He loved her. He really loved her. Colin...loved her.

But it was too late.

"I'm sorry for hurting you," Colin said hoarsely. "I wasn't just a fool. I was also heartless and full of it. Seeing the look on your face when you found out—" His voice cracked, and so did her heart.

I asked for someone to make Princess jealous. But you're choosing to send me someone that could turn me into a laughingstock?

"It killed me to see that. And I know it would kill me again if I were to ever say anything like it about any other person. Because you...you make me want to be a good person, Hope. You make me want to change. And that's why, even though I know you deserve someone better—"

Colin brought her hands to his lips, and slowly, she felt his own tears wet her skin.

"Please,kyria," Colin said raggedly. "Please come back to me."

****

Her husband was gone.

She was all alone again.

She had told him her conditions, and he had agreed to it.

If all of this had happened even just two days ago, it would have been so, so easy to just forgive. And assume that she already knew what she was doing, and that she had everything under control.

But not anymore.

This time, things would be different. This time, she wouldn't let the world and its lies fool her into thinking that she knew better than God. Because she didn't. She never did.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.

The phone in her hotel room started to ring, and Hope reached for the receiver with shaking hands.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Souloukis. We've been informed that your driver is here to pick you up."

"T-Thank you. I'll be down in a minute."

"Understood, Mrs. Souloukis."

She found herself starting to cry again as she packed her things. To hurt her husband continuously was not an option, but to resume their marriage just like that wasn't in the cards either. She had told Colin she was willing to come back and think things through while staying with him under one roof. He had accepted her terms and given Hope his word about waiting.

I don't care how long it takes, Hope. You're giving me a chance. I can't ask for more.

She wiped the tears away before heading down to the lobby. But as soon as she was inside his car and on her way back to his home—

He loves me, God.

And I love him.

These two things were true, but she also knew it was not enough. It never was. For a marriage to truly work, God had to be a part of the equation.

He had to have chosen Colin for her and Hope for him.

And that was why...

I'll wait, God.

Just like Colin.

No matter how long it took.