Ever Ours, Always

Episode 20 – When Distance Becomes Impossible

No matter how much Isabella tried to put Alexander in the past, he kept appearing in her present.

At first, she thought it was coincidence.

Then she realized—Alexander didn’t believe in coincidences.

A Battle of Wills

For days, Isabella tried to maintain her distance. She kept herself busy with work, ignored his presence at social gatherings, and politely declined every invitation that had his name attached to it.

But Alexander was relentless.

She saw it in the way he made his presence known without saying a word.

The way he lingered in the background at meetings, watching her with unreadable eyes.

The way he "accidentally" ended up at the same café she visited every morning, a small smirk tugging at his lips when she glared at him.

"Following me again, Sinclair?" she muttered one morning, stirring her coffee.

"Just supporting local businesses," he replied smoothly, taking the seat across from her. "You should be honored."

She rolled her eyes. "I should file for a restraining order."

"Go ahead," he said, leaning forward. "But tell me—would you be able to write my name without your hands shaking?"

Her grip on her cup tightened.

Damn him.

Damn the way he always knew how to get under her skin.

The Unexpected Storm

That evening, Isabella left the office late, her mind clouded with exhaustion and the lingering frustration from her earlier encounter with Alexander.

The last thing she expected was for a sudden downpour to flood the streets.

She groaned, standing beneath the awning of the building as the rain drenched the city.

Great.

She pulled out her phone, ready to book a ride—

A sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of her.

The window lowered, revealing Alexander.

"Get in," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

She narrowed her eyes. "I can call my own ride."

"Sure. But in this rain, you’ll be standing here for another hour."

She hesitated.

Every part of her screamed at her to decline.

But the rain was relentless, and she was already shivering.

With a sigh, she yanked the door open and slipped inside.

The scent of leather and expensive cologne surrounded her instantly—his scent.

Damn it.

"Not a word," she muttered, crossing her arms.

Alexander simply smirked. "Wouldn’t dream of it."

The car pulled away, the silence between them thick and charged.

A Dangerous Proximity

The storm only worsened as they drove.

What should have been a twenty-minute drive turned into an hour as traffic slowed to a crawl.

When Isabella glanced outside, she realized they were stuck in an unfamiliar part of the city.

Alexander sighed. "The bridge ahead is flooded. We’ll have to wait it out."

She groaned. "Great. Just my luck."

A sudden c***k of thunder made her flinch.

Alexander noticed.

"You’re still scared of storms?" he murmured.

She stiffened. "I’m not scared."

"You used to hide under the blankets whenever it rained like this."

She scowled. "That was a long time ago."

His gaze softened. "Doesn’t mean it wasn’t real."

The weight of his words settled between them.

For a moment, it felt like they weren’t ex-lovers.

They were just two people who had once shared everything—fears, dreams, love.

She looked away. "Don’t do that, Alexander."

"Do what?"

"Make me remember things I don’t want to."

Silence.

Then—

"I don’t think you ever forgot," he murmured.

Her breath caught.

Damn him.

Damn the way he always made her feel things she wasn’t ready for.

A Moment That Shouldn’t Have Happened

Minutes passed, the storm raging outside, the silence inside the car growing heavier.

Then the power went out.

The city plunged into darkness, leaving only the soft glow of the car’s interior lights.

She exhaled shakily.

"Relax," Alexander said, his voice low. "It’s just a blackout."

"I know," she muttered.

But her body betrayed her, tensing when another rumble of thunder echoed through the sky.

Without thinking, Alexander reached out and covered her hand with his.

The warmth of his touch sent a shock through her system.

She should have pulled away.

But she didn’t.

She sat there, trapped between her past and present, between logic and longing.

His thumb brushed over her knuckles.

Slow. Deliberate.

"You’re shaking," he murmured.

She swallowed. "It’s cold."

"Liar."

Her pulse pounded in her ears.

This was dangerous.

This was reckless.

This was everything she had sworn to avoid.

But in that moment—

With the storm outside and the ghosts of their past inside—

She couldn’t move away.

And she wasn’t sure if she wanted to.