☆Chapter 47: Mending What’s Broken☆

Lucian stood frozen, watching as Seraphina's eyes filled with a mixture of disbelief and… pain.

"Lucian…?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it hit him like a bullet straight to the heart.

Say something.

Move.

But he stood there, paralyzed, as the weight of his decision crushed him.

"Why… are you here?"

Her tone wasn't angry.

It was worse.

It was hurt.

☆☆☆

Lucian took a hesitant step forward, his throat dry.

"Sera… I—"

But what could he say?

"Why did you leave me?"

There it was.

The question he dreaded.

The question he had no answer for.

Her eyes were different...

Seraphina stood up slowly, her expression guarded.

"You left."

"Without a word."

"Without… goodbye."

Each word was like a dagger, piercing deeper.

"I was trying to—"

"Protect me?" she cut him off.

Her voice trembled.

"Do you think I'm weak, Lucian?"

"No!"

Lucian finally found his voice, stepping closer.

"Sera… you're the strongest person I know."

"Then why?"

Her eyes searched his.

"Why did you leave me?"

Lucian looked away, guilt making it impossible to hold her gaze.

"Because I was afraid…"

"Afraid of what?"

"Of losing you."

Lucian's voice was barely above a whisper now.

"I… started feeling things I shouldn't."

"Things I couldn't control."

"And I didn't want to ruin everything."

Seraphina froze, her breath hitching.

"You… left because you—"

Lucian nodded, his eyes finally meeting hers.

"Because I love you, Sera."

Silence.

Seraphina's eyes widened, her lips parting slightly.

Time seemed to stop.

"You… love me?"

Lucian didn't look away this time.

"I've loved you for years."

"But I was scared."

"Scared that if I told you, I'd lose you."

A moment of vulnerability...

Seraphina took a shaky step forward, her expression unreadable.

"Lucian…"

Her voice was softer now, filled with something he couldn't quite place.

"Do you know… how much it hurt?"

Her eyes glistened.

"I waited for you."

"Every day."

"I thought… I thought I did something wrong."

The pain in her voice...

"Sera… I—"

"You broke my heart."

Her words were barely above a whisper.

"And now… you're telling me this?"

Lucian couldn't breathe...

"I'm sorry."

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I thought… staying away was the best thing for you."

Seraphina's eyes softened, but the hurt was still there.

"You idiot."

"Do you really think I'd be better off without you?"

And his walls finally crumbled...

"Sera…"

His voice cracked.

"I never stopped thinking about you."

"Not for a second."

"But I—"

"Come here."

Lucian didn't need to be told twice.

He closed the distance between them, pulling her into his arms.

And for the first time in weeks…

He felt whole again.

Seraphina melted into his embrace, burying her face in his chest.

"You idiot… I missed you so much."

Lucian tightened his hold, pressing his forehead against hers.

"I'll never leave you again."

"You better not."

But as their eyes met…

There was something different.

Something new.

And this time… neither of them was running away.