"No, this is not right." George didn't take his eyes off Holley. He asked her anxiously, "Something has happened that you are not telling me. Was it Mom? What was she talking to you in private? Did she threaten you?"
"Don't ask me more..." Holley choked. She was at a loss for words. She looked at George with a wry smile and let out a deep sigh. The expression on her face was a silent reply to his question. She tried her best and finally said in a low broken voice, "George, whatever your mom has done, she has done for your own good. That's undeniable and you should accept it. I believe you should find another girl. You deserve someone better, like Sula. She is a nice girl. You should cherish her."
She turned around after she had said that. She wanted to leave as soon as possible. But before she could leave, George frantically stretched out his hands and grabbed Holley's arm tightly from behind. He was furious about his mom after he heard Holley's words. He asked her with a very look, "Stay right here. Before I agree to let you go, you have to tell me the truth. What did my mom say to you?"
"I told you to stop this. Why do you keep asking me about it? Why do you want to know?" Holley was mad at him now and she yelled, "I am not worthy of you! I don't deserve to marry you. You are the noble prince of your family, and I am just a nobody. That's it! Are you happy now?"
"What's wrong with you?" George asked, as he held her tightly. He pulled Holley into his arms, looked into her eyes with all the love in the world and pleaded, "Holley, you have to tell me the truth. Did my mom say something to you? If that is true, I will go and talk to her in person right now." Saying that, he drew his arms away from her and kissed Holley on her forehead. After that, he walked away from her, intending to talk to his mother.
"Please don't!" Holley panicked when she saw George walk away from her in anger. Her anxiety kicked in and she chased after him, calling out for him to stop. Finally, she caught up to him and grabbed his hand. She cried, "Please calm yourself down, George. Listen to me! We've faced too many problems since the time we met. Too many barriers have been getting in the way of our love—the impassable gap in our origins, your mother's disapproval. Besides that, there's Sula. Unlike me, she is the perfect match for you in every way. She was born in a wealthy family. And now that you have slept with her, you should be responsible for her future. Or else, her family won't let you get away with it."
"I don't care." George looked into her eyes. He continued with a serious look, "Holley, I've told you this before—I need you by my side for the rest of my life. As long as I am with you, I will be fearless, no matter what happens. Even if Sula's family comes after me for what I did, I don't care. I cannot live without you anyway, not even for a single moment."
"George..." Holley closed the gap between them and held him in a tight hug, burying her head into his arms in the pretense of being moved by his words. She sobbed and tears ran down her cheeks and wetted George's clothes. After she had vented enough, she pulled herself back together and looked George in the eye again, blushing. She choked, "Even so, I still can't agree to stay with you."
Tears wouldn't stop falling out of her eye, and she sobbed with a smile, "I can't let you put yourself in the way of danger for my sake. George, let's break up. Let's just pretend like we never met or never dreamed of a life together. Let it go."
"What on earth is wrong with you? How can you say such things?" George looked at Holley, bewildered. "I have made myself clear. Are you listening to a word I'm saying? Are you still bothered about my affair with Sula? Can't you let it go? I could never be with another woman. I will stand beside you and I will live with you. I don't care about what others say. Don't you understand? I can't go on without you."
"I am sorry, George." Holley frowned and she wiped her tears with a helpless smile. She said, "My mind is in a complete mess right now. I don't even know what is the right thing to do. Can... Can you give me some time to think about this?"
"Holley..." George stared at Holley intensely and then he said in a sincere tone, "No matter what my mom told you, keep it in mind that I will stay with you for the rest of your life and that no one can ever break us. Do not change your mind about our life because of something that she said to you."
"I will think about this seriously. And I will remember your words." Holley nodded her head at him.
She made an excuse to leave by herself. George watched her leave and he was too mad to calm himself down even after Holley had left. So he made his way to his mother's house to find out what exactly Donna had told Holley.
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