Third Person's POV 

Colleen went home after her check-up. She was happy that nothing happened to her. She didn't know why Stacey acted that way when she thought Claire had canceled their arranged marriage already.

She was at home and was done with her dinner and decided to watch a movie. She likes sci-fi movies, so she didn't know why she decided to watch an old movie by Mandy Moore and Shane West.

It was a happy story but had a sad ending, that's in the eyes of many, because Mandy Moore ends up dying at the end of the story. But for Colleen, it was still a happy ending because they end up being together despite Mandy Moore's illness. 

She then wonders if she will be able to find someone she will love and love her back despite her condition. She felt like it was wishful thinking because, unlike her, Mandy Moore had her father to support her while she had no one.

It was getting late and she remembered Dr. Gerard and what he would tell her if he found out that she was still awake at that hour. She stood up from the couch and went to her room, only to be stopped by the doorbell.

Colleen looked at the wall clock and she was thinking about who could have come to visit her late at night. She didn't want people waiting for her, so she went to see who her visitor was.

Jared was getting impatient as he waited for Colleen to open the door for him and was about to press her doorbell once again when the door opened. 

"Jared," Colleen said after seeing him standing by the door. 

"Let's talk," Jared said and went inside her house. He looked around and he noticed that the house was almost bare even if there were a lot of indoor plants. He thought Colleen liked to plant but had no place to do it besides indoors.

Colleen followed him and wondered what Jared was doing in her house. 'Did his girlfriend tell him about what had happened between them?' She thought.

"I don't have anything to offer you but tea," Colleen told him.

"Don't bother, I won't take long." Jared replied, "Don't come near Stacey anymore. I choose to marry you. You had better stop whatever you're planning. She only asked you out so she could tell you how much she loves me. You should understand why we had been together for a long time and it was hard for her to let it go just like that." Jared added.

Confused, that's how Colleen felt at that very moment. She was thinking why he had to tell me those things when she thought everything was settled. And then he realized what Jared told her. 'So he agreed to marry me,' she thought.

"You have to remember that you were getting married because of mom and Ingrid. I love Stacey and you can't do anything about that and I will see to it that you will regret agreeing to this marriage. You dare hurt my girlfriend? I tell you this, you have no right to do that. Do you understand?" Jared said after he heard nothing from Colleen.

She wanted to get mad at him for saying things he knew nothing about, but she stopped herself. She didn't want to fight him as she started to feel tired. She massaged her temple and that didn't go unnoticed by Jared, who was now eyeing her curiously.

"Is there anything else you want to say?" Colleen asked and Jared stared at her.

"Are you not going to say anything about what I said?" Jared asked.

"What's there to say? You came here thinking the worst of me. You're not even trying to confirm what your girlfriend told you."

"You didn't even deny that you hurt her?" 

"Look Mr. McLahlin, it was already late and I had to rest. If you want to listen to my explanation, I can give you that tomorrow. This time was not good and I started having a headache." She replied politely. She didn't want him to think that she was getting infuriated with him. "Another thing, look at me, do I look like I am capable of hurting your girlfriend, who is a lot bigger than me?" She added.

Jared stared and studied her appearance and he just realized that Colleen was really small and was pale. She also had bruises, a lot worse than Stacey's. No, Stacey's bruises were nothing compared to hers.

"I don't need your explanation anymore, I can find out about everything if I wanted to." Jared replied and left after he roamed his eyes around Colleen's home again.

Colleen sat on her couch and closed her eyes. She thinks that she added a few years of her age after she heard Jared rant. She had no idea that Jared's girlfriend was like that. She thought of her as a very nice person because of how Jared defended her to his family. She thought Jared didn't know his girlfriend well in their four years of relationship.

As Jared arrived home, he went straight to Ingrid's room. He knocked and entered after Ingrid let him come in. "It's late Jared, what is it now?" 

"Did you know what happened? Did she tell you what she did?" Jared asked.

"You know Jared, before you spew nonsense, you had better do some investigation first. I just hope that you haven't gone to see Colleen yet and tell her things you shouldn't. We never spoon feed you with anything so find it out yourself." Ingrid replied and Xavier couldn't say a word. "If you'll excuse me, because I need to get up early tomorrow." She added and lay down on her bed.

Jared went out of her room. He thought for a moment about what Ingrid had told him as he went to his bedroom. When he saw Stacey earlier, he got mad at Colleen thinking she did that to her. He remembered what Colleen looked like and for a moment he felt guilty. He was never judgmental. He always finds out about everything first before he opens his mouth. Thinking he was mad because of the arranged marriage, he decided to justify his action towards Colleen with that.