UNBROKEN BONDS

Days turned into weeks. Lila refused to speak to Ryan, no matter how many times he tried. She threw herself into work, but nothing could erase the ache in her heart.

Ryan, on the other hand, was a mess. He barely ate, barely slept. His friends tried to distract him, but nothing worked.

It was Samantha and Dylan who finally decided to intervene.

"Lila, you need to talk to him," Samantha urged. "Running away won't solve anything."

"And Ryan, you can't just give up," Dylan told him. "Go to her. Fight for what you want."

That was all Ryan needed to hear.

The next day, he showed up at Lila's house. Her father opened the door, frowning.

"She's in her room. But if you hurt my daughter again, Ryan—"

"I won't," Ryan promised.

Lila was sitting on her bed when Ryan walked in. She looked up, surprised, but said nothing.

"I love you, Lila," Ryan said, his voice raw with emotion. "And I know I messed up. I should have been honest with you from the start. But I need you to know that Ava is my past. You are my present and my future."

Lila's eyes filled with tears. "I was scared, Ryan. Scared that maybe I wasn't enough. That maybe you'd go back to her."

Ryan knelt in front of her. "You are more than enough, Lila. You are everything." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. "Marry me. Not because of the wedding we planned, but because we can't live without each other."

Lila let out a small, shaky laugh. "You already proposed, Ryan."

"Then say yes again."

She stared at him for a long moment before whispering, "Yes."

Ryan slipped the ring onto her finger, sealing their love once and for all.

Their wedding took place a month later, but this time, it wasn't about the extravagance or the guests. It was about them.

Tessa and Oliver, realizing their defeat, disappeared from their lives. Ava never returned.

As Lila and Ryan danced under the stars, surrounded by their family and friends, she whispered, "We finally made it."

Ryan smiled, pulling her closer. "Yes, we did. And nothing will ever come between us again."

Because true love—no matter how many obstacles it faced—was always meant to last.

A Love That Stood the Test of Time

Through heartbreak, misunderstandings, and betrayals, Lila and Ryan had faced every obstacle that tried to pull them apart. Yet, in the end, their love proved stronger than deception, distance, and doubt.

They built a life together, one filled with laughter, shared dreams, and the kind of love that only grows deeper with time. Their journey wasn't perfect, but it was real—woven with pain and joy, trials and triumphs.

As they stood side by side, watching the sunset on their honeymoon, Ryan took Lila's hand and whispered, "No more unspoken desires, my love. From now on, I'll always tell you how much you mean to me."

Lila smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. "And I'll always listen, Ryan. Because you are my forever."

And with that, their love story—once filled with unspoken desires—became a testament to the power of patience, trust, and a bond that could never be broken.