Ninety-Nine Proposals, Married to Another

1

When I was eighteen, I met Declan Morris, my father's star student, and tasted forbidden fruit with him.

For ten long years, we carried on in secret. Ninety-nine times, I begged him to marry me.

Then, I overheard him talking to a colleague outside his office.

"Declan, the girl is twenty-eight now. Aren't you ever going to take responsibility for her?"

His voice was completely devoid of emotion.

"There is a ten-year age gap between us. I only look after her because I promised her father I