Semua Bab The Apology That Came Too Late : Bab 1 - Bab 10

Old Wounds, New ScarsElena POVI escaped the ballroom the first chance I got. The laughter inside had become suffocating, each cheerful voice pressing against the fragile wall of composure I had spent years building. Smiles were easy to fake for strangers even for family, but pretending my heart hadn't nearly stopped the moment I saw Adrian Kane again? That required a strength I wasn't sure I still possessed.The cool night air greeted me like an old friend.I stepped onto the stone terrace and drew a slow, deliberate breath, hoping it would steady the storm raging inside me.Beyond the terrace stretched the estate's gardens, illuminated by lanterns that cast pools of golden light along winding pathways.White roses climbed elegant arches, and a marble fountain stood at the centre, its gentle trickle the only sound that seemed untouched by celebration.Sophia had always loved this place.When they were children, she used to tell me that one day she would get married somewhere that l

The Confession 2Adrian watched her in silence, the words "Protect me"? hanging between them like an unanswered prayer.Elena's fingers tightened around the strap of her clutch. Part of her wanted to demand an explanation. The wiser part, the part that had painstakingly rebuilt her life after he left warned her not to believe anything he said."You expect me to believe that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper."No," Adrian admitted. "Not yet."The honesty in his answer caught her off guard."I don't expect you to believe me because I say the words. I expect you to judge me by what I do from this moment forward."She folded her arms across her chest again, using the gesture like armour."You've had years to do something.""I know.""There it is again." Her eyes flashed with frustration. "You keep saying you know, but you don't.""I don't know everything you went through," he said quietly. "I only know I caused it."For a moment, neither of them spoke.The fountain continued

Elena barely slept.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the message again.You should have left him in the past.She had deleted it before sunrise, but deleting the message hadn't erased the uneasiness it had left behind.Someone had warned her.Someone knew about Adrian.And somehow, that frightened her more than she wanted to admit.By morning, however, the house was already alive with activity.Sophia's wedding celebrations were still in full swing, and there were relatives moving in and out of rooms, laughing, taking pictures, and discussing plans for the rest of the day.Elena forced herself to participate.She smiled when someone took her picture. She laughed when Sophia teased her.She helped with a few arrangements and pretended everything was normal.But every few minutes, her eyes wandered toward the crowd, looking for him, and she hated herself for it.Adrian wasn't there. At least, not yet.Elena told herself that was a good thing.She needed space. She needed to forget

Five years earlier, Elena had no idea that an ordinary afternoon was about to change the course of her life.She had been running late.Not unusually late.Elena was almost always running late.She hurried through the entrance of the small café with a folder tucked beneath her arm and her handbag slipping from her shoulder. Her hair had escaped from the loose bun she had attempted that morning, and the expression on her face made it clear that she was already annoyed with herself.She stopped just inside the doorway and glanced around.The café was crowded.Of course it was.She had specifically chosen this place because it was supposed to be quiet.Apparently, the universe had other plans."Excuse me."A waiter nearly bumped into her."Sorry," Elena said quickly.She stepped aside and checked her phone.Three missed calls. She sighed."I know. I'm late."She muttered the words to herself before moving toward the counter."I'll have a coffee, please.""Anything else?""No. Actually..."

CHAPTER 9THE THING HE NEVER THREW AWAYElena stared at Adrian's last message long after the screen went dark, because some memories were the only things that kept me going.She had read it so many times that the words had begun to lose their meaning.Or perhaps they had gained too much meaning.She placed her phone on the bed and looked down at the silver bracelet still resting in her palm.She had given it to him five years ago.She had never imagined that he would still have it, she had never imagined that he would still have anything.After he disappeared, Elena had convinced herself that he had thrown everything away.The photographs, the letters, the little gifts she had given him, the memories, especially the memories. She had done the same. At least, she had tried. She had packed everything that reminded her of him into a box and pushed it into the back of a wardrobe. She hadn't destroyed the things because, at the time, she hadn't been strong enough. She had simply hidden the