Found At Last

" It had been three years since Mason and Ivy became engaged, but they were still not married, those years hadn't brought them the happiness they had once imagined". Masons mom had been giving excuses to avoid their marriage.

In the vast, sunlit drawing room, Ivy paced restlessly, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She had been doing this for the past 8 minutes. She paused by the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the perfectly manicured gardens with a scowl. The sight did nothing to calm her. "Mason when are we going to get married?" She spat angrily

Mason sat slouched in one of the plush armchairs, his tie loose around his neck and a glass of whiskey dangling from his hand. His eyes were bloodshot, his demeanor one of exhaustion. "What's with the pacing, Ivy?" he asked, his voice tinged with irritation. "You're making me dizzy" Sit down or stop standing on my neck. for goodness sake. 

Ivy spun around, her hands clenching into a fists at her sides. "You know why, so stop pretending," she snapped, her carefully maintained composure cracking. "It's been three years! Three good years, and your mother still treats me like an outsider. She still compares me to—" She stopped, her face twisting with bitterness. "To *her.*"

Mason sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He didn't need her to say the name. Arianna. Even now, the mention of her brought a pang of guilt he couldn't shake. "Ivy, I've told you before—my mother's opinion isn't going to change now. You can't force her to accept you".

Ivy's eyes narrowed, her arms crossing over her chest. "No, but you could help! You could stand up to her for once and tell her that I'm the one you want, that I'm the one you chose!" she complained Her voice cracked, but she quickly masked it.

Mason didn't respond right away. Instead, he downed the rest of his whiskey staring at the empty glass as if it held the answers to his problems. "Ivy, we've talked about this," he said finally, his tone weary. "Let's not do this right now." I'm not in the moon to do this.

"Not do this, really?" Ivy repeated, her voice rising. "When, Mason? When will the right time? When your mother decides to finally stop treating me like I'm an outsider? Or When she stops calling Arianna *'the? real daughter-in-law this family will ever have?'*" answer me ,because I'm sick and tired.

Mason flinched at her words, and for a moment, he looked like he might argue. But instead, he leaned back in his chair and closing his eyes. "I'm tired, Ivy," he muttered. "I don't have the energy for this."

Ivy stared at him, her anger rising. She couldn't believe how indifferent he seemed. Did he even care anymore? She had sacrificed everything for him—her relationship with her family, her reputation, her pride—and yet, here he was, acting as if none of it matters to him.

She turned away, her jaw tightening as a plan began to form in her mind. She wasn't going to let this slip through her fingers. Not now! I've done this thing before and I can still do it again she murmured to her self.

On the middle side of the city, Arianna stepped out of the cab, her heels clicking against the pavement. A mix of nervousness and unease coursed through her, the fragrance of the past passing through her mind.

The bar looked the same as it had three years ago. I guess I can't escape it forever; maybe now is the time to let go of everything and move forward, she murmured to herself. 

She hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening around the strap of her purse.

This was the place where it all started. She pushed the memories aside taking a deep breath.

Inside, the bar, The hum of conversations, the clinking of glasses, and the rhythmic bass of the music filled the air. Arianna scanned the room and quickly spotted her friend Ivy at a high-top table near the back. She waved enthusiastically, her smile bright enough to cut through the dim lighting.

"Ari!" Kate called, pulling her into a warm hug as soon as she reached the table. "I still can't believe you're back! I miss you so damn much," she yelled happily at the top of her voice, attracting glares from people sitting next to them. 

Arianna chuckled, trying to match her friend's energy. "but we've been keeping in touch for the past 2 years; isn't that ok?" She said, sliding onto a stool.

"You didn't even tell me goodbye?" Kate teased, signaling the waiter for a round of drinks. "But I forgive you because you told me you had an accident. Tonight, we're celebrating!"

When the drinks arrived, the two women fell into easy conversation, catching up on everything they had missed.

Arianna found herself laughing more than she had in months, the weight of her worries momentarily forgotten.

But as the night wore on, Kate's playful grin turned curious. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.

"So," she said, turning on her I-want-to-know-what-happened face." Her tone conspiratorial. 

"What happened the night we came here?" You've been avoiding this. I know something happened to you when I couldn't get through to you that night, so spill it all out, said Kate while removing her hand from her chin.

"Talk about what?" Arianna asked, pretending as if she didn't know what Ivy was talking about, though she already knew what Ivy was referring to.

Kate," what are you talking bout? Arianna interrupted, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. 

"Don't tell me you don't understand what I mean."

"Come on, Ari. You can't avoid it forever. Go on and tell me," she demanded. 

Arianna sighed, running a hand through her long hair. She knew Serena wouldn't stop until she heard her answer. She reached for her glass, drinking it all at a gulp, before meeting her friend's expectant gaze.

"Fine," she said quietly. "I'll tell you."

Kate's eyes lit up, leaning in closer, her curiosity palpable.

****

Arianna stared down at her empty glass, using her eyes to tell the bartender to refill her glass as she began to speak. 

Do you remember the stranger who was staring at me that night? The one you gave me a go-ahead, remember? Arianna asked, expecting a positive answer, Yes, I remember him," replied Kate. 

Well, we slept together that night. 

What! OMG! Girl, you did what? exclaimed Kate. 

 How did it happen?

She paused, her throat tightening. "We started talking, and for the first time in a long time, I felt free.

He didn't know me; we were just two strangers who just... connected."

Kate's brow furrowed. "And then what?"

Arianna looked away, her cheeks burning. "You can guess the rest."

"Arianna!" Kate exclaimed, half shocked, half amused. "You? Miss always-in-control Arianna? You had a one-night stand?" Kate asked, not believing her ears. 

Arianna's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Yeah. I did. And it was... it was my first time; he was the one who broke my virginity. I can't deny that. 

But the next morning, he was gone. No name, no number. Just… just a note telling me to wait, which."

Then why didn't you wait for him? asked Ivy while reaching for Arianna's hand.

I was afraid to see him; besides, I wasn't in my right sense that night, murmured Arianna.

the thought of the tattoo running through her mind; she didn't want to disclose that to Ivy because it sounded embarrassing.

"Do you ever think about him? or wonder who he was?" Kate asked, breaking Arianna's thought. 

"All the time," Arianna admitted. "But what's the point? He's probably moved on with his life. And now… well, you know how things turned out."

Kate reached across the table, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You've been through so much, Ari. Sorry I wasn't there for you. I will make it up to you; don't worry, Kate assured.

Arianna smiled faintly, her heart heavy with memories she couldn't shake. "Do you think I will see him again?" she murmured, though deep down, she wasn't sure. 

As the night wore on, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, but Arianna couldn't shake the feeling that her past was closer now that she's back here. 

Little did she know, the stranger from that night hadn't forgotten her either—and he was closer than she could have imagined.

At the far corner of the same bar, Ethan sat sipping his whiskey, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd as they had for years.

This place held too many memories—memories of her. He told himself it was foolish to keep coming back, but he couldn't help it.

Just then, his phone buzzed on the table. You better have a good reason for disturbing me. Lucas, he warned, 

sir, Lucas spoke on the other end.

"We found her," Ethan said.

Ethan froze, the words sinking in like a blow. His hand clenched around the glass. "Where?"

Lucas's voice was steady, but the next words sent a shock through Ethan. "She's there. In the bar. Right now". He said