Quiet After The Storm

Chapter Ten - Quiet After the Storm

I couldn’t stop crying.

Even after they left, my tears kept falling, rolling down my face like the rain outside. My chest hurt, my throat burned, but the sobs would not stop. My body shook on the soft couch, but no comfort came.

Everything they said still echoed in my ears. Worthless. Nothing. Just a woman who stays at home.

Why did it hurt so much when I had already heard those words so many times before?

But this time, it was worse. Because he… Lucien… heard it too.

I buried my face in my hands, wishing the ground would just open and swallow me. I didn’t want him to see me like this. Weak. Broken. Humiliated.

“Alina…” His voice was soft. Not like before when he was sharp, strict, or cold. This time it was low, rough, like it carried my pain too.

I didn’t look up. I didn’t want to. But then I felt his hand on my shoulder. Warm. Steady. Gentle.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I never knew they would come. I never wanted you to face that again.”

My heart squeezed. His touch made me cry harder. I shook my head. “It’s not your fault,” I choked. “It’s me. It’s always me. I only bring trouble… shame… pain.”

He moved closer. His hand slid down, holding mine. His fingers were firm, like he was trying to keep me from falling apart. “Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that again. You’re not the one at fault. They are. Him. His family. Not you.”

The words broke something in me. Nobody had ever defended me like this. Nobody had ever said I wasn’t to blame.

I looked at him, finally, my eyes red and swollen, tears still falling. And when I saw his face, my heart jumped. His eyes… they were burning. Not with anger now, but with something deeper.

“Lucien…” I whispered his name without meaning to.

He raised his hand, slowly brushing a tear from my cheek. His thumb lingered, soft against my skin. My breath caught.

“You don’t deserve pain,” he said, his voice low, almost shaking. “You don’t deserve to be treated like that. You…” He stopped, as if searching for words. “…you deserve someone who will protect you. Always.”

“Lucien…” I whispered his name. My lips trembled. My chest ached.

He leaned closer. I could feel his breath on my face. His hand moved to the back of my neck, holding me, steadying me.

I froze, but I didn’t pull away. My eyes closed on their own.

Then, slowly… carefully… his lips touched mine.

It wasn’t rough. It wasn’t hungry. It was soft. Gentle. Like he was afraid I would shatter if he pressed too hard. His kiss carried warmth, safety, and something I had never felt before.

My heart raced. My whole body trembled. But I didn’t stop him. I let him kiss me, because in that moment, I needed it. I needed him.

I kissed him back. Weakly at first, then stronger. My tears slid down between us, but he didn’t care. His hand stayed at my neck, his lips moving slowly, tenderly against mine.

For the first time in so long, I didn’t feel worthless. I didn’t feel unloved. I felt seen.

But then… reality struck me like lightning.

I pulled back suddenly, gasping for breath. My hand went to my lips, my heart pounding so fast it hurt.

Lucien’s eyes searched mine, full of fire and something I couldn’t name. “Alina…” he whispered.

I shook my head, tears spilling again. “No… we can’t. We can’t do this.”

“Why?” His voice cracked, pained.

“Because…” I swallowed hard. The words burned as they came out. “Because you’re his uncle. And I’m still… his wife.”

Silence filled the room. Heavy. Sharp.

His jaw tightened. His hand curled into a fist. I could see the storm in his eyes, but he didn’t speak.

I turned away, hugging myself, shaking. My lips still burned from his kiss, but my heart felt torn in two.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

He stood slowly, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. He looked at me one last time, then said softly, “Rest now. I’ll stay close.”

And he walked away, leaving me with the taste of his kiss… and the weight of a truth I couldn’t escape.