69| A Love Confession

The room was dark, the only light coming from the soft glow of the moon outside the window.

Sophie's cries had quieted, her body no longer shaking with sobs, but her breathing was still uneven—small, shaky inhales like she was still trying to hold herself together.

She felt his warmth beside her, the steady rise and fall of his chest.

And it was comforting in a way she hadn't realized she needed.

Slowly, she turned toward him, her eyes searching his face, even though she could barely make out his features.

"Can you hold me closer?" She whispered, her voice fragile, hesitant.

"I'm afraid you'll be gone tomorrow."

Ethan's chest ached.

God, Sophie.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in, pressing her against him.

She was trembling.

And when she finally relaxed, he could feel her breath against his collarbone, warm and slow.

The room was silent, filled only with the faint, rhythmic sound of their breathing.

For a moment, Ethan thought she had finally fallen asleep.

But then—

Her voice broke the quiet.

"I love you, Ethan."

Ethan froze.

The words hung in the air, delicate yet unshakable.

Sophie shifted, looking up at him, her eyes wide—earnest.

"I love you."

She said it again.

Stronger. Firmer.

Like she needed him to understand.

Ethan opened his mouth, his heart hammering against his ribs—

But Sophie pressed a finger against his lips.

A silent plea.

"You don't have to say anything," she whispered. "Not yet. I'm afraid of what you might say."

Her voice trembled, but her eyes—

They held him still.

She took a slow breath.

Her fingers tightened around his arms.

"I want to know everything about you, Ethan."

Her voice was steady now, unwavering.

"Your fears. Your dreams. Your past. Everything that makes you who you are."

Her words wrapped around him, soft and relentless.

"I want to understand what goes on in your head when you're silent, what makes you smile when you think no one is watching."

Ethan swallowed, his throat tight.

She wasn't finished.

"I want your world to become a part of mine—" she whispered, "with all its complexities and imperfections."

A pause.

Then, softer—

"You keep so much locked away, hidden behind those walls you've built."

She lifted a hand, gently tracing his jawline, her fingers featherlight.

"But I see you, Ethan."

His breath hitched.

"I see the man behind the cold exterior. The man who is so much more than what he shows the world."

Her voice was breaking now, heavy with emotion.

"And even though you haven't told me everything, I already know that I love every part of you."

Ethan's hands tightened around her.

"The parts you're proud of," she continued. "And the parts you're not."

His pulse pounded in his ears.

"I love the man you are—"

Her fingers pressed against his heart.

"And the man you're afraid to be."

Sophie's eyes shimmered, her grip on him desperate, like she was afraid he'd slip away.

"I just wanted you to know that," she whispered, voice breaking.

"I love you—not because you're perfect.

But because you're you."

She let out a shaky breath.

"All I want is for you to let me in. To let me share the burdens you carry. I don't need you to be something you're not."

Her arms wrapped around him tighter.

"I just need you."

Ethan's throat closed up.

She just needs me.

How could she not understand?

How could she not see that he was the one who didn't deserve her?

Sophie's fingers curled into his shirt.

And then—

Like the weight of her confession had drained her—

She instantly fell asleep in his arms.

Leaving Ethan—

Utterly wrecked.

*********

Ethan woke up to birds chirping outside the window, the bed beside him was empty.

For a brief, panicked moment, his mind jumped to the worst.

She left.

He threw off the covers, his heart pounding as he scanned the room.

No sign of her.

His breath caught.

And then—he rushed downstairs.

He found Sophie in the kitchen, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in her hands.

She looked up as he entered.

She was calm but something was off. It felt different from last night.

Ethan's stomach twisted.

Did she regret what she said?

Was she done with him?

"How are you feeling?" Ethan asked, his voice careful.

Sophie gave him a small smile—but it didn't reach her eyes.

That scared him.

"My head hurts like a bitch." She let out a soft laugh, but it was weak, uncertain.

"I definitely overdid it. Sorry, Ethan, for what I might have put you through yesterday."

Ethan shook his head immediately.

"No, it's my fault. I'm sorry. I've been pushing you away, and I shouldn't have—"

Sophie held up a hand, stopping him. "I know you're sorry."

Her voice was gentle. But firm.

"But Ethan, you still did it."

Her eyes met his—piercing, unwavering.

"Do you regret it, really? Or are you just saying what you think I want to hear?"

She exhaled, the hurt in her voice clear. "I don't want your comfort if it's fleeting."

Ethan's throat tightened.

Her gaze didn't just meet his—it tore through him.

"We need to talk."

The words felt like a punch to the ribs.

The room felt smaller, suffocating—more daunting than any boardroom he'd ever been in.

Slowly, he pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

Bracing himself.

Sophie took a breath. Didn't look away.

"Last night, I told you I loved you."

Her voice was steady, soft.

"And I meant every word."

"But I can't keep going on like this, Ethan."

Her fingers curled around her coffee cup, as if grounding herself.

"One day, you let me in. And the next, you shut me out."

"I can't live like this."

Her voice wavered, but her resolve did not.

"Not knowing where I stand. Not knowing if you even want me here."

Ethan's breath left him.

Because she was right.

And then—she said the one thing that nearly broke him.

"Sometimes, Ethan, I feel like you push me away because you think I'm easy to throw away."

He flinched.

"And when you do that, I wonder..."

She swallowed.

"If I even mean anything to you."

Ethan opened his mouth, but no words came.

Sophie shook her head, tears burning in her eyes.

"I don't want to be with someone who throws me away like I'm nothing."

Her voice broke.

"Because I would never do that to you."

A single tear slipped down her cheek.

"Because I love you so much it hurts sometimes."

Ethan's heart dropped.

God.

What could he even say?

He knew he didn't deserve her.

But now—he didn't want to lose her.

He couldn't.

Not her.

Sophie took a shaky breath.

"I'm willing to give everything to you, Ethan."

Her voice wasn't angry.

Just exhausted.

"But I need to know that you're willing to do the same."

She set her coffee cup down carefully.

"If you can't—if you won't—then I don't want to keep suffering from loving you."

Ethan's lungs burned as she stood up.

She grabbed her bag. Didn't hesitate.

"I'm already late for the shop today."

Her eyes met his one last time.

"Let's talk when you have an answer for me."

And then—she was gone.

He watched her go, his heart aching with every step she took away from him.

The quiet click of the door closing echoed through the empty room.

Loud.

Final.

The silence that followed felt hollow, like the space where Sophie had been just seconds ago had already grown too big.

Ethan stared blankly at the table, her words looping through his mind.

His hands clenched into fists.

God.

He hadn't pushed her away because she was easy to throw away.

No—

He had pushed her away because she was the only thing he had.

The only thing that was his.

And he had been so damn scared of losing her—

That he was already losing her.

A heaviness crushed his chest, regret and fear twisting into something almost unbearable.

He was close. Too close.

And if he didn't do something—

If he didn't fight for her—

He was going to lose Sophie.

And he couldn't.

He couldn't.

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