Chapter 14: Past Is Back

Varany expected to find a secret.

Maybe even another woman.

But when she stepped outside, she found something completely different.

The pool was covered with rose petals.

A small table had been prepared for two, with candles flickering softly in the middle. Gentle music played in the background.

For a moment, Varany forgot how to breathe.

Bradly stood near the speaker, watching her and waiting.

Then he walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her.

Tight, but careful.

Like he was still afraid she might disappear again.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered.

His voice cracked.

“I'm sorry for hurting you and for shouting last night.”

Varany stayed still.

Bradly held her a little tighter.

“I acted like a jerk,” he continued. “I'm so angry with myself right now.”

He took a shaky breath.

“Just listen to the song.”

The music continued as Bradly lowered his voice.

“This is how I felt when you left me.”

Varany's chest tightened.

“I thought I needed to let you go for a while,” he admitted. “But when you really left, I almost lost my mind.”

Varany slowly looked at him.

Bradly pulled back slightly, and she saw the pain in his eyes.

“I know I hurt you,” he said. “More than you ever deserved.”

His voice became quieter.

“When I was younger, I made mistakes. I had other relationships.”

Varany stiffened.

Bradly noticed immediately.

“But I could never betray you like that,” he said quickly. “Never.”

His eyes stayed on hers.

“Your parents wanted you to focus on your future first. They didn't want us rushing into marriage or starting a family.”

He gave a bitter laugh.

“But I already wanted a life with you.”

Varany's heart skipped.

“Completely.”

Bradly looked away for a moment.

“It was hard loving you while feeling like I had to wait,” he admitted. “Sometimes, I let that frustration affect the way I treated you.”

Silence settled between them.

Bradly looked back at her.

“I know that's not an excuse.”

It wasn't.

Varany knew that.

But hearing him finally admit it still mattered.

Bradly ran a hand through his hair.

Then his expression changed.

“That night...” he whispered.

Varany's breath caught.

“The girl at the house.”

Her entire body went still.

“I thought it was you when I opened the door,” Bradly said.

Varany's chest tightened.

“But when she kissed me...”

His voice broke.

“I froze.”

He swallowed hard.

“And then you walked in.”

Varany closed her eyes.

The memory still hurt, even after all these years.

“I didn't understand what was happening,” Bradly continued. “Then you introduced her as the maid.”

A bitter smile touched his lips.

“And by then, it was already too late.”

“Like everything was normal.”

But nothing had been normal.

“You didn't give me a chance to explain,” Bradly said softly.

Varany opened her eyes.

“You ran.”

Her throat tightened.

“I went to your condo that night,” Bradly continued. “You wouldn't face me.”

He paused.

“And when you finally did, you had been drinking.”

Varany's heart sank.

“What you said that night...”

Bradly shook his head.

“I felt guilty. I was confused, and I was angry with myself.”

His voice dropped.

“And then we let our emotions take over.”

Varany's breath caught.

“I wanted to be close to you,” Bradly admitted. “I had missed you too much.”

Silence settled between them.

“But when I woke up...”

Bradly looked directly into her eyes.

“You were gone.”

Again.

“The second time,” he whispered.

Tears filled his eyes.

“And all you left me was a note.”

Varany's chest ached.

“Saying it was over.”

Bradly's voice cracked.

“It hurt, babe.”

A tear rolled down his cheek.

“It hurt so much.”

Varany could not hold back anymore.

Her own tears fell.

Bradly pulled her closer, and this time, she let him.

Varany buried her face against his chest and cried.

She cried for the past, for the years they had lost, and for all the love they had never known how to handle.

Bradly held her without saying anything.

They stayed that way for a long time.

Then Varany realized something she had never allowed herself to see before.

She had not been the only one who suffered.

Bradly had suffered too, even if he had handled it differently.

Maybe they had both loved each other in the wrong way.

Maybe they had hurt each other while trying to hold on.

But somehow, the love between them had never completely disappeared.

Varany slowly pulled away.

Her chest felt lighter.

Not healed.

Not completely.

But lighter.

Bradly gave her a small smile.

“You looked lost in your thoughts,” he murmured. “I've been calling your name.”

Varany blinked.

“Sorry,” she said quietly.

Bradly reached toward the table and picked up a bouquet of flowers.

They were simple and beautiful.

He handed them to her.

Varany looked at them for a moment before accepting them.

“Thank you.”

Bradly smiled.

“Where's our princess?”

“Ashley and Xander took her out earlier,” Varany replied.

Then she looked at him.

“You're home early.”

Bradly's expression softened.

His eyes stayed on her.

“I already miss you.”

Varany's heart skipped.

This time, she did not look away.

“There was nothing important at the office,” Bradly added softly. “So I came home.”

Silence settled between them.

Varany knew herself too well. If she allowed herself to believe him again and gave him her whole heart, she did not know if she could survive being hurt a second time.

Bradly leaned closer and kissed her softly.

Varany's lips curved into a small smile.

Since she came back, Bradly had been trying.

Really trying.

For her.

For Nihan.

They went to church together, took quiet walks, and spent simple days as a family. They were small things, but they were the things Varany had once dreamed about.

She slowly closed her eyes.

If only they could stay like this.

No painful memories.

No fear.

Just them.

Bradly sat beside her on the hammock and pulled her into his arms.

Varany let out a deep breath and relaxed against him.

“That was a deep sigh,” Bradly murmured. “Is something wrong?”

Varany shook her head.

“No,” she whispered.

She did not want to say anything else and ruin the moment.

Bradly kissed her forehead.

After a few quiet seconds, he spoke again.

“Babe.”

Varany opened her eyes.

“Nihan isn't here.”

She frowned slightly.

“Get dressed,” Bradly said. “Let's go on a date.”

Varany blinked.

“A date?”

“With me?” she asked with a small laugh.

Bradly smiled.

“Yes. Just us.”

Her heart fluttered.

“This is the first time you've ever asked me out,” she teased.

Bradly stepped closer.

“Then I want to make it special.”

Varany could not stop herself from smiling.

She quickly kissed him before rushing inside to get ready.

Later that evening, they arrived at an elegant restaurant.

Soft lights filled the room, and quiet music played in the background.

Everything felt calm and romantic.

Until Varany stepped inside.

She noticed people looking at her.

At first, she tried to ignore them.

But the longer she stood there, the more aware she became of the eyes following her.

Still, Varany only looked at one person.

Bradly.

The moment he saw her, his entire face lit up.

He looked at her as if she were the only woman in the room.

For one beautiful second, that was enough.

Bradly pulled out her chair and helped her sit.

Varany smiled.

Then she noticed something.

Women were staring at Bradly.

Men were staring at her.

Something inside Varany shifted.

“What?” Bradly asked.

Varany narrowed her eyes.

“Did you bring me here so you could flirt with other women?”

Her voice was quiet, but there was a clear warning in it.

Bradly sighed.

“Look around.”

Varany frowned before slowly looking around the restaurant.

Her chest tightened.

“They're staring at you too,” Bradly said, his jaw tightening. “I feel like punching every man here for looking at you like that.”

Varany froze.

Then she understood.

He was jealous.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

“I didn't even notice them,” she said softly.

Bradly looked at her.

Varany held his gaze.

“I was too busy looking at you.”

For a second, Bradly simply stared at her.

Then the tension in his face eased.

“And why would I look at anyone else?” Varany added. “I'm happy with you.”

She meant it.

Bradly smiled.

That smile still had the power to make her heart betray her.

They ordered their food and spent the evening talking and laughing about simple things.

Nothing dramatic happened.

But somehow, that made the night feel even more special.

For the first time in years, they felt like themselves again.

Not broken.

Not distant.

Not angry.

Just Bradly and Varany.

Varany watched him laugh and listened as he talked. The man she had once loved more than anything was slowly finding his way back into her heart.

This was what she had wanted.

What she had waited for.

What she had fought for.

Then another thought came.

What if it didn't last?

Her fingers tightened around her glass.

She kept smiling, but the fear had already returned.

The happier she became with Bradly, the more she had to lose.

She looked across the table.

Bradly was still smiling at her, still looking at her as if she were the only person in the room.

And Varany finally admitted the truth to herself.

She was falling for him again.

This time, there was no pretending otherwise.

Varany was already falling too deep.

And if Bradly broke her heart again, she knew she might not have anything left to give.

She lowered her eyes.

She did not notice Bradly's smile slowly fade.

She did not notice his phone light up beside his hand.

She did not see the name on the screen.

A name from the past.

A name connected to the events that had once torn them apart.

Bradly quickly turned the phone face down.

But it was already too late.

The past had found them again.