Chapter 46 – A Realization in Paris
The next morning, Evelyn found herself staring out of the window of her small Parisian apartment, watching the early sunlight spill over the rooftops.
The events of the previous night replayed in her mind—the music, the dance, Leo's words. She had let go, even if only for a moment, and it had felt… liberating.
Yet, beneath that newfound freedom, something unsettled her.
Mia's call interrupted her thoughts.
"Evelyn! How's the City of Love treating you?"
Evelyn hesitated.
"It's… beautiful. But I feel like I'm just drifting."
Mia's voice softened.
"Drifting isn't bad. Sometimes, it's how we find direction."
Evelyn sighed.
"Maybe."
She didn't say what was truly on her mind—Adrian. Because no matter how much she tried to soak in the magic of Paris, her thoughts always led back to him.
---
A Moment of Truth
Leo and Evelyn met for coffee later that afternoon. He had a way of making everything seem effortless as if life were one grand adventure without worries or regrets.
But as they sat across from each other in the cozy café, Evelyn felt an invisible weight pressing down on her.
"You're thinking too much,"
Leo noted, stirring his espresso.
She sighed.
"I always think too much."
Leo leaned forward slightly, studying her.
"Last night, you were free. But today, you're caged again. Why?"
Evelyn opened her mouth, then closed it.
She didn't have an answer—at least, not one she was ready to admit.
Leo tilted his head.
"Is it someone back home?"
Her heart thudded.
"I… I don't know,"
she lied.
Leo smirked knowingly.
"You do. You just don't want to say it."
She swallowed, suddenly feeling exposed.
"Adrian,"
she admitted softly.
"He's my best friend. But it's… complicated."
Leo nodded as if he already suspected it.
"It's not complicated. You love him."
Evelyn's breath hitched. The words hung between them, undeniable. She had spent so much time running, searching for something—anything—that would make sense of her feelings. But in the end, it had always been Adrian.
She didn't need Paris.
She didn't need grand, unplanned adventures.
She needed a home.
Leo smiled gently.
"Then what are you still doing here?"
Evelyn met his gaze, her heart pounding.
"I don't know."
Leo lifted his cup in a mock toast.
"Then figure it out. But don't take too long, or someone else might see what you don't."
She inhaled sharply, realizing for the first time what she had to do.
---
The Decision
That night, as Evelyn packed her suitcase, a calm certainty settled within her. She wasn't running away this time.
She was going back—to Adrian, to the life she had built, to the place where she belonged.
As she zipped her bag, her phone buzzed with a message from Adrian.
Adrian: How's Paris?
She smiled before typing her reply.
Evelyn: Beautiful. But it's not home.
With that, she booked her flight.
Tomorrow, she was going home.