I now understood—so that was it. Elena was once again using her cleverness, and a surge of indignation swept over me."Celeste, please listen, Elena—"

"I don't want to hear your explanation," she interjected, her voice trembling."When she and your mother spoke before me, the issue was clear. I won,t dwell on it anymore. Let me say this again: we should part ways. Perhaps we were never meant to be." Her words, though whispered through her tears, were laced with undeniable pain.

"Celeste, what you saw is not the truth. Elena is not my fiancée. She likes me, but I do not return her feelings. Truly, I would never deceive you. If Elena were truly my fiancée, I would never have sought you out. I may be a man, but I have my principles."

Celeste lifted her gaze to meet mine, her eyes a complex mix of doubt, disappointment, and a trace of hope barely discernible. She took a deep breath, as if attempting to steady herself.

"Ryan, do you know how it felt when I heard what Elena and your mother said? It was as if the ground beneath me gave way. I had always believed that we were honest with each other, that our love was sincere. But in that moment, I felt like a fool, completely deceived." Her voice was heavy with the weight of her words.

Celeste,s tears tore at my heart. She continued, her voice breaking:"Ryan, when I came to Eldoria, full of hope and dreams of us building a life together, you left the very next day. Then Elena, with your mother, came to find me, asking me to step aside, saying you could never be a son-in-law. Do you know how I felt? My heart was bleeding. My family hoped for a son-in-law who would join us, but I couldn,t tell you for fear you,d leave. I hoped we could find a way together, but now it,s all over. Ryan, I,m hurting, do you understand?"

I stepped forward, gently wiping the tears from her face, a profound sense of guilt and anguish filling my chest."Celeste, hearing you say we should part feels like I,ve fallen into an abyss. And when you refused to answer my calls, I was lost."

"Ryan, I,m sorry. I shouldn,t have misunderstood you," she whispered, her voice trembling with regret and sorrow.

"Celeste," I held her tightly, feeling her body shudder slightly against mine,"I don,t want to break up with you."

She clung to me, her voice thick with emotion:"Ryan, I don,t want to break up with you either, but..."

"Celeste, no buts," I interrupted, my gaze firm."We still love each other. Can't you give us another chance?"

She remained silent, her grip tightening around me. Her eyes were filled with turmoil and inner conflict."Ryan, do you think we have a future if we don,t part? What about Elena? What about your mother? What about my family?"

"We,ll figure it out, slowly," I whispered, trying to offer comfort and hope.

She finally stopped crying, resting quietly in my arms, as though deep in thought. I could feel her breath slowing, her body relaxing ever so slightly, bringing some relief to my own anxious heart.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

I led her to sit on a bench by the riverbank. The evening breeze brushed past, the river flowing gently beside us, its surface sparkling with the light of the moon. Through our conversation, it seemed we had forgiven each other and come to love each other even more. Though words were few, we held each other tightly, feeling the warmth and support in one another's embrace.

As the night deepened, my phone rang. I hung up immediately. Not again. I switched it off. I didn,t want anything to disturb this moment with Celeste.

"Ryan, do you know?" Celeste,s voice was soft, her head resting on my shoulder."I,m so afraid of losing you." Her words were laden with weariness and helplessness.

"I feel the same, Celeste." I gently caressed her hair, savoring the warmth of her presence. Her strands were as soft as silk, carrying a faint fragrance. A wave of warmth surged within me, as if the distance between us had significantly diminished."We will find a way," I declared resolutely, my voice brimming with reassurance and promise.

A flicker of hesitation passed through Celeste,s gaze, but it was swiftly replaced by determination."Ryan, I don,t want to go back tonight," she said softly, yet with an undeniable firmness in her tone.

A surge of joy flooded my heart, and I instantly understood the meaning behind her words. I made an effort to maintain my composure, smiling as I gazed at her and asked,"Have you made your decision?"

Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, akin to the soft glow of the setting sun over a calm lake. She nodded gently, her voice barely audible.

We walked side by side back to the hotel, the night deepening around us. The streetlights cast long shadows behind us, their glow mingling with the darkening sky. Upon entering the room, I quietly shut the door, leaving only the sound of our breathing in the stillness. We sat on the edge of the bed, the space between us growing smaller with each passing moment, as if our hearts were speaking to each other in silence.

"Ryan, I,m a little nervous," Celeste murmured, a flicker of unease in her eyes.

I gently took her hand, feeling the faint warmth of her palm."Don,t worry, everything will be alright," I whispered, striving to ease her tension.

She nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly leaned closer to me. In that instant, time seemed to stand still, and the world faded into the background, leaving only the two of us. We held each other tightly, feeling the rhythm of our hearts and the warmth of our embrace, as if our souls were intertwined in that fleeting moment.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm, dappled glow across the room. I slowly opened my eyes and found Celeste peacefully lying in my arms, a contented smile playing on her lips. Her breathing was soft and steady, like a kitten nestled within my embrace. I gently eased myself away, careful not to disturb her slumber, and rose to check the time—8 o,clock.

Today, I had decided not to go to work. To hell with work, to hell with Sophie. The thought of Sophie sent a chill through my chest. Her stern gaze and icy demeanor were like a blade, always piercing through my defenses, leaving me exposed and vulnerable. Celeste seemed to sense the shift in my mood, her sleepy eyes fluttering open as she softly asked,"What,s wrong, Ryan?"

I smiled and shook my head, gently stroking her cheek, savoring the warmth and softness of her skin."Nothing, just thinking I might skip work today and spend a little more time with you."

She hugged me tighter, as though wanting to fuse with me, her voice tinged with concern and reluctance."You should go to work, or Sophie will be very upset."

I ran my fingers through her silky hair, its texture as smooth as satin, and softly asked,"Are you all afraid of her?"

"Everyone respects her, though we do fear her," Celeste replied, her voice gentle yet resolute, her eyes reflecting a sense of admiration."She is meticulous about her work, but she cares deeply for how her employees are treated."