“Can we talk? Like, privately?”
His smile faltered slightly, replaced by a look of concern. “Yeah, of course.”
They made their way to the outdoor courtyard, where the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the benches. Emily crossed her arms, trying to steady her nerves as Jacob leaned against a railing, watching her expectantly.
“What’s going on?” he asked, his brow furrowing.
Emily took a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “I’ve been hearing things,” she began, her voice trembling. “Rumors about… about your last relationship.”
Jacob’s jaw tightened, and he looked away, running a hand through his hair. “Let me guess,” he said bitterly. “People are saying I cheated.”
Emily nodded, her throat dry. “I didn’t want to believe it, but… I need to hear the truth from you, Jacob. Did you?”
He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he turned back to face her. “No, Emily,” he said, his voice firm but tinged with frustration. “I didn’t cheat.”
“Then why does everyone think you did?” she asked, her voice softer now, but still filled with uncertainty.
Jacob hesitated, the weight of the question clear in his expression. Finally, he exhaled, his gaze dropping to the ground. “Because my ex made sure they would.”
Emily blinked, confusion flickering across her face. “What do you mean?”
He looked up at her, his eyes filled with regret. “My last relationship ended badly. She… she was angry at me for breaking things off, and she wanted to hurt me. So, she started telling people I cheated. And the thing is, people love a scandal, you know? It spread faster than I could stop it.”
Emily’s chest tightened, her emotions swirling. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
Jacob ran a hand through his hair again, his frustration evident. “Because I didn’t want you to think less of me. I didn’t want you to hear those rumors and wonder if they might be true.”
Her heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice. She stepped closer, reaching for his hand. “Jacob, I don’t think less of you. But you have to be honest with me, okay? I can’t do this if you’re not.”
He looked down at their intertwined hands, his jaw tightening before he nodded. “I will, Emily. No more secrets. I promise.”
Her grip on his hand tightened, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Good. Because I’m not going to let some stupid rumors ruin this.”
Jacob’s expression softened, a faint smile breaking through the tension. “You really are something else, you know that?”
Emily laughed lightly, the weight in her chest beginning to lift. “You better believe it.”
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