Chapter 10

Mia’s POV

The shrill ring of my alarm shattered the silence of the early morning.

“Oh my gosh… it's morning already,” I groaned, dragging myself out of bed. I hated waking up early, especially on cold mornings like this one. But I had no choice, my boss was a strict man with zero tolerance for tardiness. One minute late, and you'd get a lecture loud enough to echo through the entire office.

With a heavy sigh, I forced myself out of bed and walked into the bathroom. The warm water from the shower helped me feel slightly more awake, washing away the sleep from my eyes and the weight from yesterday’s drama. After dressing in my work attire, I headed into the kitchen to prepare a quick breakfast. My routine was always the same, make breakfast, check on Serah, then dash out the door.

Once I finished eating, I walked quietly toward Serah’s room. I pushed the door open gently and found her still fast asleep. She looked so peaceful, like a child again. Her breathing was soft and steady, her expression calm. It had been a while since I saw her this way, and the sight brought a quiet relief to my heart.

I sat beside her and gently tapped her cheek. “Serah,” I called softly, brushing hair from her face.

She stirred and slowly opened her eyes. “Sister… you're already leaving?” she asked, her voice husky and sleepy.

“Yes, the breakfast is ready, as usual,” I replied with a small smile.

“Thanks, sister. I’ll eat later. I still feel sleepy,” she mumbled, turning slightly in bed.

“That’s okay. Just rest,” I said as I stood. “One more thing, I might be late getting back this evening.”

She squinted at me curiously. “Where will you go?”

I hesitated for a moment. “I’ll tell you when I get back,” I said vaguely. I wasn’t ready to explain that I’d be meeting Brandon.

“Okay, sister. Stay safe today,” she said, her voice soft and sincere.

“Same to you. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me,” I told her, then gently closed the door behind me. I glanced at the time, I was already running late.

Later that evening

Work was finally done, and I couldn’t help but feel the tension building in my chest as I entered the cab. Brandon had texted me the hotel location earlier, and I knew this meeting was going to stir up everything I had tried to bury.

After about ten minutes, the cab pulled up in front of the hotel. I walked in with hesitant steps, and the receptionist kindly guided me to Brandon’s room. My heart was pounding the entire time. When I opened the door, there he was, standing tall with a warm smile, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw me.

“Welcome, my queen. I’ve been waiting for you forever,” he said, walking toward me. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t come.”

Before I could say anything, he pulled me into a tight hug. I froze for a second, then relaxed into his arms. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed him until that moment.

“Brandon… that’s enough now. Let me go,” I whispered, trying to resist the feelings rushing through me.

He pulled back slightly but kept his eyes locked on mine. “Haven’t you missed me, Mia?” he asked, his voice low and tender.

I nodded slowly. “I have missed you, but… it’s better for us to stay away from each other,” I said, trying to remind myself of the reasons we parted.

“But I can’t do that,” Brandon insisted, his tone growing intense. “I love you, Mia. I think about you all the time. I can’t pretend anymore. Please, I just want to feel you close to me again.”

“Brandon…” I tried to argue, but he gently silenced me by placing a finger over my lips.

“Don’t say anything. Just let me love you… just for tonight,” he said, leaning in for a kiss.

His lips found mine, and all my resistance melted away. His touch made me forget the world. I stopped thinking, stopped worrying, I let the moment consume me.

I knew it was wrong. My mind screamed at me to stop, but my heart betrayed me. His presence, his warmth, the passion in his eyes, it overwhelmed me. And so, I gave in.

We made love. It was gentle, passionate, and everything I had longed for. For a little while, I was transported into a world where nothing else existed except the two of us. Brandon had that effect on me, he made me feel alive, special and loved.

When it was over, we lay there in silence, tangled in each other’s arms.

“Baby… that was wonderful,” Brandon said, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Thank you for coming.”

I smiled, resting my head on his chest. “It was amazing. I’ve missed you so much, baby.”

“No more hiding,” he whispered. “So… when can I see you again?”

I hesitated. “I don’t know, Brandon. We’ll arrange something. But… how are things with your divorce?”

“Soon, baby. Very soon, we’ll be officially separated. Then, you and I won’t have to meet in secret anymore. We’ll be free.”

“I want that too,” I said. “I hate the sneaking around. I just want to be able to love you freely, without fear or shame.”

“I promise you, Mia. That day is coming,” he said, holding me tighter.

After a few minutes, I checked the time. “It’s getting late, baby. I should go. Serah is home alone, I need to check on her. I hope she’s okay.”

Brandon nodded. “Yeah… I need to get home too. But thank you for coming. I’ll never forget this night.”

I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. When I was done, I dressed quietly, and before leaving, I kissed him one more time. There was still so much I didn’t understand about our situation… but one thing was clear: I loved him.

As I walked out of the hotel and into the night, I hoped Serah was doing okay. I had promised her I’d be there, and I intended to keep that promise.

But right now, my heart was full of conflicting emotions. Love. Guilt. Longing. Hope.

And a quiet prayer that maybe… just maybe… this story would have a happy ending.