Chapter 21%
I couldn’t move.”
I couldn’t breathe.
There she was–kissing him
Her hands on his chest. Her lips on his. Her smile curling like it belonged. And Troy… he didn’t push her away. Not immediately. Not fast enough
I had just started to believe that maybe… just maybe, I was finally allowed a shot at something real. Something soft. Something that wouldn’t break me.
But life, apparently, had a sense of humor!
It always waited until I dared to hope then pulled the rug out from under me.
I turned away, heart numb, and began walking toward the street. I didn’t know where I was going, but I needed to be anywhere but here “Isabellal
His voice stopped me cold.
Troy.X
He had come running out, breathless, panic in his eyes. “Wait–isa, it’s not what you think.”
I turned around, swallowing the burn in my throat. “It’s okay. You don’t need to explain. You don’t owe me anything.”
“But I do,” he said quickly. “Please. Let me explain. That was Elle. We… we had a thing. A long time ago. Years before I met you.” Herassed my arms
“And now she’s just what? Popping in for a casual kiss?”
He looked stricken: “She showed up out of nowhere. She didn’t call, didn’t text–I swear to you, I didn’t expect her. And when she did that, I froze. I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t kiss her back
“But you didn’t stop her either,” I said quietly, the words hitting like glass against stone. “I’ve been cheated on before, Troy. I’ve been humiliated. I’m not doing it again.”
His expression softened with guilt didn’t cheat on you.”
“No,” I said, stepping back, “but I need time. I can’t look at you and pretend it didn’t cut me.”2
He reached out, but I took another step away. “Don’t contact me until you’ve figured it out with her. I won’t be someone’s in–between.” And with that, I left.
That night, the tears came again.
I had promised myself I wouldn’t cry over another man. I had promised that Troy was different. That I was different now. wounds reopened too easily.
Lucas found me sitting in the hallway, arms wrapped around my knees, face buried in my palms.
“What happened?” he asked gently, kneeling beside me.ll
I wiped my eyes and gave a broken smile. “I saw someone I care about get kissed by another woman.”
Lucas’s face tightened. 1 swear–If that man hurt you-”
“No,” I cut in. “It’s not your fault this time. Not everything is.”
He exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders. “I just wanted you to have peace.”
“know” I whispered. “So did 1,“8
But
some
The next few days passed in a blur of unanswered calls, unopened messages, and awkward silences whenever his name came up!! Troy didn’t give up.
He sent letters. Waited outside the gallery. Called and left voicemails begging me to believe him. That it meant nothing. That Elle had no place in his life anymore. That I was the only one he wanted!!
But I couldn’t bring myself to respond.
I needed time. I needed space, I needed to be able to look in the mirror and not see the girl who always forgave too quickly.”
Then one morning, I stopped by the coffee shop near the art studio.
As I stirred my drink, a woman approached my table. I knew her before she even spoke.
Elle.!
She looked nervous, biting her lip as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry for what happened,” she said quietly. “That was on me“:
I shud nothing
“I was the one who kissed him, she continued. “He was stunned. I know how it looked. But it wasn’t mutual,”
I mised an eyebrow “Did he pay you to say this?“%
She actually laughed, a dry, tired sound. “No. God, no. We used to date–years ago. I broke his heart, not the other way around. He moved on. He met you“ll
I stared into my cup. “Then why now?
She shrugged. “Regret, I guess. I thought maybe i still had a chance. Until I saw the way he looked at you. He doesn’t see anyone else
.
417 PM
anymore.
I swallowed hard.
She reached into her bag, dropped a folded napkin with a name scrawled on it. “If you ever want to talk. Woman to woman.”
I didn’t pick it up.
As I stood to leave, she looked at me one last time. “He loves you, you know. Whether you want that or not.”
I didn’t answer!!
When I arrived back at the estate, it was raining.
Hard.
And there he was.
Troy.
Soaked to the bone, standing just outside the gate with a bouquet ruined by the downpour!
My breath caught.
I walked past him. Said nothing. My h
heart beat
eat fast, too conflicted to slow down.
He didn’t speak either
Just watched me.
I reached the front door. My hand froze on the knob. The sound of the rain was deafening.
And something inside me broke again–not from pain this time… but surrender.
I turned back
He hadn’t moved. He stood there, drenched, shivering, waiting–like he always did.
I walked back to him slowly.
His eyes widened. “Isa._“}
I can’t keep pushing you away,” I said softly. “Even when I try, I still find myself looking for you.
He stepped closer. Then let me try again.“}
I nodded, voice shaking. “I’m giving us another chance.”
He didn’t say a word. Just pulled me into him, kissed me through the storm.
And for the first time in a long time… Het myself fall!
