"I talked to Dad about it, but he said going to Shaville would give you more opportunities to shine at work," Yvonne whispered, seeming to come around.

"Exactly. I want to take the chance," I said earnestly.

"Okay, but make sure to come back whenever you can," Yvonne finally managed to hold back her tears.

During dinner, I brought up the situation with Amy, and Yvonne pouted. "I won’t allow any woman near my dad except you."

I was taken aback. I couldn’t believe Yvonne was defending me like that.

"But you can’t stop him, Yvonne. You’re prepared for that, right?" I reminded her.

"Dad promised me he wouldn’t marry anyone else. If he really does, then I’ll just run away from home." Yvonne’s mood plummeted at the thought of Jared remarrying.

I paused for a moment, thinking Yvonne might just be saying that out of anger, but I wasn’t upset anymore. Let the Holcomb family deal with their own drama.

"If you really plan to run away, just call me. I don’t want you to actually get lost," I reassured her.

"Okay," Yvonne nodded.

I also talked to Nathan about my move to Shaville. Although he seemed a bit down, he didn’t try to stop me. He said he would come visit whenever he had the chance.

In his little villa, we made love over and over, and finally, holding me tight, he asked, "If you got a new admirer, would you break up with me?"

I couldn’t believe he was asking me that now.

I shifted a bit, my breath unsteady, and said, "You want me to give you a guarantee?"

"Is that possible?" Nathan pressed against me, not giving me a moment to think. He clearly wanted me to promise him in the heat of the moment.

No, I wouldn’t make any major decisions when I wasn’t thinking clearly.

"No, that’s not happening," I replied firmly.

Nathan paused, looking down at me.

I bit my lip and asked, "Are you out of energy? Should I get up?"

He looked at me helplessly, finally giving in but becoming even more intense.

"Victoria, you’re seriously driving me crazy," Nathan complained after we both calmed down.

I pushed him away, quietly getting dressed, and said softly, "Do you remember what I said before we got together?"

"You said you wouldn’t get married, you just wanted to enjoy dating," Nathan replied, almost reciting it.

I nodded. "That’s right. If you don’t hurt me or emotionally damage me, I wouldn’t betray you."

"Really?" Nathan’s expression brightened.

I felt like I was giving him a promise. "I hope we can have basic trust between us, and not let our feelings tear us apart."

Nathan sighed and smiled. "Loving someone always comes with a sense of insecurity. No one can love someone while keeping their cool. The moment you start calculating, it’s not love anymore."

I blinked. "So, do you think I don’t love you?"

Nathan looked disappointed. "Is that how you feel?"

I thought for a moment and nodded. "Yeah. It’s not love, but I like you."

Nathan muttered, "If liking isn’t the same as loving, then what is love?"

"Love, as you said, can make a person feel insecure and irrational," I explained. Having loved Jared that way before, I understood that love can be suffocating.

Nathan stared at me, and then he said bitterly, "Then I must love you."