The Love Story: Episode 4

For the Sake of Love

Young devotion, with all its ups and downs, can either make you feel wonderful or drive you crazy. It can either build you up or tear you down.

It can be so confusing sometimes that feelings of obsession, idolization, and heightened self-esteem collide.

You either truly feel love because you find someone kind, beautiful, or generous, or perhaps you do because their mystery, complexity, or unattainability captivates you

It’s like a full-course meal at a buffet, rich and varied, yet potentially perilous if consumed unwisely.

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Susan had finally achieved her desire: to become Jaden’s girlfriend.

Being exclusive meant she had his undivided attention, energy, time, and affection.

He showered her with lovey-dovey texts all the time, expressing how much he thought about her.

For several weeks, this routine persisted. Susan had never experienced such affection from anyone before, except her parents.

She relished it so much that she couldn’t find fault with Jaden’s expectations.

If all she had to do was comply, it didn’t seem like such a big deal…for now.

Moreover, Susan had heard that publicly declaring a commitment could potentially complicate matters, particularly if the relationship were to end.

However, it seemed that her relationship with Jaden was not private but rather secretive.

Was she making the right decision by keeping it even from her mother?

What could Jaden be concealing to insist on keeping their relationship under wraps?

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Jaden possessed numerous qualities—charming, sweet-talker, hardworking, and exceptionally smart.

But, he also harbored manipulative tendencies and was prone to lying, selfishness, and often dishonesty.

To Jaden, Susan was merely another conquest, unable to resist his charm and playful demeanor.

He kept her entertained, ensuring she felt loved to prevent her from probing too deeply.

Long-term commitment wasn’t on his agenda; he had other priorities. His father for one, kept his hands full.

Since his mother’s passing and his father’s sudden illness, Jaden has juggled multiple responsibilities to cover healthcare expenses and medication.

One morning, his father, in his early 50s, rose to use the bathroom but collapsed, leaving him paralyzed on one side of his body from that moment forward.

Jaden has since become his primary caregiver and closest companion.

Entering a relationship for Jaden, therefore, appeared more as a distraction from the weight of his caregiving duties.

He understood that allowing Susan to proclaim their exclusivity to her friends and others would only intensify the pressure for him to commit.

If things ever became challenging in his personal life, he hoped he could exit the relationship without causing too much harm.

Jaden knew that being honest with Susan was not an option, but he was prepared to take the gamble nonetheless.

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Despite the common belief that being with someone and having peace of mind is one of the most beautiful things you can experience in a relationship, Susan found herself far from at peace.

She felt like she was walking on hot coals, yet she couldn’t find a way to extricate herself from the situation.

Even though they were only a month into their relationship, Susan had no intention of settling for something short-term from the outset.

Jaden’s insistence on keeping their relationship a secret and adamantly refusing to provide any explanation when pressed was a glaring red flag.

It didn’t require a genius to figure that out.

Gradually, Jaden started to grow distant.

His texts became less frequent, and whenever Susan asked for an explanation, she was met with the same tired response: “I’m sorry, I’ve been really busy lately. I’ll call you later.”

Jaden seemed constantly on edge whenever he called, anxious to return to his business and end their conversations.

Susan wondered: Had she done something wrong?

Jaden appeared to be a different person from the one she knew.

She eventually felt in constant doubt and prayed one day asking God for guidance on what to do.

But was she prepared to trust and obey God? Even if it meant quitting?

Susan felt conflicted.

During one of their conversations, she had rashly promised Jaden that she would never leave him—a risky vow indeed.

Yet, she was determined to give it her all to uphold that promise.

Hence, Susan chose to give Jaden the benefit of the doubt, despite his detached behavior, as she remained well aware of his father’s condition and pondered if their hidden relationship shielded his father from further stress.

She could endure a bit longer.

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Susan didn’t expect to earn the reputation as the girl who surrendered without a fight, or who spoke the words “I quit” just one month into her first relationship.

Regardless of whether she kept her connection with Jaden hidden or not, she knew she loved him, and that was enough for her.

After all, isn’t love supposed to be enough?

Time will tell!