My Boss Is My Husband .. He Rejects me

Chapter 14: Midnight Confessions

The city lights glittered below as Ariana stepped onto the rooftop, her heels clicking softly against the cold concrete. The wind whipped at her hair, tugging at her scarf, but she barely noticed. Her phone buzzed in her hand—Ethan: Meet me here. Now.

Her pulse quickened. Rooftop meetings weren’t normal, but neither was their connection anymore. Every time he drew near, every word, every glance, it felt like the ground beneath her shifted.

When she arrived, Ethan was already there, leaning against the railing. His coat flapped in the wind, hair slightly tousled. The usual crisp perfection was gone, replaced by a raw, untamed aura that made her stomach twist.

“You’re late,” he said, his voice low, teasing—but with an edge that made her shiver.

“I came as fast as I could,” Ariana replied, trying to steady herself.

He stepped closer, closing the gap, his eyes scanning her face like he could read her thoughts. “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said softly.

“I haven’t,” she replied, though her voice trembled. The truth was, she wanted to avoid him… and yet, here she was.

The wind picked up, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The simple touch sent sparks through her chest. “Ariana…” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “Why do you keep pushing me away?”

She swallowed hard. “I’m trying to protect everyone,” she admitted. “I can’t risk my heart… not now. Not with everything—my stepmother… the marriage… everything.”

His gaze darkened, intense. “And yet, every time I’m near you, I feel like none of that matters. You’re here… on this rooftop… with me. That tells me something else entirely.”

Ariana’s breath hitched. She wanted to deny it. She wanted to run. But the pull between them was too strong.

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. A message from the hospital: Stepmother’s condition worsened. Adjust treatment immediately.

Her chest tightened. Duty clawed at her, dragging her back to reality. “I… I have to go,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Ethan stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “You’re leaving me now?” he asked, a hint of frustration in his tone. “After everything, you just… run?”

“I can’t ignore her!” Ariana’s voice cracked, a mix of desperation and anger. “She’s the reason I agreed to this marriage, the reason I’m doing all of this!”

Ethan’s eyes softened for a moment, but then a shadow passed over them. “And yet… you leave me standing here, with all this tension… all this longing… and nothing.”

Ariana’s heart raced. The rooftop felt smaller, charged, suffocating in its intimacy. She stepped back, shaking her head. “I can’t. I… I won’t let my heart betray her.”

“You think you’re protecting her,” Ethan said, his voice low, dangerous, “but you’re hurting yourself… and me.”

Ariana’s chest tightened. His words, raw and unfiltered, cut deeper than she expected. She wanted to reach out… to close the distance… to lean into the storm of desire she felt every time she was near him.

But duty won.

She turned abruptly, rushing toward the exit, her scarf flying behind her. The wind screamed around her as she descended the rooftop stairs, leaving Ethan staring after her, frustration and longing etched across his face.

Outside, the city seemed indifferent to her turmoil, lights flickering in the night. Ariana pressed her phone to her chest, reading her stepmother’s message again.

I won’t let you fail, Ariana. Not now.

And she knew—this wasn’t just about duty, nor about love. It was about choosing between two fires, both burning hot, and knowing one day, something had to give.

But tonight… the rooftop had witnessed their tension, their unspoken desires, and Ariana knew the sparks wouldn’t fade.