Misunderstandings

Jane slipped into a cream-colored off-shoulder gown with a thigh-high slit, revealing her smooth skin. She let her hair cascade around her shoulders and applied subtle makeup to enhance her features. 

Upon arriving at Richard's mansion, she marveled at its grandeur, reminiscent of a movie set. The place buzzed with guests, and her colleague Maria greeted her warmly at the door, ushering her inside.

As Jane took in the elegant surroundings, realization dawned on her: Richard wasn't just any guy—he was affluent. Suddenly, memories of the marriage proposal flooded back, and a knot formed in her stomach. "Maybe his mom rejected me because we're not wealthy enough," she thought, her heart sinking.

Maria leaned in, her voice hushed but excited. "Incredible, isn't it?" she whispered, gesturing around. "I had no idea Richard's family was so wealthy. This place is unbelievable!"

Jane nodded, still overwhelmed by the luxury surrounding her. "It's... a bit much," she admitted, gazing at the glittering chandeliers and luxurious furnishings.

Maria grinned, giving Jane a playful nudge. "Don't tell me you're intimidated already. You look stunning tonight, by the way."

Jane blushed, glancing down at her dress. "Thanks," she murmured, feeling out of place. "Everything here is so... perfect."

Maria raised an eyebrow, her smile teasing. "You fit right in. Besides, Richard can't take his eyes off you."

Jane's head snapped up, her heart racing. "What?" she asked, trying to sound not so excited.

Maria chuckled. "You didn't notice? He's been watching you since you walked in."

As Richard approached, Jane's stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She forced a smile, her cheeks flushing and her hands trembling slightly. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe.

His eyes traced her silhouette, lingering on her lips for a moment longer than usual. Jane felt a blush forming on her cheeks. "Happy birthday," she murmured, her voice softer than silk.

Nick couldn't sit still and paced his apartment like a caged tiger, glancing at the clock every few minute. The party was supposed to start soon, and the thought of Jane with Richard twisted his insides. What if something happens between them? he thought, feeling a wave of unease wash over him. Each minute felt like an eternity. He couldn't take it anymore.

After what felt like forever, Nick finally made up his mind. He had to go.

When he arrived at the party, the energy was buzzing. Laughter and music spilled out into the night air. Nick stood at the entrance for a second, his eyes scanning the crowd, his nerves still on edge. He felt like a fish out of water, not quite fitting in with all the smiling faces and fancy clothes. But his gaze quickly found Jane, laughing with Richard. His chest tightened. There she was, stunning as ever. Her hair was loose and curled, her dress was tight fitted. Annoyance and some anger filled his body as he watched the two of them. Sure he had no right to feel that way, but he didn't care. 

He tried to shake off the tightness in his stomach, but it didn't help. The closer he got to her, the more anxious he became. What was he even doing here? He thought. 

Jane was laughing, her eyes lighting up as she swirled in Richard's arms, dancing without a care in the world. Her smile was so bright, and Nick felt his stomach tighten. The sight of her so happy with Richard hit him like a punch in the chest. He froze, standing at the edge of the room, not sure what to do.

Richard leaned in close, whispering something in her ear. Jane's laugh rang out, so light and carefree. Nick grounded his teeth looking at her. A fire burned in his chest—anger, jealousy, and something else he didn't want to admit.

Richard guided Jane away, and Nick felt his heart drop. He knew where they were headed—to his room. The thought of them moving closer, so close, made Nick's blood boil.

"No," he whispered under his breath, his hands clenched into fists. His feet itched to move, to rush over there and pull Jane away, but he hesitated. His gaze stayed locked on her, watching her smile and laugh, lost in the moment with Richard. She was happy.

He took a step forward, his heart pounding, but then he stopped. Jane wasn't looking for him. She was looking at Richard, and that made everything inside him freeze.

With a shaky breath, Nick turned away, retreating into the shadows. Each step felt like dragging his feet through quicksand, the weight of the pain heavy with every move. He couldn't watch anymore.

Nick slammed the car door shut, his hands trembling as he gripped the steering wheel. The tears came without warning, blurring his vision and making it hard to see the road. He didn't care. He pressed down on the gas pedal, speeding through the empty streets, desperate to outrun the thoughts of Jane and Richard haunting his mind. 

When he finally reached his apartment, he stumbled inside, his mind foggy, and his heart heavy. Without thinking, he grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the counter and poured himself a glass, the liquid burning as it slid down his throat. One glass turned into two, then three. The pain didn't go away, but it dulled, like everything around him was muffled.

Eventually, he collapsed onto the couch, his body numb, the room spinning around him. His eyelids felt heavy, and despite the alcohol, sleep didn't come easily. When it finally did, it was filled with restless dreams. He kept seeing Jane's face, her laughter ringing in his ears, but it was distant, fading, and out of reach. In the darkness, her joy felt like a cruel reminder of what he could never have.

Richard flipped the switch, flooding the room with light. The photos on the wall caught Jane's eye—pictures of him and his wife, smiling in moments that now felt distant. A strange feeling stirred in her chest, something between sympathy and discomfort, but she pushed it aside, offering a smile in an attempt to mask it.

Richard poured them both drinks, his usual confident demeanor now replaced by something more vulnerable. He took a long sip from his glass before looking at her with a tired expression.

"You must be surprised," he said, his voice quiet, almost reluctant. "We've been married for two years. She's in India now... things aren't great."

Jane's brows furrowed as she listened, her heart tightening for him. She took a small sip from her own glass, not sure what to say, but wanting to show that she was listening.

"Last time we saw each other, we had a huge fight," Richard continued, staring at the half-empty glass in his hand. "My family's pressuring us for grandkids. But... she's all about her career, you know?" His voice broke slightly, and he ran a hand through his hair, his frustration clear.

Jane stayed quiet, absorbing his words. She could hear the pain in his voice, the way his gaze drifted as though the memories were too much to hold. She wanted to say something comforting, but she wasn't sure what to say. All she could do was nod, feeling the weight of his struggle settle in the air between them.

They stepped out onto the balcony, the night sky stretched above them, stars twinkling like little dots of light in the dark. The cool air wrapped around them, offering a quiet kind of comfort. Jane looked over at Richard, feeling a pull of connection as he seemed lost in thought.

"I get it," she said quietly, her voice soft but steady. "I know how it feels to be torn apart." Her thoughts drifted back to her own past, and she swallowed hard before speaking again. "I was married once too. After your mom rejected our proposal, I was shattered. I thought if I just tried hard enough, I could make you see we were meant to be. I even stalked you online... thinking I could change your mind." She chuckled looking at him. 

Richard's eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised. His expression softened, and Jane could see the curiosity in his gaze.

Richard looked at Jane, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean by my mom rejected your proposal?" he asked, clearly surprised by what she'd just said.

Jane looked up, meeting his gaze. She could see the genuine confusion in his eyes, and it made her pause. "So... you didn't know me before?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"No," Richard replied, his expression still puzzled. "I met you for the first time at the cafe."

Jane let out a slow, almost bitter sigh, her gaze dropping to her hands. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," she murmured, regret creeping into her voice.

Richard leaned in slightly, his eyes locked on hers, his curiosity piqued. "Jane, tell me. Did you know me before meeting me?"

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Yes," she replied, her voice quieter now. "A few years ago, my family wanted me to get married, and they started looking for a match. They showed me so many profiles, but none of them interested me. That's when I saw yours." She paused, her gaze drifting off as the memory hit her. "You were wearing a red sweater and grey pants, leaning on a car. Your smile... it caught my attention. For the first time in my life, I was genuinely curious about a guy. I liked you."

Richard's eyes widened slightly as he listened, a hint of surprise in his expression. "You liked me... from a picture?" he asked, still trying to wrap his head around it.

Jane nodded, smiling softly. "Yes. I urged my dad to call your family. I still remember how my heart raced when the phone rang. Your mom answered. My dad explained who we were and what we did, where we lived. She listened quietly and said she'd discuss it with the family and get back to us."

Her fingers tightened around her glass, her memories bringing a sting of pain. "I waited for days. I prayed that she'd like me. But... after two days, we didn't hear anything. So, I asked my dad to follow up. He opened your profile again, and that's when we saw it. Your mom had rejected us. I was heartbroken... over a guy I'd never even met."

Richard's expression softened, his surprise turning into something else—compassion, maybe? Jane smiled faintly, the memory still fresh.

"You know, after that, I couldn't bring myself to be interested in anyone. I even thought about coming here, finding you. But my life was in Dubai, my job, my everything. So, I gave up and tried to move on." She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering pain.

Richard was silent for a moment, his eyes still on hers, as if trying to absorb everything she had said.

Richard's eyes widened, disbelief written all over his face. "You... fell in love with me?" His voice was barely a whisper, like the words didn't quite fit in his mind.

Jane looked at him, her heart pounding as she saw the surprise—and something deeper—in his expression. She hadn't expected him to react this way.

Richard stared at her for a long moment, his gaze distant as if he were searching through his memories. His eyes glistened, a layer of unshed tears threatening to spill.

Why hadn't his mother told him about her? Why hadn't she shown him Jane's picture? If he'd known, if she'd given him a chance, he would've argued with his mom, tried to convince her that Jane was the one.

He closed his eyes briefly, the image of Jane flashing in his mind. He remembered how his heart had skipped when he first saw her in the restaurant, how her smile had stayed with him long after. Her laughter. The way she carried herself. He'd found himself thinking about her, wishing he had met her before everything else. If only fate had been different, he thought.

His chest tightened as he looked back at Jane, her eyes full of sincerity, her expression soft and vulnerable. 

The pain came from the realization that they could have been together if things had gone differently. But at the same time, he felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, knowing that she had cared for him, that she had feelings for him.

It was bittersweet. If only his family had known, if only fate hadn't twisted things the way it had, Jane could've been his wife. His heart ached at the thought.

"I... I wish I had known," Richard said, his voice thick with emotion. He stepped closer to her, his hand hovering for a second, unsure whether he should reach out. "I wish I had met you back then."

Richard's breath was shaky as he moved closer to Jane, his eyes locked onto hers. He could feel the rush of emotions, a mixture of regret, longing, and relief flooding through him. Her confession had shattered the walls he'd built around himself, and he couldn't hold back any longer. His hands trembled as they reached for her face, cupping her cheeks gently, as if to reassure himself that this was real.

"Jane," he whispered, his voice hushed and raw, "I never knew... I never knew you felt this way."

Her eyes were wide, uncertain, but there was something there—something that made him feel like he was walking on the edge of a dream. She didn't say anything, but her breath hitched in response to his touch.

Richard's heart pounded in his chest as he leaned in, unable to resist the pull of her presence. 

Now, as she stood before him, so close, so real, he felt a fire igniting within him.

Before he could second-guess himself, he closed the distance, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was fierce and consuming. At first, Jane froze, shocked by the suddenness, her mind racing to catch up. But Richard's touch—his hands cradling her face, his kiss tender yet filled with an urgent need—broke through the confusion.

Her heart began to race, and her body softened in his arms. A wave of heat rushed through her, the feelings she had locked away for so long flooding to the surface. She had always wondered, always hoped for something more. And now, it was happening.

She let herself melt into the kiss, her hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart under her fingertips. Richard's lips moved against hers, tender yet demanding, as if he were pouring everything he'd ever felt for her into that one moment. She responded in kind, her body relaxing into his embrace.

His hands moved from her face to her back, pulling her closer, making their connection feel even more intimate. Everything around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the heat between their bodies and the undeniable connection that had always simmered beneath the surface.

Jane's hand rested on Richard's chest, her fingers trembling slightly as she gently pushed him back. The kiss, still fresh on her lips, felt like a fire that was now cooling down too quickly. Her heart was racing, but her mind was spinning, the weight of reality crashing down on her.

Richard took a step back, his face a mix of confusion and regret. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low and strained.

Jane bit her lip, trying to calm the storm inside her. "No," she murmured, shaking her head, "I'm sorry." She took another step back, her eyes now avoiding his, her chest tight with guilt. The excitement, the warmth from the kiss, felt wrong now—like a mistake she couldn't undo.

Richard stood there, his hand at his side, unsure what to say. He could see the conflict in her eyes, the realization settling in that this wasn't supposed to happen. He cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. He had let his emotions take control, and now he was regretting it.

"I shouldn't have kissed you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. His hands hung by his sides, his shoulders slumped as he looked at her, the weight of his actions hitting him. "I'm sorry, Jane."

Jane nodded, but the ache in her chest didn't go away. She could feel her heart pulling in two different directions, and she wasn't sure which way to go. She wanted to look at him, to say something, but all she could do was keep her gaze low, afraid of what might come out of her mouth if she spoke.

"I... I shouldn't have let it happen," she whispered, her voice thick with regret. The moment felt like it had shattered something inside her, a bond that she wasn't sure she could fix.

The silence between them grew heavy, and Jane took another step back, needing space to breathe, needing to collect her thoughts. Richard didn't move, his expression pained, his heart still racing with the rush of emotions that hadn't faded. He had made a mistake, and now he wasn't sure how to fix it.

Richard watched her, his face softening with empathy. "I'm really sorry you had to go through that, Jane," he said gently. His voice held a sincerity that made her chest tighten again, but this time in a different way.