Ryan and Rose had retired to their room, and Sarah had left half an hour ago after a captivating conversation about a book, her happiness palpable. Content for her, I was about to turn in myself when Eva stirred. Now, I find myself pacing the room, trying every trick in the book to coax her back to sleep—from humming lullabies to contemplating what Mia would have done in moments like these. Mia, who barely had minutes with her daughter before she passed away post-delivery, is a constant presence in my thoughts. She was the only one who ever diverted my mind from Sarah, even for a while.

The memory of the day I planned to propose to Sarah still haunts me. That day, my world crumbled when she introduced me to Nathan, revealing a three-year-long relationship I knew nothing about. "Afnan, meet Nathan, my fiancé," she had said, her arm looped through his. Nathan extended his hand, and I shook it, masking my devastation with a forced smile before excusing myself to find David.

"I lost, bro," I confessed to him.

"What do you mean 'lost'?" David questioned, puzzled.

"She's engaged," I said flatly.

"Who? Sarah? To whom?" he pressed.

"That guy with her," I answered, feeling a lump in my throat.

David's offer came from a place of loyalty, albeit misplaced. "You want me to take care of him?"

I shook my head. "No, her happiness is what matters."

David scoffed, "Bro, this isn't some drama or movie where you nobly step aside."

"Even if I were to confront him, and Sarah found out, it wouldn't change her feelings. Why would I want her to hate me?" My words were heavy with resignation, knowing that the right thing was often the hardest. My loyalty wasn't to pride or retaliation but to Sarah's happiness, even if it meant standing in the shadows of her life with Nathan. Three long years had passed since the incident during our school project, and throughout that time, David had been urging me to propose to her. If only I had heeded his advice sooner. Instead, I waited for the perfect moment, oblivious to the ticking of time until opportunities slipped through my fingers, leaving me with regret as my only companion. That day, I learned a harsh truth: no perfect moment exists. You seize the moment and mold it into perfection.

But by the time I realized this, it was too late. With a heavy heart, I retreated to the solace of my home, focusing all my energy on completing my semester and earning my graduation. In the midst of it all, I distanced myself from both Sarah and David, burying the pain of what could have been beneath the weight of unfinished dreams.

After graduation and my buddy Peter, I decided to take a shot at this whole business thing. We had this idea, you know, something we believed in, something we thought could make a difference. So, we rolled up our sleeves and dove right in.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

It wasn't smooth sailing, not by a long shot. We hit roadblocks, faced setbacks, you name it. But we didn't let that stop us. We had each other's backs, pushing through the tough times with grit and determination.

And you know what? All that hard work paid off. Our company started gaining momentum, our idea started to take shape. We poured everything we had into it, fueled by our shared vision and passion.

Then, bam! It happened. Our company blew up and became a big deal practically overnight. Me and Peter, were millionaires, living the dream we'd always talked about.

Lost in a haze of thoughts, I watched as Eve's cries pierced through the silence once again. Suddenly, Sarah emerged from her bedroom, offering to soothe our restless little one. I handed Eve over to her, grateful for the relief, and Sarah disappeared into her room with the babe in her arms. Left alone with my thoughts, I sank into the couch, exhaustion pulling me under.

When I woke, startled by the darkness of the room, I checked the time—2 am. As I gathered my bearings, I noticed Sarah's bedroom door ajar. Intrigued, I ventured inside, finding Eve cradled in Sarah's arms, their peaceful slumber a stark contrast to the chaos of my mind. I took a seat in the armchair, bathed in the soft glow of the room, and watched them, their connection palpable.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," Sarah's voice broke through the silence, offering me a cup of coffee. Gratefully, I accepted, my curiosity piqued. "Where's Eve?" I inquired.

"She's with Morgan," Sarah replied, settling into the armchair beside me.

"Wanna talk?" I ventured, sensing her hesitation. I set my coffee aside, reaching for her hands.

"You can open up to me, you know. I might be able to help," I offered gently.

Her resolve wavered, and she nodded hesitantly. "Okay, ask me what you wanna know," she consented.

Taking a deep breath, I broached the delicate topic. "You did this to yourself?" I asked, my heart aching at the tears that welled in her eyes.

A solitary tear trailed down her cheek as she nodded. "Nathan," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Don't cry," I murmured, offering her comfort. "Just tell me what happened."

And then she poured out her heart, her pain and anguish raw and palpable. My heart clenched at the thought of her suffering. "Hey, listen to me closely," I interjected firmly. "Giving someone a second chance is like giving them another bullet because they missed the first one. It's up to you now."

With those words, I left her to wrestle with her demons, the weight of her turmoil heavy on my mind. As I stepped out into the night, the chaos of my thoughts threatened to overwhelm me, but I knew that some battles were meant to be fought alone.