SHADOWS OF PAST

After parting ways with Ann, Tobias had done what many people do when faced with an emotional crossroad , he threw himself into work regardless of his position as a very wealthy icon which he dismissed after he create a spaxe for Ann in his hearth. Leaving all the luxurious life that he has engaged in before their connection.

But unlike many, he didn't just dive into a typical career path, he had the resources, the drive, and the ambition to build something monumental from the ground up.

He created ~Hawke Enterprises~ a luxury real estate and lifestyle brand, catering to the world's elite.

What started as a modest venture quickly expanded into a multimillion-dollar empire, with properties in the most desirable cities around the world from penthouses in Manhattan to beachside estates in the south of France.

At first, the work was a distraction. He didn't want to feel, didn't want to remember the bittersweet memories of Ann.

Every successful deal, every new acquisition, every towering skyscraper that bore his name was a way to bury the pain of the life he once shared with her.

His clients were the wealthy and powerful people who had everything, but always seemed to want more.

And Tobias, in his pursuit of perfection, had become just like them.

His days were filled with meetings, gala events, and high-end parties that stretched into the early morning hours.

The glitzy world of luxury had swallowed him whole, leaving little room for anything else.

But no matter how much he gained, no matter how many accolades or lavish homes he acquired, Tobias felt an emptiness that was impossible to fill.

There was a hollowness in his chest, a void that all the money in the world couldn't touch.

He had become the man Ann had warned him he would be someone who was consumed by his own ambition, running away from his past.

Despite his success, Tobias's thoughts often drifted to her. To Ann. To what they had shared, to what they had lost. He hadn't spoken to her since that painful moment in the park.

There were times when he found himself lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, haunted by the thought of her. He had tried dating again, briefly.

Beautiful women, intelligent women, all eager to share his bed and his life. But none of them held the same spark.

None of them had the power to make him feel like he had once felt with Ann.

And with each failed attempt at a relationship, Tobias became more resolute in his decision he wasn't interested in love anymore.

He had built an empire, one that could give him everything he wanted, but it couldn't give him what he truly needed, peace.

He would never be the same after Ann. The deep connection they had shared , her laughter, the way her eyes lit up when she spoke, the quiet moments they'd shared couldn't be replaced. So, Tobias had made a decision that he would never marry again.

The idea of marrying someone else felt like a betrayal. Ann had been his soulmate, the person who understood him in a way no one else ever had, and after her, no one could ever come close. He didn't want to go through the motions of another relationship, knowing that no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't compare.

Months passed, and Tobias's life continued in its dizzying circle of luxury, success, and solitude.

He had become a well-known figure in his industry, often invited to high-profile events, where he'd network with other influential people. But despite his outward success, he felt increasingly detached. His heart was heavy with memories of the past.

It wasn't until one evening, during a charity gala for his latest business venture, that everything changed.

He stood by the grand windows of a Manhattan penthouse, gazing out at the city skyline, a glass of expensive whiskey in his hand. His life was a picture of perfection, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. The hum of conversation around him, the clinking of glasses, and the soft laughter of the guests barely registered in his mind. His thoughts were elsewhere back in the park with Ann, that day they'd said goodbye.

A voice broke through his reverie.

"Beautiful view, isn't it?"

Tobias turned slowly, surprised to see her standing there, as if she'd stepped right out of his memories.

Ann.

It had been over a year, yet the sight of her felt like a shock to his system. She looked different more confident, more at peace but the same warmth and strength he had always admired in her was still there, radiating from her like sunlight.

He swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. "Ann… I didn't expect to see you here".

"I didn't expect to be here either,"she replied with a small smile.

"I was invited by a friend. You know, the usual high-society thing."

Her eyes briefly flickered to the guests around them, a hint of discomfort in her voice.

Tobias nodded. "Yeah, I know the feeling."

There was a long silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Finally, Ann spoke, her voice softer now, but still strong. "I've heard about your company. You've built something impressive, Tobias."

He smiled faintly. "It's just business. Nothing more."

Ann studied him for a moment, as though seeing through the façade. "That's what you've always told yourself, isn't it? That it's just business. But you can't bury everything in success. I thought you knew that."

Tobias's heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. What could he say to her? What could he say to the woman who had once been everything to him, and yet who had walked away?

"I'm not here to reopen old wounds," Ann said, almost as if reading his mind. "I'm here because I wanted to see you. To see that you're okay."

Tobias clenched his jaw. "I've built an empire, Ann. That's what I have now. No wife, no kids. Just this."

She nodded slowly. "And is that enough? Is that all you wanted out of life?"

Tobias didn't have an answer. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't sure of anything.

He looked out at the skyline again, the lights of the city twinkling in the distance. For a moment, it felt like he was seeing everything clearly, and yet he was still trapped in the same cycle. The same loneliness.

"I don't know anymore," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ann's expression softened, and she placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch gentle but meaningful. "You've done amazing things, Tobias. But don't let it be all you are. There's more to life than business."

Tobias turned to her, his heart heavy with the weight of her words. He was no longer the same man he had been when they first met, but the essence of who he was, the man who had loved her, was still buried deep inside.

"I'll never be the man you wanted me to be, Ann," Tobias said quietly.

" I never wanted you to be anyone else,"she replied.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Tobias realized that there was still a part of him that wasn't lost.

There was still something he needed to find, something beyond wealth and business.

Something that only Ann could help him see.

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