Chapter 20%
I pulled away from him–slow, hesitant, but certain.
“Riley,” I said quietly, still feeling the weight of his kiss on my lips. “This is… wrong.”>
He looked at me with that patient gentleness I’d grown used to, the kind of calm that always made me feel seen. “Why?“}
“Because I’m scared,” I admitted. “Of everything.”}
I turned my gaze away. “People are already talking. The fight with Kier, the scandal at the office. The way they look at me… like I’m some woman who just strolled in and took over. And now this–us? They won’t stop talking. They’ll say I’m the reason someone got fired. They’ll say I’m here because of you. Not my work.”
Riley didn’t interrupt. He just let me speak.
I swallowed. “What if it ruins the business?”
For a moment, the silence stretched. Then his voice broke through–low and steady.
“We’re too old to be scared of people who don’t live our lives, Erika.“}
I looked at him again.”
“You’ve spent so many years worrying about everyone but yourself,” he continued. “What if–for once–you chose happiness? Yours. Not anyone else’s.“}
I didn’t answer. I didn’t know how. The truth was–I wanted it. I wanted him. But I had lived a life of self–denial. Of sacrifice. I didn’t know how to simply want something for myself anymore.
So I just nodded faintly, even if my heart wasn’t sure yet.”
Over the next few days, I remained in the hospital, and Riley never left. He brought my favorite books, sat beside me during meals, answered calls for me when I didn’t want to speak to anyone. He handled everything quietly, like he didn’t need to prove anything–but still wanted me to see he was there.
When the day of my discharge finally came, he wheeled me out himself, his hand resting gently on mine.}
“I think you can return to the office soon,” he said as we got into the car. “Everything’s calmer now.“>
I glanced at him. “No one will bother me again?”}
Riley’s jaw tensed, but his eyes stayed warm. “No one will ever harm you again.“}
“What do you mean?“}
He didn’t speak immediately. Then he finally said, “I know who sabotaged your design during the show.“>
My stomach tightened.}
“It was Maureen.”
I blinked. “Maureen?“}
“She confessed after a little pressure,” he said calmly. “She was jealous. She wanted your position, and… she liked me.“}
The pieces fell into place.”
“She did it because of me?” I asked, stunned.&–
“She thought hurting you would get my attention,” he said. “But she misjudged everything. I never doubted you, Erika. Not for a second.“> “But…” I hesitated. “You fired her?“>
“Yes.“2
“But it’s your company. Your name. That’s a loss.”
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled something out.”
“No,” he said, voice unwavering. “It’s never a loss when it comes to you.“}
And then he opened his hand.
A ring
My breath caughtE
“I want to be with you, Enka,” Riley said, his eyes fixed on mine. “I know it’s fast. Maybe too fast. But life doesn’t wait anymore. We’ve both waited enough. I like you–I’ve liked you since college. You were this quiet genius in the corner sketching things no one else could even imagine. I never said a word back then, but I always wondered what happened to you.“”
My heart pounded &
“And now I know. You survived. You became stronger. You’re here. And I don’t want to lose you again.”
He held out the ring.
I stared at it.
At him.
It wasn’t just about the gesture. It wasn’t even about the timing. It was about how he made me feel–safe, seen, loved, even when i didn’t feel like I deserved it.
And maybe it was too soon.
But maybe, I thought, at our age, the biggest risk wasn’t falling again–but not choosing to love when you finally could.
Sol smiled. eves wet. and whispered. “Yes.“%
2:39 PM
So I smiled, eyes wet, and whispered, “Yes.“}
Because even if I didn’t know what the future held, I knew this-
Riley got it.”
And I was willing to take the risk…
