Seven

Yo!

I took a deep breath as I descended the staircase. The morning light streamed through the tall windows, highlighting the warmth of the living room below. My heartbeat raced, I was nervous and anticipating how me and Ethan would talk.

Today, I’d have breakfast with Ethan. Maybe I’d finally learn about his work schedule, get the chance to actually talk to him.

Moving on after a week wasn’t such a bad idea. A week of trying to remind myself that Lucien was no longer a factor in my life, that his manipulations and arrogance didn’t have to dictate my mornings anymore. But, as much as I tried to push it away, a stubborn part of me knew I’d meet him again at some point, maybe by accident, or through some cruel twist of fate.

And I will always pray that when that happened, I shouldn’t tremble, shouldn’t falter, shouldn’t...

Holy father, why am I still thinking about him?

I shook my head as I reached the dining room, forcing my thoughts to focus on the present. And there he was, Ethan. My heart lurched for an entirely different reason now. He looked impeccable, dressed in a black suit, his tie perfectly knotted, his broad chest accentuated in a way that made it hard to breathe normally.

His presence was commanding, yet there was an understated warmth in the way he moved, the quiet ease in his gestures. I rolled my eyes at myself, he's too attractive, far too attractive for me to ignore but I had to control myself.

Focus, Aria.

“Good morning,” he greeted, and my nerves jumped at the sound of his voice. His eyes lingered on mine then he pulled out a chair for me beside him.

What a gentleman!

I smiled, feeling a twinge of warmth in my chest. He pulled out his chair and sat, his posture so effortlessly perfect it made me self-conscious. When has someone made me feel this… special? Even if it was a mundane breakfast, even if it was just us eating, this small act of kindness and attention ignited a spark I didn’t know I had missed so badly.

And then my mind betrayed me again, I thought about Lucien.

Oh, for the love of God, why is it always him? Why does that name refuse to vanish from my thoughts?

I clenched my fists under the table, willing myself to focus, willing myself not to think about the man who had once held my heart hostage. One week, Aria. One week of trying to remember that he was gone. That this, this smile, this kindness, this effortless warmth before me, was the present, not him.

“Aria…”

Ethan’s voice cut through the fog of my thoughts, and I flinched.

“Oh... uh... I’m sorry,” I said, forcing a smile. “It’s just... a lot on my mind.”

He nodded, not pushing it further, just accepting. Maybe because Devi told him about him, yeah that must be the reason, he just accepted.

He poured me a glass of juice, the sunlight catching on the pale orange liquid, and I gulped it down in one quick swallow. He didn’t look away. He just...watched, as if he could somehow see everything I was trying to hide.

“You’ll be fine,” he said softly, his voice low and reassuring, like a blanket against a cold wind. “It’s just a matter of time.”

I nodded, grateful for the gentleness, yet unable to stop the tightness in my chest.

“Thank you,” I murmured, picking up the cutlery and attempting to focus on the food before me.

We ate in a quiet rhythm at first, occasional glances that lingered just long enough to set my heart to beat faster. I wanted to talk to him, to break the silence, but every time I opened my mouth, words tangled in my throat. He seemed to sense it, leaning back slightly in his chair, giving me a patient smile that was frustratingly reassuring.

“What’s your favorite food?” he asked suddenly, breaking the gentle tension.

I hesitated. “I...don’t really have one,” I said, shrugging lightly. “I eat what I feel like, honestly.”

He smiled softly, and my stomach did a small, helpless flip. “That’s someone like me,” he said.

God, his smile, it was so soft, so warm, so disarmingly genuine. I had to look away.

“When is your birthday?” he asked next.

My lashes fluttered nervously. “I… don’t actually like sharing that,” I replied, hoping my tone sounded casual.

He laughed, lightly and teasingly. “Childish, Aria. Don’t tell me you don’t celebrate it?”

Childish? Me? I couldn’t help but let a small laugh escape despite feeling a bit offended.

“I was joking... it’s fine if you don’t feel like saying it.”

He raised his eyebrows, not in annoyance, but in playful curiosity.

“Let’s say it together then,” I said impulsively.

He tilted his head, intrigued. “Alright,” he agreed.

“One, two, go…”

“July 27…” we said in unison.

We both gasped, then burst into a fit of giggles.

“Oh my God,” he said, dropping his cutlery, grinning like a child who had just found a secret treasure.

“We’re birthday mates.” he said in between his giggles.

I nodded, beaming. A strange warmth blossomed in my chest. Somehow, this small coincidence made me feel closer to him, like a tiny thread connecting our worlds in a way I hadn’t expected.

The conversation settled into a comfortable rhythm after that. We talked about the strangest childhood memories, our weirdest habits, movies we hated but secretly loved, and little quirks that made each of us uniquely irritating and lovable at the same time. I found myself laughing more freely than I had in weeks, and every laugh seemed to chip away at the lingering tension that Lucien had left behind.

And yet, even as the morning passed, a quiet fear nagged at me. What if I let myself care too much? What if I allowed the warmth of Ethan’s attention to penetrate too deeply into a heart that was still bruised and fragile? I knew the answer to that was obvious, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the moment, from stealing glances at him when he wasn’t looking, from marveling at how easily he could make a room feel brighter just by existing in it.

“So,” he said casually, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms above his head, “what do you usually do on weekends?”

I chewed on my lower lip, thinking. “Usually...i just try to relax. Read, maybe watch something, go for walks if the weather’s nice.”

He nodded, eyes thoughtful. “I like walks too. Maybe...we could go together sometime?”

I froze mid-bite, my heart betraying me with a sudden, rapid flutter.

“Uh… yeah, that... that sounds nice,” I managed to say, voice a little shaky.

“Nice,” he repeated, with a knowing smile. “I like the way that word sounds coming from you.”

The breakfast continued, the conversation flowing easier with each passing minute. He had this effortless charm, the kind that didn’t feel calculated or forced, just natural. And every time he laughed, something in my chest loosened, a little bit of the heaviness that Lucien had left behind dissolving into the air.

We lingered over the last of our food, neither of us rushing to leave the table. Finally, I leaned back, sighing softly, feeling unusually content.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, not sure why I felt the need to say it again. “For...everything.”

He smiled, and it was the kind of smile that could melt a cold heart like mine.

“You don’t have to thank me, Aria...You deserve this. All of this. You deserve someone who sees you, Aria, don't think about anything, like I said it's a matter of time...” he. said softly.

I swallowed hard. His words were simple yet profound, it actually hit a place inside me, the place I had tried to bury. Lucien’s memory, the heartbreak, the betrayal, it all seemed to shrink in comparison to this moment. And yet… a part of me remained wary, scared to get attached.

Aria, it's just a day!

I looked down at my hands, then back at him, “I… I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to let someone care about me again.” my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan’s gaze softened, and he reached across the table, covering my hand with his. The warmth of his skin sent a shiver up my spine.

“Then we’ll take it slow,” he said. “No rush. No pressure. Just…me and you, Can we do that?”

I nodded, “Yeah… we can do that.

I took my phone, unblocked Lucien everywhere.

I'll live without Lucien, rebuild my life and make him watch it.