CHAPTER 8: Chasing The Truth

The next morning, Luna met her best friend, Zee, for coffee. Zee immediately noticed Luna's distracted demeanor.

"Okay, spill it," Zee said, setting her mug down. "What's going on?"

Luna hesitated, then took a deep breath. "It's about Liam."

Zee's eyes widened. "The ex? What about him?"

Luna told Zee everything—about the trip, the northern lights, and the feelings she'd tried to suppress. When she finished, Zee leaned back, her expression unreadable.

"Luna," she said slowly, "you need to figure this out before you walk down that aisle. It's not fair to Austin—or to you—to carry this into your marriage."

That evening, Luna finally confronted Austin.

"I need to talk to you," she said, her voice trembling.

Austin looked up from the couch, concern flashing in his eyes. "What is it?"

Luna sat down, her hands twisting in her lap. "I've been questioning a lot of things lately. About us, about me, about what I really want."

Austin's face fell, but he nodded. "This is about Liam, isn't it?"

Tears welled in Luna's eyes. "It's not just about him. It's about me realizing I'm not being honest—with you or myself."

Austin took a deep breath, his voice steady despite the pain in his eyes. "Do you love him?"

Luna hesitated, her heart breaking as she whispered, "I don't know. But I know I can't marry you while I'm feeling this way."

Austin closed his eyes, then reached for her hand. "I just want you to be happy, Luna. Even if it's not with me."

After ending her engagement, Luna felt both relief and sorrow. She spent days reflecting on her choices, wondering if she'd made a mistake or if this was the first step toward truly finding herself.

It wasn't until she received a text from Liam that everything became clear.

> Hey. I hope you're okay. No pressure, but I'm here if you want to talk.

The simple message sent her heart racing. She realized she didn't want to live in regret or wonder "what if" anymore.

Luna booked a flight back to the snowy town where she and Liam had shared those unforgettable days. When she arrived, she found him in a small café, staring out the window at the falling snow.

"Liam," she said, her voice shaking.

He turned, his eyes widening. "Luna?"

She stepped closer, her pulse hammering. "I couldn't stop thinking about you. About us. I don't know what the future holds, but I know I can't let you go again."

Liam stood, his expression softening as a slow smile spread across his face. "I was hoping you'd say that."