ew days we

ng, the temptation to revisit the past, under layers of work and obligations. She had been good at that for the last three years-burying, compartme

wasn't as easy

his eyes. The rawness of it. The quiet honesty that had b

ary. It wasn't like her to let something like this get under her skin. She had worked too hard to build herself back up

to the office, followed by the clack of her

g a faint smile. "I'

er arms. "Bullshit. You've been dist

r between them. "I don't

s think about him when you d

t just about him. It's about me. About my l

e you up? Aria, come on, I'm not blind. I've seen how you are

efore she could stop herself. "I'm

gaze turning to something gentler. "Aria, I didn't

't know what I want anymore. He left me three years ago without a word, witho

same man you left." Maddie's voice was quiet now, almost too soft. "He looked... differen

respond. S

had seen right through her-the cracks in her composure, the subtle

down at the screen, her breath catching in her throat. It was a m

. Can we meet tomorrow? I'm sorry

the years of silence. And yet... a part of her couldn't help but feel a spark of hope, of c

creen over her shoulder. "Well, wel

the temptation to confront the past with everything she had learned in the time since their

o meet him?" Mad

o long pretending that she didn't need Damien. But the truth was, there was still a wound there, one that hadn't quite healed. May

it "r

But don't expect anything

sigh, feeling a mix of anticipatio

un was weak but persistent, casting long shadows across the sidewalk. It wasn't far from her office, but the familiarity of the loca

waiting to see him a

ri

ding, yet tinged with something else. Something that, for

under his eyes were more prominent now, though, a stark contrast to the man she had once known. He'd always been flawless in hi

teady despite the way her heart

s gaze fixed on her with an int

w I don't have the right to ask for your time

ything you needed to say, Damien. Three y

s before it was quickly masked. "I know. And I wish I cou

asked, her voice q

the rest of my life wondering what would've happened

he was back there-standing in the middle of their living room, watching him walk away without a

she said, her voice tremb

sorry. But I swear to you, Aria...

. She wanted to say no. To walk away and tell him to leave her life for good. But a pa

e said quietly. "Let's s

ut with the slow, uncertain steps of two people trying to