each other.
"Thank you, Mr. Mwale. I care for Marcus deeply, and I am grateful to be a part of his life," I say sincerely.
He pats my shoulder gently before excusing himself to join his wife. I watch as he walks away, feeling a sense of belonging and acceptance within Marcus's family.
As I turn back to Marcus, he smiles at me lovingly, and I feel a wave of warmth and happiness wash over me. Despite the brief encounter with Thelma, I know that our love is strong and enduring. I look forward to many more moments like this with Marcus, knowing that he will always be by my side.
"Babydoll, can you excuse me for a few minutes? I need to talk to Mr. Chanda about something important." Marcus says, looking at the man talking to his father.
"Yeah, go ahead," I tell him.
I sit on my own for a few minutes until I notice Racheal coming back to our table. She looks flustered, something must have happened in the bathroom.
"Rachael, are you okay?" I ask her when she sits down.
"I am fine, just had a little mishap in the bathroom," she says, brushing off my concern. "But I am okay now."
I nod, sensing that she doesn't want to talk about it. "How are you enjoying the gala?" I ask her.
"It's been good, Marcus's family is nice," she says with a smile. "And Kenny has been treating me well." She says the last part with a smile.
I can see the happiness in her eyes as she talks about Kenny, and I feel glad that she is giving him a chance despite her uncertainties. Love is a beautiful thing, and I believe that everyone deserves to experience it as many times as they want to.
"I am glad to hear that," I say, smiling at her. "Just remember to trust in love and give it a chance."
She nods, her smile widening. "I will, thanks for the advice, Juliana. And to be honest, I haven't opened up to anyone in a very long time. I just hope Kennedy, doesn't break my trust"
"I know how hard it is to open up to people because I was just like you until I met Marcus. He made me realize that sometimes we need to trust someone to be happy." I tell her.
"How long have you and Marcus been together? You look like you have known each other for years."
"Not long ago, you wouldn't believe it if I told you."
"I will try to."
"I met Marcus four weeks ago," I tell her. There is surprise written on her face.
She looks at me in disbelief, "Four weeks ago? That's so soon! But you two look so comfortable with each other, it's like you've known each other for years. No one can tell that you guys haven't been together for a long time"
I smile, feeling grateful for the connection Marcus and I share. "I know, it's crazy how fast things have progressed. But sometimes, when you meet the right person, everything just falls into place. When I met Marcus I didn't think he could be the one to break down my walls."
Rachael nods, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I hope I can find that too, someone who makes me feel as happy as you do with Marcus."
"You will just keep an open heart and trust that love will find its way to you. Don't overthink things and just let yourself experience new and wonderful things." I reassure her.
As we continue to talk and enjoy the gala, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the love and support I have in my life. Marcus has brought so much joy and happiness into my life, and I am grateful for the bond we share.
I look over at Marcus, who is now talking with Mr. Chanda, and I feel my heart swell with love for him. He looks at me, says something to Mr Chanda, and starts making his way to our table, not leaving my eyes.
"I am sorry for not giving you all the attention tonight." He says as he sits next to me.
"No, it's fine, don't be sorry you didn't do it on purpose."
Marcus smiles at me as he takes my hand and leads me to the dancing floor.
As we dance together, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Marcus's eyes are filled with love and passion as he looks at me, and I can't help but lose myself in the moment. The music fades into the background as we move together, our bodies swaying in perfect harmony. I feel so grateful to have him in my life and to be able to share moments like this with him.
As the night comes to an end, Marcus and I walk out of the gala hand in hand, surrounded by the beautiful lights and the sounds of the city. I feel content and at peace, knowing that I have found someone who loves me unconditionally, someone who makes me feel like I can conquer the world. I look up at Marcus and smile, feeling a deep sense of love and gratitude for the man who has stolen my heart completely.