TWO WOUNDED HEART

Echoes Of Edinburgh

Chapter 4:

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‎​Across the hall, in the quiet solitude of his temporary office overlooking the dreary London sky, Bryan Walter stared down at his reflection in the dark glass.

‎​The silence here was heavy, but it was nothing compared to the silence he had lived with for the past three years.

‎​Moving to Edinburgh had been an escape—a desperate attempt to flee the wreckage of his own terrible choices. When he had walked out of Victoria’s life three years ago, leaving her broken in that North London apartment, he had convinced himself that staying away was the kindest thing he could do. He had believed he was too toxic, too flawed, and that she deserved a chance to rebuild without the shadow of his failure lingering over her.

‎​He had thrown himself into his work in Scotland, earning promotions, managing massive portfolios, and building a reputation for brilliant corporate strategy. But every success felt hollow. Every evening spent in his silent apartment near the Firth of Forth was haunted by the memory of Victoria’s eyes—the way they had shuttered with pure heartbreak the night she caught him in a lie.

‎​He hadn't cheated out of a lack of love for her, though he knew that excuse made it no less unforgivable. It had been a moment of reckless, weak judgment during a dark personal spiral—a mistake that had destroyed the best thing that had ever happened to him.

‎​For three years, the guilt had burned inside him like an open flame.

‎​When the opportunity for the London transfer came up, his colleagues in Edinburgh had congratulated him on the massive career leap. They thought he was chasing ambition. They had no idea that he had practically begged executive management for the slot the second he saw Vance & Sterling opening a major expansion in Canary Wharf.

‎​He hadn't known Victoria was leading the European account, but deep down, he knew why he had come back to London. He had come back to face the ghost of his past. He had come back hoping that maybe, just maybe, he could see with his own eyes that she was okay.

‎​And she is okay, Bryan thought, leaning his forehead against the cool glass. She's brilliant. Powerful. Unstoppable.

‎​She was also a fortress of ice, and he knew he had built every single stone of that wall himself. Hearing her call him "Mr. Walter" with that flat, detached tone had cut deeper than any anger or screaming match ever could. Indifference was far more lethal than rage.

‎​A soft knock at his open door shattered his thoughts.

‎​Bryan turned to see David standing in the doorway, holding a folder. "Bryan? Still here? It's past seven."

‎​"Just reviewing the risk matrices for tomorrow’s pitch, David," Bryan replied smoothly, pulling himself back into his executive mask.

‎​"You and Victoria have done incredible work in three days," David said, stepping inside and tossing the folder onto Bryan's desk. "I'll be honest—when I paired you two up, I was slightly worried. Victoria is intensely protective of her territory, and transferring a co-lead from Scotland at the eleventh hour can ruffle feathers. But you two operate like a well-oiled machine."

‎​Bryan offered a small, somber smile. "Victoria is exceptional at what she does."

‎​"That she is," David agreed. "She’s built an ironclad reputation here. Doesn't let anyone get close, though. Drives the junior associates crazy trying to read her, but her results are undeniable. She's spent three years making sure she's indispensable."

‎​Three years, Bryan repeated mentally. The exact length of time since he had shattered her world.

‎​"She deserves every bit of her success," Bryan said quietly, his voice tight.

‎​David looked at him curiously for a moment, sensing the sudden weight in the room, but pushed it aside with a nod. "Get some sleep, Bryan. Tomorrow morning at nine, we convince the board."

‎​"Will do, David. Goodnight."

‎​Once David’s footsteps faded down the hall, Bryan walked back over to his desk and picked up his leather briefcase. He turned off his office light and walked toward the elevators, passing the glass corner office where he and Victoria had spent the last three days.

‎​Her desk was clear, her screen dark. She had already left for the night.

‎​Bryan stood in the empty corridor, the hum of the London night echoing far below. He knew Victoria hated him. He knew she wanted nothing more than to execute this contract and never see his face again.

‎​Strictly business, she had demanded.

‎​Bryan took a slow, deep breath, adjusting his coat. He would respect her boundaries. He would deliver a flawless presentation tomorrow and carry his weight on this contract. But as he stepped into the elevator, he made a silent vow to himself: he was done running. He wasn't going to hide behind the distance of Edinburgh anymore.

‎​Whether Victoria ever forgave him or not, he was going to stand his ground, take responsibility for the damage he had caused, and ensure that no one—not even himself—ever hurt Victoria Wood again.

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