A Nasty Reminder Chapter 36 Analise's POV +15 Points > They were all struggling to stay calm . My father had to put his head down to face the floor . My father hated to show emotions . He was a tough man who felt that showing emotions made him look weak . He was always stoic . We knew he loved us , but he rarely told us . He was raised in another generation , one that was much tougher than the one I was raised in . There were times growing up when he did show us , but usually only on milestones in our lives . High School and College graduations , buying a home , and getting our businesses off the ground . He let Mom be the one who nurtured us , and he was the protector , nd the one who handed out punishments to us . I knew that for the last ten years , he had thought that Mom had missed something . That my ' tantrum ' was because she had coddled me too much . But now he knows that it was because they both missed the signs they should have seen . He had security for me , but they always stayed back . They couldn't come into the bathrooms or gym showers with me . I saw his tears fall , and I squeezed his hand . This really wasn't his fault , and it really wasn't on Seth or Holden . This was solely on Tiffany , Gretchen , and the friends they used to hurt me . " I have proof of most of what happened . Tiffany texted me quite often , so I have hundreds of them . Half of them were the ones that warned me that she would kill me if I told . That she would know if I did , as our families would have a falling out . She thought she could do anything to me and get away with it . She assaulted me in Holden's restaurant because she was positive she could delete the footage . She did , but it took me all of five minutes , including booting up my laptop , to find it . You need a better firewall system , Holden , " I said as I finally looked up at him . He looked wrecked by what I had shown him . He met my eyes and flinched at the pain in mine . " What , what is it that I did , Ana ? " he asked hesitantly . Now came the hardest part . " You remember the day that Seth and I came over to swim ? The day Tiffany held Seth up , to let me go out and find you ? " I asked . " The day you walked back home instead of asking us to drive you ? " Holden asked with a frown . He was still clearly confused . " Yes , that day , " I replied . " But I never saw you that day , " Holden responded . The frown on his face grew as he became increasingly confused about where I was going with this . " But I saw you , Holden . What's worse , I heard you , " I answered . " What were you doing that day before we were supposed to arrive ? " I watched his face as he went from bewilderment to clarity in about thirty seconds . His eyes flew up to mine , and I saw him swallow hard . " Is it all coming back to you now , Holden ? " If you are reading this on another app , it has been stolen from Kat Von Beck . It should only be found on Dreame and Stary Novel . 16 MNN 111 O < 1/4 < A Nasty Reminder +15 FORMS 7 " What ? What happened ? " Seth asked . He was watching Holden like he expected him to come out with it , only he couldn't . My father was in the room , and he wasn't going to react well to what Holden had done . " Seth , it was the same thing that happened with Tiffany , " Holden snapped out . " What is going on ? Stop speaking in riddles . Just spit it out . We're all adults here . What happened , Ana ? Whatever it is , I can take it . Your mother and I are here for you . We love you , and we won't allow you to suffer a minute longer . Just tell us , I need this finished to know what steps I need to take ," my father asked . He knew it wasn't going to be good if neither Seth nor Holden wanted to discuss it . " Ana , I'm sorry . You know I didn't mean any of it . I was just saying what she wanted to hear . It was just s * x ," Holden carefully said to me . His hands were raised as if he thought I was going to lose it . He was trying to keep me calm , but I was past all of that . I didn't care anymore . About any of this . It was my past , and after today , I didn't want to go back there again . " If that's what you need to tell yourself , Holden , then sure . Just s * x , with a side of betrayal . You were fine with what you said that day , and don't forget that you also acted on it . You made good on what you felt was your only recourse , because you did just that . I know you were led into saying it , but that doesn't mean that it wasn't the truth you spoke at that time . She saw me , Holden . She saw how upset I was , and still pushed you to say it . I couldn't walk away . She used your very words against me , for years , Holden ," I replied . " What did he say ? " Seth asked , but he was looking at Holden . " Seth , we need to discuss this at another time , privately . This doesn't need to be a factor in our arranged marriage . Both of our parents would be very unhappy with me if they found out . You know how it is , Seth . Gretchen offered herself up , and I had been drinking by the pool . What was I supposed to do , Seth ? She was wearing a barely there bikini , and she kept rubbing herself against me . So , I took her up on her offer and we went into the pool house . It was just a one - time thing . You and Ana weren't supposed to arrive for another half an hour . She was never supposed to know . I knew she didn't like Gretchen , hell , I don't like her either , but you know how things happen , " Holden answered . " I didn't ask you what happened , Holden . I already know what happened . Tiffany was set on holding me up that day , too , so I didn't go out there with Ana . She was so excited that day and couldn't wait to come over , so we came over early . Tiffany and Gretchen teamed up to come after Ana that day . I got it . Stop being evasive . I asked you what you said , " Seth said as he stepped closer to Holden . " You know it won't stay hidden any longer , Holden . If I have to ask Ana , things are going to get worse . " " It's already worse , Seth . I can't say the words . You know how it is , we say things they want to hear at the time . Gretchen didn't mean anything to me . I didn't mean anything I said . We've spoken about what happened that day before , Seth . We let things go too far with them both . Both of us had a one - and - done . They were looking for a romantic connection , while we were seeking a release . That was all it was , " Holden insisted . Holden turned to me in panic , " Analise , you know I was young and dumb back then . We slept with a lot of girls while we were in college . I was just doing what most guys did back then . I'm not that guy anymore . I have nothing but disgust towards Gretchen . I never wanted to date her , Ana , let alone marry her . She might have wanted me to marry her , but it was always just s * x . She was never the person I wanted to marry . I'm sorry I hurt you , Ana , I really am . Not having you in my life these last few years made me realize just how much I missed you . When Seth called and said that he wanted me to marry you , I immediately accepted . Not 16 MN 220 2/4 A Nasty Reminder +15 Points > out of pressure from our families . I did it because I miss you , Ana . I really care about you . Please don't hold my ignorant words I spoke when I was young against me , " Holden pleaded . " What did he say ? " Seth asked as he looked at me . " When we got there , I ran straight through the house . I didn't want to deal with Tiffany or her snarky comments about how I shouldn't be wearing a two - piece . I headed out back and put my things down on a pool chair . When I didn't see Holden , I went looking for him . I found him in the pool house with Gretchen , having s * x . The moment she saw me , she smiled . I knew things were going to get much worse when I saw her smile . It was like she had been waiting for me to show up the whole time . I wanted to leave , Seth , but I couldn't . It was like I was frozen in place . I couldn't move . Apparently , seeing the guy you love , willingly having s * x with someone you just can't stand , can tear you apart . Especially when their one of your biggest bullies . It changes you . But that wasn't the worst part ," I answered . " I had accepted the fact that you two were living it up with girls at college . But knowing that he was doing that , and seeing it play out in front of you , are two very different things . I could lie to myself about what Holden was doing , as it wasn't real . It was easier to put it away as something I knew was happening , but also something that wasn't truly real . Except I was just fooling myself . Flashback to ten years ago : I could feel the heat from the sun on my back as I excitedly ran over to save my chair , right next to Holden's chair . Leaving the other chair for Seth . I glanced over at the pool house , trying to see where Holden was . I would grab a drink from the fridge with him and let him know that we were here . I knew that Seth would be out here with us soon . He wasn't a big fan of Tiffany's , so he wouldn't just hang out with her . Holden was so handsome . I was already wearing my dark sunglasses so I could check him out without being caught again today . I had annoyed Seth until he finally gave in and agreed to drive us over . In my excitement , I never once thought . that I was going to catch Holden having s * x . I knew that he and Seth both had girls they slept with at college . Not official girlfriends , but more of a friends with benefits type of thing . It hurt , but I knew they wouldn't be celibate at college . Both sets of parents had agreed and acknowledged the arranged marriage between us . I had been thrilled thinking that one day I was going to be Mrs. Holden Vaughn . That's a worthy title , and I was ready to claim it as soon as they would let me . I wanted to get married at twenty , but my mother kept insisting that I should graduate from college first . She said things happened quickly in a marriage , and she wanted me to graduate before she became a grandmother . I can still feel the blush on my cheeks just thinking about it . I wasn't worried about the girls at college . Seth assured me that yes , they both had s * x , but there were no feelings involved with any of them . They always used protection no matter who they were with , and that Holden cared about me . Seth assured me that there was nothing for me to worry about . Except , there was something to worry about , and I heard it straight from Holden's lips . Kat VonBeck # Vote #