I Promised You......

Next morning......

Elara sat alone in her room, lost in a daze, barely able to muster the will to move. The same dream had haunted her again last night, lingering with a heaviness she couldn’t shake.

Today, the weight of it felt unbearable, pressing down on her heart as though it might break. Tears slipped silently down her cheeks, and she barely noticed them.

“Why is he trying to interfere, Mom?” she whispered to herself, voice cracking as she spoke into the emptiness. “Mrs. Thronefield fought so hard to come through all of it. Doesn’t he see how much it would hurt her?”

She closed her eyes, clenching her fists in a desperate attempt to hold onto the strength she had left. “I promised you, Mom. I promised I’d protect them, all of them. No matter what, I won’t let anyone hurt our family.”

Her words, though brave, couldn’t match the ache within. The pain was too raw, too deep. Without thinking, Elara pressed her face into her pillow, letting out a wave of sobs that she’d held back for so long.

She cried until her memories, both beautiful and painful, blurred together in a haze. Memories of her mother’s warmth, of the promises they’d shared, of everything she had vowed to protect.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally sat up, her eyes swollen and red. She forced herself to breathe deeply, one breath at a time, until she felt steady enough to move.

She freshened up slowly, trying to let the water wash away the traces of her sorrow. Looking at her reflection, she straightened herself with a resolve she didn’t fully feel but was determined to show.

When she reached for her phone, she noticed five missed calls from Alex. She felt a pang of guilt, knowing he must have been worried.

Just as she was about to call him back, a message popped up: "I’ll be near the car soon."

Elara took a breath, deciding she couldn’t keep everything bottled up any longer. She hurried to meet him.

When Alex saw her approaching, he raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised to see her dressed in simple, casual clothes instead of her usual work attire.

Before he could say a word, Elara closed the distance between them and hugged him tightly, wrapping her arms around him as if he were her anchor.

Alex froze for a moment, caught off guard. But then, without hesitation, he hugged her back, his embrace warm and reassuring. He held her close, not asking questions, just letting her lean into him.

“What’s going on, my love?” he finally asked gently, stroking her hair. “You seem different today. Are you… are you okay?”

Elara pulled back slightly, brushing away the last tear clinging to her cheek, and nodded. “Yes, I’m okay,” she said softly, managing a small, fragile smile. “I just… I wanted to spend some time with you today. I’m planning a little something for tonight, actually. So, I’m skipping the office. And you,” she added, pointing a playful finger at him, “you have to come home early. It’s our first dinner night together.”

A warm grin spread across Alex’s face as he lifted her chin, looking into her eyes with genuine care. “As you wish, ma’am,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

They stood together for a moment longer, then slowly let go, each feeling a little lighter. With one last lingering smile, they said their goodbyes, both secretly eager for the evening ahead.

Elara returned to her flat, feeling determined. She wanted to make tonight special and a memory they’d both hold close. She started planning quickly, deciding to set up her cozy flat for a romantic date.

Her thoughts wandered as she wrote down a list of decorations: soft candles, fresh flowers, string lights. She wanted everything to feel warm and welcoming. Satisfied with her list, she grabbed her bag and went out to buy what she needed.

At the same time, Alex was at the office, looking tense. Anyone could see he was lost in thought, his face showing all his worries. He muttered to himself, trying to make sense of it all.

“What should I even focus on first?” he sighed, rubbing his temples. “There’s so much work, with deadlines everywhere, and it feels like it’ll never end. Then there’s my family…”

He sighed again. “My sister is dating that guy I can’t stand, and Mom’s so worried. She even wants me to marry her friend’s daughter. And then, there’s Elara.”

He paused, thinking of her. Even Elara had seemed distant lately, wrapped up in something he couldn’t quite figure out.

Guilt pricked at him. “Maybe she’s waiting for me to ask what’s on her mind. And I’ve been too caught up in my own problems…” He sighed again. “Tonight, I’ll find out. I’ll ask her everything. It’s our first real dinner date, so I should get her something nice. A special gift.”

Determined, Alex looked at his unfinished work and tackled his emails quickly, finishing as much as he could before lunchtime.

As soon as he could leave, he slipped out, already thinking about the gift he’d get her.

Elara, meanwhile, was busy turning her flat into a beautiful scene. She worked with focus, pouring all her worries into making everything perfect. By the time she finished, the place looked warm and inviting.

The candlelight flickered softly, filling the room with a soft glow, while the faint scent of flowers floated in the air.

Elara took a deep breath, looking around at her work. She felt a bit of peace. “Everything’s ready,” she whispered to herself. “Now, I just need to get ready.”

While she prepared, Alex was on his own mission. He’d spent over three hours searching for a perfect gift, wanting something that would show just how much he cared.

Finally, he found it, a delicate necklace with a small pendant that seemed made just for her. It was almost six when he finished, so he stopped by his friend’s place to freshen up and change.

As the sun set, Alex made his way to Elara’s flat, his heart beating a little faster with each step. Standing at her door, he took a deep breath and rang the bell, holding the small gift box tightly in his hand.

When Elara opened the door, he was left speechless......