Chapter Twenty-seven #2
Her lips twitched with amusement. “Not tonight.” Thank God.
I grinned. “In that case, shall we find somewhere quieter to catch up?”
She nodded, a mix of apprehension and curiosity on her face as I led her up the grand staircase, our steps echoing in the opulent space.
“Is this the room you take your random hookups to?” She asked, settling into a seat.
I rolled my eyes at her teasing, moving closer. “I don’t hook up.”
She studied me intently as if searching for truth in my words. “Solid argument.”
“Solid truth,” I corrected, taking a seat beside her. “But what brings you to the city?”
“Scenery,” she replied with a hint of playfulness, and I scoffed.
“You live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and you came here for scenery?”
“Yes,” she answered, her eyes dancing with mischief.
“You’ve always been a terrible liar.”
She rolled her eyes with a smile. “I’m here on business. Looking for a space for my boutique.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Expanding your empire?”
She nodded eagerly. “My fashion show was a success.”
“I know it was,” I said, admiring my tone.
“Why did you leave, Ronan?” Her voice held a seriousness that cut through the air, tinged with discomfort. “Why did you think I deserved that?”
I reached for her trembling hand, holding it gently in mine, searching for the right words. How could I express what needed to be said?
“You didn’t deserve that.” My voice was thick with regret. “I didn’t know how to handle my grief. I was afraid it would consume me, and I couldn’t bear to drag you down with me anymore. You deserved more than I could give you.”
“No,” she interrupted softly, her eyes pleading. “I knew you were hurting. I felt your pain, Ronan. I was willing to wait until you were better, for you, because I believed in us.”
“I can’t change the past, but I want to make things right now, Nina.”
She sighed, withdrawing her hand to wipe away a tear.
“Why didn’t you come back? Why did you stay away?
I spent so long wondering why you didn’t come back to me.
It tore me apart to see the person I love in such agony.
You knew the pain of loss. You were everything to me.
Why put me through that when you understand it so well? ”
Tears welled up in my eyes, her words piercing my heart. I felt defeated but also a strange relief that we were finally confronting this pain.
“I was ashamed,” I confessed, my voice breaking. “Seeing how your life had moved on, I didn’t feel worthy to be a part of it anymore.”
“What?” Her voice softened, filled with a mix of confusion and hurt.
“I was at your graduation,” I confessed, my voice laden with emotion.
“I was at the back of the crowd, Nina. I arranged the scholarship because I knew it was your dream. I remember those late nights we spent talking about the dreams you’re living now.
I sent you those bouquets, and I’ll never forget the way you smiled when I saw the video of you receiving them.
It’s been so long, but those memories are etched in my mind as vividly as if it were yesterday.
I didn’t deserve to be in the presence of the only girl I love, whose heart I broke. ”
“Ro—”
“Others might see it differently, but I know all you sacrificed for me,” I interrupted gently.
“You put your dreams on hold for me, to support me. You finished my final semester of med school on your own. I understand that now. I want a chance to prove I can love you the way you deserve to be loved. I’ve gotten better for you, and while your essence remains the same, you’ve grown too. ”
In all the years I’d known Nina, I’d never seen such a range of emotions cross her face. It was both overwhelming and impossible to describe.
“I… I don’t know what to say, Ronan.”
“You don’t have to say anything right now,” I reassured her, my own voice trembling. “Just know every word I’ve said, I mean with all my heart. I could never lie to you.”
As Nina’s words lingered, a storm of doubt and hope churned within me.
Doubt that my apologies could heal the hurt, but hope that she might see the sincerity in my eyes and give me a chance to prove myself.
I watched her closely, noting the subtle shifts in her expression—the trace of sadness, the glimmer of forgiveness—each one a step forward or back in our delicate dance of reconciliation.
“I know,” she repeated softly, her voice breaking through my thoughts. Her gaze held mine, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like the past and present converged, a bridge forming between our shared history and the uncertain future ahead. “I know you wouldn’t lie.”
“One night out before you leave?” I ventured, unsure if I was pushing too far.
“I leave tomorrow.”
“But you’ll be coming back, right?”
She nodded, “I have to.”
“Perfect. One night out during that time, then?”
“We’ll see.”
“We will.”
As she seemed about to say something more, Inaya called her, signaling it was time to go.
She stood up, smoothing her dress. “That’s my cue.”
“I can see that,” I replied, glancing at the clock and realizing how late it had become. “It’s getting late. I should head out, too.”
“Goodnight, Ronan,” she said, starting to move away.
I gently pulled on her hand, stopping her. “Wait.”
“Huh?” Her voice held a mix of curiosity and surprise.
Leaning in, I pressed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Goodnight, Nina,” I whispered, feeling a rush of warmth at the contact.
I didn’t know much after that, but all I knew was that behind those magnificent brown eyes, I saw hope, and as long as I had breath in my lungs and blood running through my veins, I’d cling to that hope.