Chapter 15:

   Shally turned her back to leave so Gwen shouted: "After you got crammed in a corner, you'll obviously run away, what to expect from a woman going to a dinner with a man she never met then play to be his girlfriend just for his money?" Shally got mad, she walked toward Gwen and pointed with her finger on her face: "

× Listen to me very carefully, First I didn't go to that dinner for Gerard's money, he asked for help so I did; second, I'm not playing this for his money too, I don't know even why I'm explaining this to you.

× (Making fun of Shally) He asked for help? You went to have dinner with him to help him eat or what?"

Shally got pissed off and turned to leave but Gwen grabbed her from her hand strongly: "Not so fast, I'm not letting you go before you explain what help" Shally had enough of her, she was already  sad about her father's state and now there is Gwen talking nonsense so she just wanted to get rid of her: "Fine. Gerard came and asked me to go with him have dinner just to convince his mother that he is dating a girl to make his mother stop thinking of a wife for her son. Are you happy now?" When Gwen heard this, she got in shock, she actually found it hard to believe because if what Shally just said is true that means Gerard lied to all of them but then she thought 'how would Shally get in Gerard's game even after he left her?' and more, Shally was really looking like she knows nothing about 'being proved as a gold digger' so forgetting everything, Gwen decided to take advantage of this to ruin Shally and Gerard's relationship so she started laughing like a crazy person: "

× Is this really what he told you? Oh my god Gerard, you are a bad boy.

× You're really out of your mind.

× It's not me who's out of his mind. Let me do you a favour Shally, the real reason Gerard asked you to have dinner with him that day isn't to lie to his mother or anything, he was just proving you a gold digger; look Shally, Gerard, every night, he takes a woman have dinner with him just to prove her a gold digger, like the women never refuses him so he took advantage of that and invites them to dinner but then Gerard leaves before paying the bill and without the woman knows to make the woman pay the bill either she can or not and like this, Gerard's mission is accomplished which is to teach the gold diggers a lesson; me and Andrew were tired of Gerard being right every time so on Gerard's birthday night, me and Andrew made a deal with Gerard that is if he asks any woman we choose from that bar that night to have dinner with him without him being refused we will do what he wants and it's then where I saw you slapping that big rich man so I thought 'You are the one who's going to prove Gerard wrong and make me win the deal'. If I understand right what you said before, it means that you refused Gerard's offer so to bring you to that dinner he lied to you and you believed him.

× (Shocked and with eyes full of tears) I...don't believe you, you're just saying that because you're jealous, Gerard would never do such a thing.

× (Amused) Looking at your face I can say that you already believe me and somewhere inside of you, you know I'm saying the truth. My sweet Shally, sorry to disappoint you but you were just a game for Gerard, you're going to thank me one day for this."

Gwen winked at her and left a diabolic laugh that is heard by everyone then left, she was actually so angry after knowing that Gerard lied to them but she was happier to see Shally's state after knowing the truth; Gwen was on her way to see Gerard and rebuke him for his lie but she received a phone call from work so she said: "It's okay Gerard DIAS, I can handle one more day". Coming back to Shally, she was still in shock not believing what Gwen said but she also said true things like her being in that bar and slapping that big guy, so Shally was thinking 'How can she know that if she wasn't there? What if she is saying the truth?' When she was busy thinking of all what happened the doctor came to her and informed her that her father is doing fine and she can take him home in the morning; this must be an amazing news for Shally but she couldn't feel the complete happiness. All night, Shally has been thinking of Gwen's word and linked them to how the events went back then, she remembered how Gerard insisted to have that dinner, she remembered when he took her to her house to bring her CV without her telling him where she lives; thinking logically, Shally was finding that what Gwen said makes sense somehow but to be sure she decided to go ask Gerard about it to avoid any misunderstandings. Early in the morning, Shally took her father home and asked Marta to pay attention to him while she solves something and the something Shally was talking about is to talk to Gerard, she went furious to Gerard's house and found Margret and Andrew in the living room then Gwen arrived behind her, without saying a word to anyone or even great them she headed quickly to Gerard's room, Margret was concerned of Shally's state so she followed her to understand what's wrong with her and Gwen her turn followed them feeling curious to know what will happen between Gerard and Shally so Andrew stayed alone so he decided to join them too; Shally this time got to Gerard's room without knocking on the door and slammed the door, Margret was going to get in but Gwen stopped her and suggested just to stay outside the door and know what's going on. Gerard was astonished from Shally's entry, she was all red from crying and not sleeping, her eyes were full of tears: "Shally? Are you okay? Is your father okay?" Stood up Gerard to reach Shally and put his hand on her cheek, Shally pull his hand with anger and said: "

× My father is fine but I am not.

× (Doesn't know what was going on) What's wrong? Is everything okay?

× (With tears falling from her eyes) I need to ask you about something and I want you to answer me honestly.

× (Worried)Shally, you're scaring me, what's wrong?

× Do you remember how we first met?

× (Surprised)Yes! But why are you asking about it now?

× Were you the one who came to me or not?

× Shally...

× (Interrupted shouting)...Just answer the goddamn question.

× Yes.

× When you asked me to go have dinner with you, did I refuse or not?

× Shally...

× (Shouting again)...I said...answer the goddamn questions.

× Yes, you did." Answered Gerard.

× "After that, were you the one who spent his whole day insisting on taking me to dinner or not?

× Yes.

× Did I reject you many times or not?

× Yes, you did.

× Did you ask for my help to lie to your mother or not?

× Yes.

× Were you the one who found me and got to my life or not?

× Yes."Kept Gerard answering without resisting.

× "(Shouting and crying) Then how does this make me a damn gold digger?"

Gerard got frozen for a while not expecting her to talk about this, he was bloodless but instead of admitting it he tried to deny it: "Shally, what are you talking about? I don't understand anything." Shally wiped her tears and face trying to gather herself: "Okay, fine! Let me ask you directly, did you insist that much on taking me have that dinner just to prove me a gold digger and win a deal you and your friends made for fun? Is this really the reason?" Gerard opened his mouth to speak but Shally cut him crying hard: "You didn't find me by coincidence, did you? I forgot to ask you the most important question which is 'Why me?', I didn't think you came to me on purpose. Just please tell me the truth Gerard, I don't want anything else, just tell me the truth." When Gerard was seeing Shally in that state, his heart ached: "

× Shally please let me explain.

× (Whishing) Oh please go ahead Gerard, I really want to hear your explanation and I really want to hear you say that is not true.

× I didn't know back then, I just thought that all women are gold diggers so I did and...you said it yourself, when you are rich you can't know who to trust and you can't know if the person is there for you or for your money."

When Shally heard that, she burst crying for moments but then wiped her face again and pushed her hair back trying to calm down, she responded to Gerard shouting and tears falling from her eyes: "

× That doesn't give you the right to play or hurt anyone, I said that you can't know who to trust but I didn't say hurt anyone you don't trust, I didn't say take women to dinner and run away leaving them pay the bill just to teach them a lesson, it's not up to you to teach them a lesson, that's not a convincing excuse to what you did to me or to those women; you are the one who came to my life, I rejected you but you stayed, you insisted on getting to my life and for what? To prove me a gold digger? (Holding her head that is hurting her from a lot of crying and a lack of sleeping) I can't believe you did this.

× (Regretful) I'm really sorry Shally, back then I was...I was just thinking of a way to take you to that dinner and after you asked for a job, I thought that you were a gold digger too, I..."