Chapter 22
As soon as Matthew said these words, Anderson said that he wanted to speak to him in private.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon," After saying this, Matthew and Anderson left.
Paisley stayed in the room alone. Looking at the luggage, she didn't know whether she should continue packing or not.
What was meant to happen would happen, but that was what she had always feared. Paisley used to avoid thinking about this problem when she was with Matthew, but it wouldn't just go away. At last, her history with Matthew and the engagement party that made the Waylons family humiliated in Oakwood were right in front of her.
Paisley looked around blankly. She had just moved in, and although she didn't express it, she was happy about it. She still wanted to be with Matthew, but... what should she do?
Paisley frowned in pain, and as time was ticking away, she felt like someone was cutting her with a knife.
Matthew told her to rest assured, but how could she? Thinking of Anderson treating her Mom with a heavy hand and his icy stare, she shook her head, for it was nearly impossible for them to be together.
Paisley went to the bedroom to unpack her bags. It was better for her to go by herself than to be told to leave. Then she saw their clothes hung together by Matthew in the closet. His trench coat and her shirt were hung on the same hanger, looking as harmonious as one.
Paisley paused and stopped unpacking. After all, it was hard for her to leave Matthew since they had come a long way together.
Paisley thought that she still wanted to be with him. Thus, she pulled herself together and went on unpacking the luggage. She hung up their clothes together one by one, put the toiletries in the bathroom, and arranged them in pairs. Then she cleaned the bedroom again to make sure everything was spotless as if it were their home.
It was getting dark, but Matthew hadn't come back yet, so Paisley turned on the light and went to the kitchen to cook dinner.
After living alone for three years, she learned how to cook. She wanted to make some of Matthew's favorite dishes for him, and she had never told him that she kept in mind what he liked eating.
While cooking, Paisley was suddenly hugged by someone from behind. Matthew took a deep breath and said, "I was so scared. I was scared that you might leave again."
Feeling insecure, he held her tight, but he also felt very contented and said, "Thank God., I'm so glad that you are still here."
Paisley turned around and looked at him closely. He was still wearing the same shirt and suit as he wore when he went out just now. There were no bruises or scars on his face. He was neatly dressed and he returned safe and sound. Paisley hugged him back. She was also afraid, afraid that Anderson would punish him and that Matthew might leave her.
Matthew held her in his arms. He looked around and saw her belongings in the house. With a bright, happy smile, he gently stroked her long hair and said, "You had no idea how happy I am to see that the lights are on when I come back!"
When he was coming home, he saw the lights were on in the distance. The beam of the lights shone into his heart and lit up his world.
That night, Matthew hugged Paisley, chest to chest and they started making out.
He kissed her hard and cuddled her. He kissed her hard and cuddled her. They felt so hot as if they were about to melt into one.
Paisley buried her face in his chest and listened to his heartbeat. She looked up at him and Matthew kissed her on the forehead affectionately. Then he pinned her to the bed, looked her in the eye, and said seriously, "Paise, don't worry. I'm a grown man now."
He was no longer a reckless teenager who did something wrong and then got panicked, at a loss for what to do next.
He had grown up and he had been through a lot. He was a man now and he could deal with all the difficulties so that Paisley could live a carefree life.
His eyes were as loving as always and he said, "Paise, I won't let anyone take you away from me. We will always be together until death do us part."
Paisley didn't utter a word. Instead, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.
In the next few days, Anderson and Stella did not show up and it seemed that Matthew had changed their mind.
Paisley was still a little uneasy, but it was no use worrying about it. She still chose to believe Matthew, for they finally opened their hearts to each other and their relationship had lasted till now.
In the past, Paisley might think that it was no big deal, but now she treasured their love because it was hard to find someone she liked in her lifetime, let alone true love.
The days they spent together were quite happy.
Matthew couldn't dote on Paisley more. He woke up Paisley by wiping her face with a warm towel every day. Then he urged her to eat breakfast, drove her to work, and picked her up from work. As a result, Paisley was getting lazy. She liked hugging Matthew from behind and putting her head on his broad shoulder. It felt warm and safe, and happiness felt so real.
The only thing that troubled Paisley was that Matthew was like a beast who couldn't get enough of her in bed.
No matter how serious the topic they were discussing was, Matthew was always thinking about something sexual.
Often when he was staring at Paisley, Matthew suddenly said, "Paise, I'm hungry."
Hearing this, Paisley told him that she would cook something for him, while Matthew grabbed her hand and said with a smile, "Don't bother. It's you that I crave."
Paisley paused. She blushed and said, "Go away!"
It was even not safe to watch a movie, because no matter which movie they saw, there would be a kissing scene in less than thirty minutes, and the main characters would get laid within an hour, which Paisley found very annoying.
When they saw the actors kissing on screen, Matthew seized the bottom of Paisley's blouse and said, "I want a kiss, too."
Paisley had to lean over and kiss the corner of his lips reluctantly.
After a while, the main actor and the main actress started to undress each other, and Matthew, with his sparkling eyes, said excitedly, "I want that, too."
Paisley just ignored him, but he kept pestering her, "I want to do that, I just want."
He was acting unbearably cheeky. Paisley couldn't stand it any longer and went to fetch one shirt of his from the closet and handed it over to him. She said, "Here, go ahead!"
Matthew was stunned and replied, "...life is so hard for me!"
He was indignant and went to take a shower. After a while, he started singing in the shower, "I'm so handsome...I'm so charming...I'm so pretty... Why can't she see that? Why can't she see?"
Paisley was speechless.
If she hadn't loved him so much, she wanted to rush in and punch him in the face!
However, Paisley would never punch him, for she hated to see him get hurt.
The two had been together for so long that they got used to each other's company and she didn't even realize that she had lost her heart to him.
When the maple trees turned red in Oakwood, Matthew would take Paisley to enjoy the maple leaf scenery. The hill was tinged with red, and they walked hand in hand in the maple woods. On their way back, Paisley was still immersed in the color of burning red. She had been to Oakwood when she was a child, but it wasn't until today that she realized the four seasons in Oakwood could be so beautiful.
In spring, cherry blossoms were falling like snow, and in autumn, maples on hills turned red. In winter, as they held hands and walked in the street, snowflakes gently fell on their shoulders.
It turned out that the four seasons she spent with him were brighter than the sun.
Matthew was driving, but it was not the way home.
Paisley asked, "Where are we going?"
"I'm taking you somewhere." Matthew replied with a smile and added, "You'll like it!"
Paisley stopped asking, for it seemed that Matthew could read her mind and knew her preferences better than she did.
After driving for a while, Matthew stopped the car and covered her eyes with a piece of red cloth.
Paisley smiled and asked, "What are you going to do?"
"It's a secret!"
Matthew didn't give her a direct answer. He helped her get out of the car, and since she couldn't see anything now, he led the way by holding her hand. She felt that after taking a few steps, she had walked into the elevator, and then the elevator went up. After walking a few more paces, Paisley heard the sound of the door opening. She was led inside, and the piece of red cloth on her eyes was gently removed. Then she saw the door number plate and it was 614.
Matthew took her hand and said, "Do you remember? It was on June 14, just after we graduated from high school, that we first met."
It was an unfurnished house. It was big but empty, with nothing but doors and windows inside the house. It still needed decoration.
Matthew looked at Paisley and went down on one knee slowly. Then he took out a ring from his pocket and proposed to her in his deep voice, "Paise, let's start a family together."
Paisley was too stunned to say anything. She recognized that ring. It was the one he wore at the roller skating rink.
Later, when he professed his love to her and proposed, he also got down on one knee like he did today, and put that ring on her. He said the ring was a token of their love and it stood for his promise to Paisley. His kisses and her tears were all on this ring. She thought it was long gone, but to her surprise he still kept it.
In the days long past, she had been all alone by herself, and it was he who lent a helping hand to her. Now he wanted to save her from her solitude? He said he wanted to start a family with her. Tears welled up in Paisley's eyes, but she didn't dare to take the ring. She asked with a lumpy throat, "Matthew, don't you hate me?"
"I did, but my love for you outweighs hate," He replied while staring at her and he could only see her.
Paisley didn't hesitate any longer, so she held out her hand which was trembling slightly. Although the mark on her ring finger had disappeared long ago, when she wore this ring again, she felt very familiar, as if it was destined to belong to her.
Matthew got up, held her tightly in his arms, and said, "Paise, we will all be together forever."
He pointed to the empty house and added, "This is our home."
He specially bought this empty house because Paisley was an interior designer. He thought that their home should be designed all by Paisley.
He said, "You can design the house as you please. All I am asking for..."
He put his hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat and continued, "Save me a place in your heart and that's all I'm asking for."
Paisley nodded and what she didn't say was that in fact, she had already fallen in love with him.
They were hugging and although there was no one or nothing around them, Paisley felt that she was surrounded by white roses whose fragrance filled the room. It seemed as if she had gone back to the time when they were young and innocent. She thought of the moment they walked in the snow hand in hand. He would see her every time he looked down and she would see him smiling as she turned around to look at him. It was so cold outside, but her heart felt so warm.
Since they came back from the house, Paisley had been working on the design plan according to the floor plan.
She was occupied with designing their home, which was a large duplex house. Paisley thought the first floor would be the living zone which could be mainly divided into the kitchen and the living room. They could hang a swing on the spacious balcony on the first floor and put a coffee table there, so they could sit there and enjoy the evening breeze; moreover, with the master bedroom and the study, the second floor would be the sleeping area. She planned to build a glass room on the balcony in the west and make it a small indoor botanical garden. Two wicker chairs would be put there so they could sunbathe and read books.
What style should the whole house be designed in? The Mediterranean style was light and simple, the European style was grand, and the pastoral style was more relaxing. She skipped the vintage style because it was too dark for their age. Bay windows should be added in the master bedroom. Also, she had always liked tall bookcases in the study which were full of books and a ladder was needed when one wanted to take a book on the top of the shelf. By the way, Matthew had a habit of exercising, so a gym should be arranged for him...
Paisley got more thrilled as she thought about the design of the house. She couldn't decide which plan was the best, so she kept writing and drawing on the floor plan.
Matthew was ignored by her for a whole night. However hard he tried, coughing or showing off his muscles, he couldn't attract her attention. Finally, he moved a chair over, sat there, and asked, "Darling, would you please just look at me, even for a second?"
She was silent for a second. Right, he was still there with her. So Paisley asked Matthew, "How would you like the house to be? Any ideas?"
"Yes," Matthew leaned over, blew in her ear, and answered, "Nothing matters but the bed needs to be a king-size one!"
Paisley was surprised. She blushed, hit him with her elbow, and said, "I'm talking about something serious."
"I mean it. I really do. That's what's all in my mind!" Matthew said seriously and honestly.
Paisley stopped talking with him. Matthew put his head on her shoulder and watched her concentrate on making interior design drawings on the computer. He couldn't help smiling and his eyes were shining.
Matthew thought she was happy, and he also smiled and called her name, "Paise!"
"What?" Paisley turned around and asked.
Matthew leaned over and gently kissed her lips. He smiled and said, "There should be no beds or even tatami in other rooms. One bed is enough for us!"
He wanted her to rest in his arms at all times.
Paisley's face turned even redder, but she nodded anyway.
Matthew was satisfied. Then he pointed to the balcony and added, "Could we make it a greenhouse where we can plant white roses? We can also keep a few fishes and grow lotus in the pond."
"Anyway, we still need to get a family cinema room. You like watching movies the most..."
It was late at night, and their hearts were getting closer and closer.
Paisley looked at the man beside her. He was watching her fondly and her heart was about to melt. Their house was still empty, but his heart was full of love for her.
And he already had her heart.
They finally chose the blue and white Mediterranean style as the decorating style of their house, which was both simple and elegant. They also discussed other details of the interior design.
After the design drawing was completed, the specific work was left for the decoration company. Paisley went to check on the progress when she had time. Sometimes she came with Matthew and sometimes by herself. She wanted to see how their home was transformed into what they had designed day by day. The progress of interior decoration was quite fast. Matthew hired the best construction team and asked them to complete their work as quickly as possible. That was because he couldn't wait to marry Paisley.
The decoration drawing looked so beautiful, but during the decoration process the house became dirty and it looked like a total mess. Paisley stood in the noisy and dusty house, but her heart was full. She had never been so hopeful about the future. She was happy, for she was going to have a home, a home that belonged to her.
This home was neither the shattered one given by her parents nor the broken one given by Madison. Nor was it the one given by her old Grandpa. It was given by Matthew, and it belonged to her. From now on, she no longer had to worry about where she belonged in this world. Now she had found her haven and her feeling of missing became the path that led her back home every day she set sail.
This was her home, the home of her and Matthew.
Paisley went there and took a photo of the house almost every day. She had watched the floors tiled in the semi-finished house, water pipes and wires installed, and the rooms wallpapered...The glass room was built, the stair rails in the shape of musical notes were installed and the bookcases as tall as the ceiling were made...Bit by bit, the house became exactly what she wanted with each passing day, and then after she and Matthew moved it, it would be their home.
On the day the construction team left, Paisley took Matthew's hand and walked around the house with him.
They hadn't bought the furniture yet, so the house still looked a little empty. But it was already decorated the way they wanted. The representative blue and white colors in the Mediterranean style made them feel like they were on the beaches of the Aegean Sea. In the night breeze, Paisley watched the sparkling city lights through the window, and finally, she had a home in this city. Paisley pinched Matthew's hand in excitement. Matthew looked down at her, his eyes smiling.
He asked, "Are you happy?"
Paisley nodded. Matthew held her in his arms and murmured, "So am I."
The furniture was bought together by them at the Furniture Center.
They had gone shopping for several days. On weekends, Paisley got Matthew out of bed when it was early in the morning. On work days, they went shopping in the evening.
They had almost been to every furniture center in Oakwood and they bought different kinds of furniture such as couches, the swing, wicker chairs, and coffee tables...They had got every piece of furniture for their rooms, except the bed.
Matthew always had a thing for the king-sized bed, and every time they went to the furniture center, he would go straight to it. Paisley was very embarrassed, but she couldn't put off buying the bed again. She was dragged to the bedroom section by Matthew. Along the way, Matthew's eyes shone with excitement. Along the way, Matthew's eyes shone with excitement. He sat on the beds as he looked around, and he invited Paisley to join him and have a try.
Hearing this, Paisley blushed. Matthew walked over and whispered to her, "Come and sit on it. It concerns our future happiness."
The shop assistant standing next to them tried hard to pitch, "Sir, you have a good eye. This bed is handmade in Italy and it is the latest design. It just arrived in our shopping center this week. As you can see, this style is both elegant and classic, and this bed is very comfortable, which makes it a perfect wedding bed..."
Hearing the words "marriage bed", Paisley glanced at Matthew, while he was staring at her with sparkling eyes and a bright smile.
Paisley felt shy and just as she was about to say something, she heard a mocking voice.
"What a coincidence!"
Paisley raised her head and saw it was Stella, who was surrounded by several shop assistants. Paisley raised her head and saw it was Stella, who was surrounded by several shop assistants. Like always, she wore delicate makeup and a long black dress, which flattered her perfect figure. She stood in front of them with her arms crossed and gave Paisley a cold-eyed stare. Seeing the ring on her ring finger, Stella smiled and asked, "What is this about?"
"Are you getting married?" she asked again while raising her eyebrows.
Paisley didn't know how to respond. Matthew stepped forward, put his arms around Paisley's shoulder, and replied with a smile, "Yes, we're getting married!"
"Really?" Stella said again with a smile, "That's quick."
She walked over and said to Paisley, "Congratulations, Paise!"
Stella still felt very surprised and then sighed, "There are so many things worth celebrating at the end of the year!"
As she said that, she nodded at Matthew, and walked forward with many people following her. Then she suddenly thought of something, so she turned around and said, "By the way, I'm getting engaged in a few days. I should have invited you, Paise, but I don't think you would come, so I didn't send you an invitation. I hope you don't mind."
Before Paisley replied, she said again, "You guys continue and enjoy shopping. I got to go now."
Leaving those strange words, Stella walked away with her head held high, and she looked like a queen.
Paisley was confused. She knew that Stella, who was Matthew's friend, couldn't forgive her for what she had done back then, but she had never given her a hard time before. However, for some reason, she was hostile to her when they met recently.
"Stella was shooting her mouth off!" Matthew comforted Paisley and added, "She has pre-wedding anxiety. Paise, just ignore her!"
"All right." Paisley nodded and didn't think much about it. She didn't notice that peculiar look on Matthew's face just now.
They went on looking, and soon a bed caught Matthew's fancy, and he said that he must sleep on that bed tonight.
The Furniture Center had the bed delivered right away in the afternoon.
After the bed was assembled, Paisley bent down and spread the bed cover on it. The cover was made of red silk embroidered with a dragon and a phoenix, which looked too flashy.
Matthew insisted on buying it, but it didn't match the decoration style of the house. Although Paisley didn't like it very much, she was moved when she looked at the bed covered in red sets for it looked like a wedding bed.
Standing next to her, Matthew tried to hit on her, "We don't know whether the bed is of good quality. Paise, let's try it out to see if it was sturdy?"
Paisley directly threw a pillow at him.
Matthew caught it, rolled on the bed, and shouted, "What a lonely night! It's so sad and pitiful that I'm sleeping alone!"
Paisley didn't say a word and just threw another pillow over.
When winter came, Room 614 was fully furnished and decorated.
Everything was in pairs, from bean bag chairs to cups and electric toothbrushes. All things were neatly placed together, for fear that others didn't know they were about to be a newlywed couple. Matthew even liked to buy things in red and said that it would bring good luck and he was preparing for their future wedding.
As Matthew suggested, white roses were planted in the glass room where the temperature was adjusted to be suitable by controlling the air conditioner. As a result, the roses were thriving.
The bookcases in the study were also filled with books that were classified into common categories. There was a ladder next to the bookcases, and two cushions were placed on the floor. When the sun shone in through the windows, they could sit there and enjoy reading in their spare time.
There were cushions made by Paisley on both the swing on the balcony and the bay windows in the master bedroom.
She had recently developed an interest in knitting all kinds of things, like pillow covers, slippers, and the couple scarves that Matthew asked her to knit last time.
After airing out the house for several days, they prepared to move in.
The night before they moved into the new house, Paisley was packing her bags. Not long after, she had more luggage than she did last time because Matthew bought a lot of new clothes for her. In fact, besides clothes, he also bought her jewelry and bags. Every time Matthew saw the luxury goods that every woman liked, he wanted to buy them and send her as gifts, though Paisley never asked him for them.
When she was with Matthew, she went back to the days when she didn't have to worry about money.
She didn't have to be penny-pinching, nor did she have to split the money into the house rent, food cost, and daily expenses when she got the paycheck and think carefully before she spent the money. She no longer had to chase the last bus home in the late evening or put a smile on her face when the landlord got angry because she went back late from work...These were all in the past. Her life was abundant and simple now, and the girls in her company looked enviously at her when they saw her.
The love of beauty was in every girl's nature, and Paisleys also had her vanity. There were times when she couldn't hold on to it any longer and wanted to ask her Dad for help and yield to her Mom, but it was all over. Paisley had been both rich and poor, and the ups and downs in this period of her life taught her what was the most important thing in life and that the real luxury couldn't be bought with money.
The most difficult thing in life was to meet someone, and fall in love with him until death did them part.
How beautiful it was to stay in love until death, but it took a lifetime to make it come true.
Paisley felt so unreal when she looked at Matthew, who was also busy packing up. She ran into Matthew on New Year's Eve. They had only been together for a year, and they were about to get married. It was too fast, but considering they had first met at the age of eighteen, it wasn't fast at all.
Why did they get back together again? Paisley was in a daze, and she couldn't find a reason. The only thing she knew was that she was happy now, and every day she spent with Matthew was full of hope. It felt too good to be true.
Dream? Could all the good life now also be a dream?
This thought popped into her head. Paisley shook her head and told herself that Matthew would never do that.
Seeing that she was staring blankly and then shook her head, Matthew asked with a smile, "What's up? Are you tired?"
"No." Paisley smiled and replied, looking at the house where she had stayed for a few months, "It's just a little hard for me to leave here."
Matthew laughed. He came over, took her hand, and said, "Trust me, it's better there."
Of course, it was better there, because it was their home.
The next day, they got up early and moved their luggage to the new house.
 They didn't get much stuff, but it still took them half a day to unpack these things. When she saw the house was filled little by little with their things, Paisley's heart was also filled with expectations. She put Grandpa's photo frame on the bookshelf, with tears in her eyes. She wished she could tell this kind and loving old man that she had grown up and found someone she loved, so he didn't have to worry about her anymore.
She had so many things to tell him, but he couldn't hear them anymore.
"Grandpa, I have a home now," Paisley said softly and burst out crying.
She should say sorry to many people, but the one that she owe the most was her Grandpa. He was so kind to her, but she still chose to be with Matthew.
She had been too selfish all the time. Paisley said with tears, "Grandpa, don't worry. I will be fine."
She meant it. She would be all right and would try her best to live every single day.
Matthew walked to the door of the study and saw Paisleys crying in front of the photo of her Grandpa. He immediately knew what was going on. He came over, just held her hand silently, and stayed by her side.
After she felt better, Paisley asked, "What's the matter?"
"Paise, come with me," Matthew replied, walked out with Paisley, holding her hand, and led her to the greenhouse full of white roses.
The white roses were planted by them together. Thanks to the greenhouse, even though it was winter now, the roses were still blooming, looking as white as snow.
Matthew led Paisley in and let her sit on the wicker chair. Then he knelt down, and said with a smile, "Paise, I haven't proposed to you formally yet."
It was not until he mentioned it that Paisley realized that Matthew had changed into very formal clothes. He was dressed in a dark suit and tie, as well as a white shirt, which made him look more handsome. He seemed to glow under the soft light, and his gentle eyes and smile somehow made others want to get close to him.
Matthew took out an exquisite box from his pocket, opened it, and said, "Take a look."
Inside the box were neither precious stones nor valuable jewels. There was only a piece of paper full of words in the box.
It read 99 reasons to marry Matthew:
1. Matthew is very good-looking. Don't try to deny it, because you blush every time you see me.
2. You are 5.5 feet tall, and I am 6 feet, which is the most suitable height difference for hugging and kissing.
3. I haven't made a fortune yet, but I promise will keep working hard for my Paise.
4. I'll give you my salary in time every month, and I won't hide any money from you!
5. I know your taste and preferences, and you like the dishes I cook.
6. You are sensitive to the cold weatherer, while I am as warm as a small burning stove.
...
10. I want to adore you and make you my wife.
...
14. We have known each other for more than six years. During these over 2000 days and nights, I can't stop thinking about you every day.
...
18. We are both excellent. I am smart and you are beautiful, so our children will definitely be good-looking, which fits the principles of Eugenics.
19. If you forget to bring tissue when you go to the toilet one day, I will fetch the toilet paper for you.
...
22. I don't want to see you cry. I want to keep you company. I don't want you to feel lonely.
...
37. I have hurt you before, but I know how to love you better now.
38. We have parted, so I cherish our time together more.
...
48. We have so many memories and we can't waste them away.
...
56. I had known that you were destined to be my wife the first time I put that ring on your finger and it fit you so properly. 
...
63. I can't get over you, and I believe neither can you, though I know that you won't admit it.
...
74. You are always teasing me, but I like it.
...
77. My Paisley, I know you so well.
...
82. We have had a lot of first times together. Well, you know what I mean.
...
89. Well, we are good in bed, too.
...
93. You are the first and last person I love.
...
96. We are meant for each other, and God sent me for you.
97. I still want to treat you well, and just you.
98. I love you.
99. Till the end of my life. 
...
This time he wrote 99 reasons, and none of these was repeated.
Paisley remembered that when he was in college, he also wrote down 99 reasons to have Matthew as her boyfriend, while dozens of these reasons were about the same thing, which was that he would treat Paisley well. However, she said it was too perfunctory. So at this time, this sheet of paper was covered with his writing and Paisley could easily feel his deep love for her in every single reason.
Still, on a bent knee, Matthew looked at her with a smile and said with his eyes fixed on her, "You will say yes, right, Paise?"
His voice was so gentle and soft that she felt as if her heart was melted by him.
Holding that piece of paper, Paisley's hand was shaking and she felt like crying. But for some reason, she still wanted to tease him, so she asked, "What if I say no?"
"You won't," Matthew still stared at her and replied confidently, "because I know that my Paisley doesn't have the heart to hurt me."
Paisley felt like crying again. She couldn't refuse him, since she cared about him and loved him so much. Although she used to be cold and distant, now Matthew had changed her. Her heart was completely off guard now, and finally, like her Mom, she gave him all her love.
"Let's get married, Paise, so we won't leave each other again." Matthew said again and there was pain in his eyes, "Do you remember that we have promised each other that from then on, only death could do us part?"
So they wouldn't have to part again, just like the promise they made when they were young. 
Paisley's heart ached, and she still remembered that back in the day as she rested against his shoulder, he held her hand, kissed her, and said yes seriously. Today, he kept the promise he made when he was young. Paisley nodded in tears. She choked and she couldn't utter a word.
Matthew's eyes were also a little watery. He picked a white rose and pressed his fingertip against the thorn on it slightly. Then there was a drop of blood on his fingertip. Matthew pressed his fingertip on the paper and leave a fingerprint where he had signed his name. Then he said childishly, "That's it. Paise, there is no turning back!"
He folded the paper, put it back in the box, and said, "Paise, this is our promise."
Paisley closed the box and there was a heart-shaped diamond, the hardest thing in the world, encrusted in the middle of its surface.
Matthew stood up, held Paisley in his arms, and added, " As I said before, I'll love you till the end of the world."
He gave her a heart that would stand the test of fire, so nothing would scare her in the future.
Paisley hugged Matthew tightly, and she really wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
That night they made out. 
It seemed that he would never be satisfied, and he kept asking, "Paise, do you love me?"
Paisley hugged him tightly. She was feeling a little breathless, and he was being so rough that it made her hurt a little.
But the pain was what she wanted, because made her feel alive. It reminded her that it was true instead of a dream. She was loved, and she wouldn't get stuck in the nightmare in which no one loved or cared about her. She would no longer wake up with a start in the middle of the night. It came to her that she had loved someone, and he was right here for her.
And she also loved him. Paisley answered in a hoarse voice, with tears in her eyes for she cried when he was pounding her hard, "Yes, I do."
"How much do you love me?"
"I love you so much."
Matthew was satisfied, but just after a while, he started asking again.
It was like having a sweet dream. It hurt a bit, but it was sweet as honey.
In the end, Paisley got a little annoyed, so she bit Matthew on the shoulder. She bit him hard at first, but then her heart softened.
Matthew chuckled. He smoothed away Paisley's wet bangs and looked at the lustful look on her face. She used to be detached, but now her eyes were loving and tender and there was only his reflection in her eyes.  He loved how she looked right now. He liked it when she smelt like him and there were his marks over her body.
Matthew smiled and said, "You do love me."
His smile seemed a bit strange for a moment, and Paisley was stunned. But she soon got distracted by his touches. He couldn't seem to get satisfied.
At that moment, Paisley could never have imagined that the man she was making love with had turned into a demon.
All his kindness, gentleness, and patience were sugar-coated drugs, and everything was a lie.
He made her let her guard down, not to win her heart, but to rub salt into the wound.
She had no idea that on the other end of the city, Stella was checking the process of her engagement party.
She was swirling the red wine in her glass and said while watching the city lights from the window, "Any kind of flowers would do, except white roses."
Paisley was kept in the dark. That night, she slumbered in Matthew's arms.
It was a dreamless night, but she never expected that after she woke up, it was always dark.
Matthew held her in his arms and stared at her silently. He kept caressing her brows and eyes gently as if he would never get enough.
He sighed in his heart, Paise...