Chapter 5: Love vs Reality
1033 Words
The next morning felt strangely quiet.
Leah hadn't slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Daniel's face.
The hurt. The disbelief.
The way his fingers had curled tightly around the promise ring after she placed it in his palm.
She had broken his heart.
And somehow, that realization hurt almost as much as the decision itself.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Daniel.
Again.
Leah stared at the screen.
The call ended.
A few seconds later, another came in.
Then another.
Her chest tightened.
She couldn't do this.
At least not yet.
Slowly, she switched her phone off and buried her face in her pillow.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
She hated herself.
But she hated her situation even more.
A knock sounded at her bedroom door.
"Leah?"
Her mother's voice.
Leah quickly wiped her eyes.
"Come in."
Mrs. Chang entered carrying a tray of breakfast.
The forced smile on her face made Leah's heart ache.
"Thought you might be hungry."
"I'm not."
"You need to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
Her mother sat beside her.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then quietly.... "Your father met with the bank again this morning."
Leah froze.
"And?"
Her mother's expression crumbled.
The answer was written all over her face.
No progress. No miracle. Nothing.
Leah looked away.
The weight on her shoulders grew heavier.
Every hour that passed seemed to push her closer toward Steve Gross.
Toward a future she didn't want.
Toward a marriage she never imagined.
Later that afternoon, Leah left the house.
She needed air.
Needed space.
Needed something that didn't feel like suffocation.
She found herself walking toward a familiar place.
A small park.
Their park.
The place where she and Daniel had spent countless afternoons together.
The place where he had confessed his feelings years ago.
The place where he had promised to always protect her.
The memories hit hard.
Too hard.
She turned to leave.
"Leah."
Her body went still.
Daniel.
Of course.
He stood several feet away, looking exhausted. Like he hadn't slept either.
For a moment, neither moved. Neither spoke.
Then Daniel slowly approached.
"You turned your phone off."
Leah looked down.
"I know."
"You ignored my calls."
"I know."
Daniel released a frustrated sigh.
"Then why are you shutting me out?"
Leah swallowed hard.
Because if she looked at him for too long...
She might change her mind.
And she couldn't afford that.
Not anymore.
"I didn't know what to say."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"Try the truth."
The words stung.
Because she had been telling the truth.
It just wasn't the truth he wanted.
Daniel sat on the nearby bench.
After a moment's hesitation, Leah joined him.
The silence felt familiar.
Comfortable. Painful. Everything at once.
Finally, Daniel spoke.
"Come away with me."
Leah blinked.
"What?"
"Leave."
She stared at him.
"Daniel.... "
"I'm serious."
His eyes met hers.
Filled with desperation. Hope. Love.
"We can leave this city."
Leah couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You want us to run away?"
"Why not?"
"Daniel..."
"Listen to me."
He took her hands gently. His voice softened.
"We don't need any of this."
He gestured toward the city skyline.
"The money."
"The company."
"The pressure."
"We can start over somewhere else."
Leah's heart squeezed painfully. Because part of her wanted to believe him.
Desperately.
Daniel continued.
"I'll work."
"You'll work."
"We'll rent a small apartment."
"We'll figure things out together."
His eyes shone with determination.
"We don't need to be rich."
Leah remained silent.
He wasn't wrong.
Years ago, she would have accepted that future without hesitation.
A tiny apartment.
A simple life.
Daniel.
Back then, it would have been enough.
So why wasn't it enough now?
The thought terrified her.
Daniel squeezed her hands.
"Say something."
Leah looked away.
"I can't."
His face fell.
"Why?"
Tears burned behind her eyes.
"Because it's not just about me."
"It is."
"No."
"It is."
Daniel's voice rose slightly.
"You keep carrying everyone's problems on your shoulders."
"They're my family."
"And you're their daughter."
His expression tightened.
"Not their sacrifice."
The words hit harder than he intended.
Leah stood abruptly.
"You think I want this?"
Daniel stood too.
"No."
"Then stop making it sound like I'm choosing money."
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I'm trying to save them."
"I know."
"No, you don't."
Daniel stared at her helplessly.
For the first time since they met, he looked completely lost.
"What happened to us?" he asked quietly.
The question shattered her. Because she didn't know either.
A week ago they had been planning their future.
Talking about marriage.
Talking about children.
Talking about forever.
And now...
Everything was slipping away.
Daniel stepped closer.
"I love you."
Leah closed her eyes.
"Please don't."
"I do."
His voice cracked.
"I love you, Leah."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"Don't make this harder."
"I'm trying to make you remember."
His eyes searched hers.
"The Leah I know wouldn't choose this."
The statement struck her deeply.
Wouldn't she?
A week ago, no.
A week ago she would have chosen Daniel without hesitation.
But now?
Now there were debts. Deadlines. Bank notices. A collapsing company. Parents who looked broken.
Love suddenly felt fragile. Small. Powerless.
And that realization scared her more than anything.
Daniel saw the hesitation in her eyes. The uncertainty. The doubt.
And for the first time.....
Fear appeared on his face.
Not fear of Steve.
Not fear of losing her.
Fear of something much worse.
Fear that Leah no longer believed their love was enough.
"Leah..." he whispered.
She couldn't look at him.
Because if she did...
She might see her future disappearing.
And maybe, just maybe...... Part of her was already letting it go.
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
Both of them looked at the screen.
An unknown number.
Leah frowned.
Then opened the message.
Her breath caught.
It contained a photograph.
A photograph of her father leaving a bank building earlier that morning.
Attached beneath it were six chilling words.
'Time is running out, Miss Chang.'
—Steve Gross
Leah's blood ran cold.
Daniel noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
She stared at the screen.
Unable to speak.
Because suddenly...
The countdown had become very real.
- Writer
