Originally appeared on E! Online

Sam Asghari will always carry a piece of Britney Spears with him.

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In fact, despite Britney’s recent comments that their year-long marriage felt like a “fake distraction,” Asghari affirmed how much their relationship truly meant.

“Our marriage was very real to me," he told People on Aug. 25 through his rep. "It may have been short, but we were together for seven years. I was in love with her, will always have love for her, and wish her the best always."

The affirmation comes just two days after Spears opened up about her marriage to Asghari in a since-deleted Instagram caption, implying the relationship was a way to help her deflect the pain of being estranged from her sons

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