The morning sun cast a golden glow across the Sanchez estate as Lauren sat in the garden, sipping tea and waiting for her brother’s return. She had missed him dearly during his long trip abroad. The familiar hum of an approaching car broke the stillness, and she jumped to her feet with excitement.
“Lauren!” her brother, Daniel Sanchez, called as he stepped out of the sleek black car. He was as striking as ever, tall and confident, his warm smile filling the distance between them. Lauren rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. “I can’t believe you’re back,” she said, tears pricking her eyes. “And I didn’t come alone,” Daniel chuckled, motioning toward the young woman stepping gracefully from the car. “Meet Celine, my fiancée.” Celine offered a polite smile, her elegance matching Daniel’s composure. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you, Lauren. Daniel talks about you all the time.” Lauren returned the sThe courtyard glimmered under the soft glow of lanterns, casting long shadows across the cobblestone path. The faint scent of blooming jasmine drifted on the warm night air, carrying with it the quiet serenity of a world paused just for them. Louis and Lauren stepped outside, hands brushing, fingers lacing together naturally, as though they had always been meant to fit that way.Lauren leaned lightly against his chest, her head resting there, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Each pulse was a silent promise, a rhythm that anchored her amidst the storm of her emotions. Louis tightened his hand around hers ever so slightly, a small but powerful reassurance.“I love you,” Louis murmured, his voice low and vibrating through her chest. “I’ve always loved you, Lauren. I can’t wait… I can’t wait to make you completely mine. To show you a life that’s just ours, free from shadows, free from doubts.”Lauren closed her eyes, letting his words seep into every
The restaurant was as private and serene as he had hoped. The table at the far end was set with perfection: flickering candles, fine china, and a single bouquet of her favourite roses. Louis glanced around once, ensuring the staff had everything in place, and then allowed himself a moment to imagine Lauren stepping through the door.The thought of her—nervous, smiling, unsure—made his chest tightened with a mixture of longing and adoration. He rehearsed what he wanted to say, each word a thread meant to pull her closer, to show her the depth of his heart without scaring her away.And then he heard the soft click of the entrance doors.Lauren.She moved gracefully, her presence illuminating the space in a way that no candle or chandelier could. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then smiled when her eyes met his. Louis felt that familiar surge in his chest, the one that made his pulse quicken, and his hands slightly tremble.“Hi,” s
Louis’s POVThe mirror reflected a man who looked calm, but Louis knew the storm beneath his chest would betray him if anyone drew too close. His hands lingered on the cufflinks longer than necessary, steadying the tremor that threatened to give away the emotions rushing inside.Tonight was only preparation, but his heart beat as if he were already standing in front of her. Tomorrow would be their dinner—just the two of them. He had already booked out the entire restaurant. Nothing would interrupt them. No eyes watching, no walls between them. Just Lauren, his Lauren.As he adjusted his tie, his mind slipped into a daydream he could no longer restrain.He saw Lauren across a candlelit table, not as Richard’s wife, but as his. Her laughter was freer, her eyes lighter, no longer dulled by the burden of wearing someone else’s ring. In his imagination, she reached for his hand, no fear, no guilt—just love. And when she whispered his name, it wasn’t la
The untouched whiskey on the table in front of him glistened in the dim light, but Richard had no appetite for it. He had spent the last three nights here, trying to outrun the thoughts that refused to leave him. The divorce papers Lauren had handed him still lay folded in his briefcase—a silent accusation, a demand he had yet to answer. He wasn’t ready to sign. But he also wasn’t ready to fight. He buried his face in his hands and sighed. He missed her. The quietness of her presence, the way she moved around him without judgment, without pretense. But missing her didn’t mean he loved her… did it? Richard had built his life on certainty—numbers, contracts, calculated risks. Yet when it came to Lauren, certainty dissolved into a haze of confusion. Did he ever truly love her, or was it just the comfort of having someone beside him when the world felt too heavy? His phone buzzed on the table, breaking into his storm of thought
The evening breeze drifted through the open balcony doors, carrying with it the faint fragrance of the garden roses. Lauren stood against the railing, her hands loosely wrapped around the iron bars as she stared at the horizon. The golden light of sunset had faded into shades of violet and blue, a calm canvas that mirrored the stillness she desperately sought. Yet, within her chest, her heart beat restlessly.The day had been heavy, though it ended with a measure of peace. Still, echoes of Mrs. Moore’s tears and her own trembling words lingered in her mind. For the first time in a long while, Lauren had spoken with clarity about what she wanted for herself. But admitting it aloud also left her vulnerable—exposed to judgment, whispers, and the storm she knew was yet to come.Her phone buzzed softly in her palm. The name on the screen made her heart leap. Louis.She pressed the answer button and brought it to her ear, her voice quieter than the breeze. “Hell
The morning sun cast a golden glow across the Sanchez estate as Lauren sat in the garden, sipping tea and waiting for her brother’s return. She had missed him dearly during his long trip abroad. The familiar hum of an approaching car broke the stillness, and she jumped to her feet with excitement. “Lauren!” her brother, Daniel Sanchez, called as he stepped out of the sleek black car. He was as striking as ever, tall and confident, his warm smile filling the distance between them. Lauren rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. “I can’t believe you’re back,” she said, tears pricking her eyes. “And I didn’t come alone,” Daniel chuckled, motioning toward the young woman stepping gracefully from the car. “Meet Celine, my fiancée.” Celine offered a polite smile, her elegance matching Daniel’s composure. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you, Lauren. Daniel talks about you all the time.” Lauren returned the s