What Might Have Been…
1211 Words
Ava didn’t remember how she made it home.
The night had unfolded in a blur, every moment tainted by the raw sting of betrayal. Her thoughts had spiraled as she ran down the hill, the images of Julian’s shocked expression and the text message flashing in front of her eyes. “Can’t wait to try on my dress tomorrow. Love you always. – V.”
Her heart had shattered at the sight, the sharp sting of tears blurring her vision as she sprinted through the darkness. She hadn’t stopped running until she was safely inside her apartment, her hands trembling as she locked the door behind her.
The bed felt foreign beneath her, cold and empty. Her legs ached from the adrenaline, but the ache in her chest was so much worse. She had wanted something more- something real- but the reality had been painfully clear. Julian was engaged. He had been, all along. And she had been foolish to believe she could be anything more than a fleeting moment in his world.
Her phone buzzed, and she didn’t need to look to know who it was.
Julian.
Her finger hovered over the screen, her thumb trembling as she debated whether to answer. He hadn’t called, but his messages had started to feel like an intrusion- like a part of him she had to shut out for her own peace of mind.
“Ava, text me back. I know you’re upset, but I need to speak with you.”
The message flashed at her, but she couldn’t bring herself to respond. Not yet
It hurt too much.
The rest of the night was a blur of silence, her thoughts racing, each one faster than the last. She had to move on. She had to get away from this mess she had unknowingly stepped into. But how could she?
The next morning arrived, and Ava barely slept. Her eyes were puffy from crying, but she couldn’t stop the waves of emotions that kept crashing over her. She tried to focus on the flower shop, on the familiar routine that had always grounded her, but even that felt distant. The flowers in front of her seemed muted, the bright petals no longer holding the same vibrancy they once did.
Her phone buzzed again, breaking her trance. She picked it up, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw his name.
Ava stared at the message for what felt like an eternity. Her heart wavered, torn between wanting to believe him and knowing she had to protect herself from falling deeper into this whirlwind. But the words he had said on the hill- I want to kiss you- echoed in her mind. She knew he had felt something. She had seen it in his eyes.
But he hadn’t told her the truth. And that was the part that stung the most.
The door to the shop opened, and Ava looked up to find Beatrice, standing in the doorway with a concerned look on her face.
“Ava, are you alright?” Beatrice asked, stepping inside and walking over to the counter.
Ava forced a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”
Beatrice raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “You don’t look fine. You look like you’ve been crying all night.”
Ava sighed, rubbing her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You’re not okay, and you know it,” Beatrice said gently.
Ava closed her eyes, feeling the weight of those words. She didn’t understand why he kissed her, why he looked at her the way he did, why he made her feel like she was worth a lot to him.
“I just don’t understand why he didn’t tell me,” Ava whispered, her voice breaking. “I really thought this was going to be something. I’m so stupid actually” she chuckled. “How could I have fallen for a Billionaire? He probably has an array of girls at his beck and call.”
Beatrice sat beside her, her eyes softening with understanding. “You’re not stupid Ava, you deserve more. You deserve someone who’s fully available to you.”
Ava nodded, but the tears she had been holding back for hours began to fall. “It hurts so much, Bea. It just… it hurts.”
Beatrice wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a comforting hug. “I know, sweetheart. I know. But you’ll get through this. You’re stronger than this.”
Ava clung to her friend for a moment longer before pulling away. She wiped her tears and took a deep breath.
“It baffles me that I haven’t ran a background check,” Beatrice said with her hands up in the air. “Permission to?”
Ava nodded
“You know what? You should do it yourself. It’ll help you forget him quickly”
With her heart pounding, she unlocked her phone and opened the browser. She typed in ‘Julian St. Clair’ without thinking twice. It wasn’t like she was looking for anything in particular; she didn’t expect to find much. But the search results were overwhelming.
The first thing that caught her eye was an article from a reputable business magazine: "Julian St. Clair: Young Billionaire Takes Over the Family Empire After Father’s Sudden Passing." She clicked on it, her pulse quickening.
The article outlined Julian’s impressive rise to the top of his father’s empire, his board meetings, business acquisitions, and luxury lifestyle. It was like reading about someone from an entirely different world. But it was the next line that made her stomach drop.
"Julian St. Clair is also engaged to Victoria Paige, the only daughter of the renowned Paige family, in a partnership that has been in the works for years."
Her fingers faltered. She clicked on the link, her eyes skimming through photos of Julian with a stunning woman in lavish settings, at charity galas, and at high-profile events. Her name was everywhere- Victoria Paige.
She immediately recognized her as the lady that interrupted their discussion on the day of the funeral. She was Julian’s fiancée, his perfect match.
Ava closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the counter, trying to steady her breath. She had only met Julian a few days ago. Three encounters, three moments that had felt real, but what was real about them? What could possibly come of it?
The rest of the day passed in a haze. Ava tried to keep herself busy, focusing on the flower arrangements and making small talk with customers, but her mind kept drifting back to Julian. His words, his gaze, everything that had felt so real in the moment now felt like a distant dream.
By evening, she had made up her mind. She would move on. She would put this behind her. She would return to the life she had before.
But the truth was, a part of her- an ache in the deepest part of her heart- would always wonder what might have been.
The phone buzzed again. “Reply me Ava”
She stared at the message for a long time before turning the phone face down, silencing it.
She couldn’t let herself fall again.
Not this time..
- Writer
