Chapter 8- Love at last

Natalie woke up that morning with a sense of resolve. For weeks, she'd been taking small, cautious steps toward Adrian, letting her guard down bit by bit. But she realized she couldn't fully move forward until she confronted the part of her past she had tried so hard to bury.

It was time to face Jason.

She hadn't seen or spoken to him since the day she walked out of their shared apartment, her heart shattered into a million pieces. He'd tried to call her a few times in the months that followed, but she never answered. Blocking his number had been the only way she could start to heal.

Now, as she stood outside the café where they'd agreed to meet, Natalie felt a mix of dread and determination. She wasn't here to rekindle anything. This was about closure—about taking back the pieces of herself she'd left behind when their relationship ended.

Jason arrived a few minutes later, his familiar confidence still intact. He looked surprised to see her, as though he hadn't truly believed she would show up.

"Natalie," he said, his voice smooth but cautious. "Thanks for meeting me."

She nodded, gesturing for him to sit.

The conversation started awkwardly, filled with pleasantries that neither of them cared about. Finally, Natalie took a deep breath and cut to the chase.

"Jason, I'm not here to rehash what happened between us. I just need to say my piece."

He leaned back, his expression unreadable. "Okay. Go ahead."

"You broke me," she said, her voice steady despite the tremble in her hands. "I trusted you with everything I had, and you betrayed that trust. I spent so long blaming myself, wondering what I did wrong, but the truth is, it wasn't me. It was you. And I'm done carrying the weight of your mistakes."

Jason looked away, guilt flashing across his face. "I know I hurt you, Natalie. And I'll regret that for the rest of my life. You didn't deserve what I did."

"I didn't," she agreed, her voice firm. "But I'm not here for your apology. I'm here to let go of the anger, the hurt, and the fear you left me with. I'm moving on, Jason. And this is the last time I'll ever think about us."

He nodded, his shoulders slumping as though a weight had been lifted from him too. "I hope you find happiness, Natalie. You deserve it."

"I will," she said, standing up. "Goodbye, Jason."

As she walked out of the café, Natalie felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It was as if she'd been holding her breath for years and was finally able to exhale.

That evening, she called Adrian.

"Hey," he said, his voice warm and inviting. "I was just thinking about you."

"Do you have plans tonight?" she asked, surprising herself with the boldness in her tone.

"Not anymore," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Good," she said. "I'll be at your place in an hour."

Adrian opened the door with a curious smile, stepping aside to let her in.

"This is a nice surprise," he said, closing the door behind her. "What's the occasion?"

Natalie took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "I need to tell you something."

Adrian's expression grew serious, and he gestured for her to sit. "Okay. I'm listening."

She sat on the edge of his couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "I've been holding back, and you deserve to know why."

Over the next hour, Natalie told him everything—about Jason, the betrayal, and the walls she'd built around herself. Adrian listened quietly, his gaze never leaving hers.

When she finished, she looked at him nervously. "I understand if you want to walk away after hearing all this. I wouldn't blame you."

Adrian shook his head, his expression soft. "Natalie, you're stronger than you realize. You've been through so much, and you're still here, still fighting. I'm not going anywhere."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and for the first time, she let herself believe that he meant it.

"I want to try," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to let you in, Adrian."

He reached for her hand, his touch gentle but firm. "We'll take it one step at a time. Together."

Weeks turned into months, and Natalie found herself falling deeper for Adrian. He was patient, kind, and steady, everything she hadn't realized she needed. Slowly, the cracks in her heart began to heal.

One evening, as they walked through the park hand in hand, Adrian stopped and turned to her.

"You know, I've been waiting for the right moment to say this," he began, his blue eyes meeting hers. "But I think it's time. I love you, Natalie."

Her breath caught, and for a moment, she couldn't speak. But then she smiled, her heart full in a way it hadn't been in years.

"I love you too," she said, the words coming easily, naturally.

And for the first time, Natalie knew she had truly found love again—love that wasn't perfect but was real, honest, and worth the risk.