Chapter Sixty

OPHELIA

"Right, and that is all?" I said, somehow shielding the hope in my voice well enough that he didn't detect it.

There was another moment of silence, and I realized that I was still holding Nicholas's present in my hand so I stared at it.

Why would he even bring me a present? I asked myself.

"Please open it," he said and I noticed that his voice was quiet and pleading. I glanced up. "Then I will leave."

"Fine," I agreed.

A flicker of a smile appeared on his face, and my heart fluttered in response. Wow, it was still there.

"Ophelia!"

There was a pounding on the door and I let out an irritated sigh before I spoke to Nicholas.

"Stay for the gift opening, and then..." I trailed off as the thought of him leaving my life once more brought pain to my heart even after weeks of coming to terms with the end of our relationship.

As he nodded solemnly, I finally opened the door and stepped into the living room once more. Everyone's eyes were on us as we finally joined the circle fo