Shane's loyal interest - part 2

Shane appeared speechless from the truth. He had never fancied the thought of Diego liking Lillian since they acted like buddies. There was never a moment where Shane considered or even suggested Diego be a potential candidate for Lillian to shift her focus from remembering Giselle.

Diego was Lillian's buddy.

Diego was her close friend.

Diego is someone she could trust without hesitation.

Yet, this Diego has feelings for Lillian secretly.

It was unexpected at first until all of Diego's recent behaviors began to convince Shane's suspicions.

"Does he really?" he asked again in disbelief and saw Giselle confirming for him.

"M- May I ask how long?" he inquired, following.

"From high school, I don't know, honestly. I just happen to notice Diego looking at Lillian differently."

This time Shane's suspicion discredited Giselle's testimony.

"What do you mean looking at her differently?" he asked, forcing himself to ascertain that what he had just heard to be a fictional gossip.

"He- was looking at her differently- like he loved her!"

"Friends do that too. They may be very close to staring at each other fondly, Giselle!"

"I know that face! I saw it myself. It's like- It's- It's how I see her. Diego- he definitely has feelings for Lillian," Giselle swore in a frenzy.

"Giselle, I understand if he hates you. Not everyone can accept your relationship with Lillian right away, considering how the majority of our society is developed to support otherwise, but what are your factual proofs for Diego having feelings for Lillian!"

Shane almost raised his voice uncivilly from how fast his head was spinning all around. He kept trying to deny Giselle's story.

If Diego actually had feelings for Lillian, he wouldn't have waited all these years. From his attitude to his approach, everything served the line of their long-term friendship. The more Shane forced himself to reject Giselle, the more she grew annoyed. It eventually drove her to madness, and she had to vomit more of her past to prove her point.

"Because he told me!

Diego told me- I heard him say it!" Giselle cried.

"When?" Shane demanded.

"After our prom,"

It was surreal to buy in Giselle's words. Shane gasped, continuing to feel speechless. How can someone stay silent for several years! The very thought jarred him to understand Diego. Nevertheless, Shane wished to know what made Diego remain quiet all this time. He could have easily won over Lillian if he had used Giselle's absence as an excuse, but he never did. He always played the friend card and settled by her side.

"I- can't believe you, Giselle-" Shane muttered desperately.

"Do you think anyone would believe me if I had told his back then? No one. Since they were close friends, everybody will think that I'm the crazy girl or the bad guy trying to separate them for my selfish reasons!" Giselle argued. No longer was she able to restrain herself from keeping quiet and definitely not to this man, who bragged about helping her.

"Did he tell you that he liked Lillian? When and how? Why? Did you two meet privately?" Shane's questions flooded again, and it alarmed Giselle back to her senses. She knew where this could go and thus abstained from talking anymore. She apologized for getting emotional and begged Shane to leave her out of this matter. Her head was whirling from the complete transformation, considering how she was spending her time with Lillian. They had just confessed to each other and swore to love forever. Giselle wished she could have stayed by Lillian's side and never have left since it brought her to this awkward position. She was about to leave when Shane stopped Giselle.

She can't leave now, after telling him all these pieces of information that are hard to believe and support. Shane needed to know the whole story, and he demanded Giselle to speak out. He didn't want her to stay quiet anymore. Only then could he be able to do his best to protect her. Shane's instinct gave out a bad feeling, and he knew there was more to this drama. It was too late for Giselle to cut off and leave to her wish. He is already deep in this mud and no longer wishes to come out without a fight.

On the other hand, Giselle knew she had revealed more than she had expected. She had never shared to anyone, including Lillian herself, but Shane's presence comforted her to speak the truth. Giselle exposed Diego's feelings for Lillian and was about to unveil her dreadful trauma when she caught hold of herself before letting it happen. Nonetheless, listening to Shane again made Giselle vulnerable, and she kept staring at him endlessly with tears ready to fall anytime.

**

"He threatened me to leave-" Giselle whispered against her consent.

"He threatened me to leave Lillian!" she added as the trembling returned to her body.

"When did he-"

"After our prom," Giselle answered.

"What happened?"

Giselle no longer looked sane. She appeared possessed as she relived the tragic moment, recalling it against her will. She didn't mind about Shane anymore as words left her mouth in fear.

"I was not supposed to meet him that night. I was out buying groceries for dinner. I don't know how he found me, but he followed me-"

Giselle felt goosebumps spread all over her body from the unforgettable incident. Still, she never stopped and kept telling Shane what had happened to her.

"He said he would hurt me if I keep seeing Lillian. He told me I was not in my right mind and that I had to sleep with a man to realize that I was not gay. He- there were guys coming at us- he threatened me- I was scared- he called them- I- I promised I won't- see Lillian- that I would leave- I- ran back- and told my sister- I was- crying, scared- wanted to run away- I left- Lillian..."

Just like that, the past Giselle had kept secret for the longest time came pouring out like a stream. Shane never stopped or interrupted her, let alone listened to her wail-filled words leaving her quivering lips as tears endlessly drowned her delicate face. She managed to reveal everything that had happened to her because of Diego and his hidden hatred against her.

It was painful to watch her break down emotionally. Shane could feel this was hard on Giselle, but he knew that sharing it would lift the weight off her chest. He listened patiently until Giselle's tears wilted to leave a stain. And when she finished, he never spoke but remained wordless by her side.

Shane began to feel Diego's dominating influence over Giselle. He was mad at him for being the reason Lillian turned out that way. And to kill two people's happiness. At what cost? He didn't even dare to confess his love. Instead, he watched his friend destroy herself for several years. Somehow this man had a rotten core than any human being to have done such a heartless thing.

Giselle didn't notice the tears, but she did feel free from her past imprisonment. Opening about the unspoken secret after several years to a stranger felt liberating. And she was able to do it because she had subconsciously trusted Shane.

"Did he ever hurt you physically?" Shane asked. His voice no longer screamed an interest but let alone empathy for Giselle.

Giselle hesitated before admitting that it was on the same night when he tried to strangle and hurt her physically by exerting his strength.

"Did he ever try to do that same after you've returned? Shane asked again.

Giselle shook her head to reveal that he had never tried to do the same but was always ready to destroy her with his intimidations.

"When?"

"When I got invited to join Anna for Thanksgiving."

"What did he do then?"

"He- He said that he knew- I have a daughter," Giselle said to stare at Shane in horror.

"He must be bluffing!"

Shane wanted to comfort Giselle, but her tears poured again.

"Giselle, don't worry. From what it looks, he's just the bluff. If he had courage, he would have admitted his feelings to Lillian already."

"Please don't tell Lillian! I promise I'll tell her myself, but- not right now!" Giselle appealed, wiping her tears forcibly. She could no longer stand there anymore. It was painful, and it felt liberating after sharing her story. Nevertheless, since there's nothing left to reveal, Giselle didn't want to endure the discomfort anymore. She wished. She wished to return to Lillian's side, stay close to her, to feel protected.

Lillian said she would be there for her and that she would protect her!

Giselle wanted to leave right away.

Shane swore to protect her story as expected, but on one condition.

"I won't say a word to Lillian. But you need to promise me this, Giselle," Shane mentioned to get her attention for one last time before she leaves.

"If Diego tried to do anything in the future, you let me know right away! I said I'll help you. You don't need to worry about him hurting you or your daughter. He can't, and he won't. Just know that you are not alone."

Giselle simply nodded. She didn't have the strength to reply or pledge. Shortly, she left his office.