A Love Meant to Last

Chapter2

Lanesra’s fingers trembled as she held her phone, the weight of the unknown pressing against her chest. She read the message again, her mind racing through a thousand possibilities. Who was this person? What did they know about Kade? And more importantly—did she want to know?

She inhaled sharply, the logical part of her telling her to delete the message and move on. She and Kade had built something real, something strong. They had survived their darkest moments together. But doubt was a cruel whisper in the back of her mind, reminding her that she had once trusted the wrong man before, that she had been left in the ashes of betrayal.

Her thumb hovered over the screen. Curiosity won.

Who is this? she typed, sending the message before she could change her mind.

Seconds passed, then minutes. The response didn’t come immediately, and that made her even more anxious. She placed the phone down, rubbing her temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache forming. She didn’t want to tell Kade. Not yet. If this was nothing, she didn’t want to bring unnecessary tension into their already fragile relationship. But if it was something…

The phone vibrated.

"I don’t want to do this over text. Meet me tomorrow. Coffee shop on Willow Street. 3 PM."

Lanesra’s breath caught in her throat. She knew that place. It was close to her office, a small café tucked away from the usual bustling streets. The familiarity made it feel more real. More terrifying.

Her mind warred with itself. Was this a setup? A cruel joke? A misunderstanding? Every fiber of her being screamed for her to ignore it, to delete the message and pretend she never saw it. But the tiny, persistent seed of doubt had already been planted. She needed to know. Even if it hurt.

She spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, sleep evading her as questions swirled in her mind. By morning, she had made her decision.

The café smelled of freshly brewed coffee and vanilla when Lanesra stepped inside. Her heart pounded as she scanned the room, looking for someone who seemed out of place. And then she saw her.

A woman sat in the corner, her back straight, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug. She looked up as Lanesra approached, her expression unreadable. She was young—late twenties, maybe early thirties. Dark hair, sharp eyes, an air of quiet confidence. Lanesra hesitated before pulling out the chair across from her.

"You texted me," Lanesra said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

The woman nodded. "I wasn’t sure if you’d come."

"I almost didn’t."

A flicker of something—relief?—crossed the woman’s face. "My name is Erin. I don’t want to hurt you, Lanesra. But you deserve to know the truth."

The truth. Two words that carried the weight of an entire world.

"About Kade?" Lanesra’s voice was barely above a whisper.

Erin exhaled, setting down her cup. "Yes. He hasn’t been honest with you."

A cold chill ran down Lanesra’s spine. "What are you talking about?"

"He’s been keeping something from you. From everyone. And I need you to hear me out before you decide whether you still trust him."

Lanesra swallowed hard, bracing herself. "Go on."

Erin hesitated, as if debating where to begin. And then, finally, she spoke.

"Kade is not who you think he is."

The world seemed to tilt slightly. Lanesra gripped the edge of the table, her stomach tightening. "What do you mean?"

Erin leaned in, lowering her voice. "You know his mother left his father, right? That she walked away when he was young? That’s not the whole story. She didn’t just leave. She ran. And she wasn’t alone."

Lanesra’s heartbeat drummed in her ears. "What are you saying?"

Erin’s gaze was piercing. "She was running from him. From Kade’s father. Because he wasn’t just a bad husband. He was dangerous."

Lanesra felt like the breath had been knocked out of her. "That doesn’t mean Kade—"

"No," Erin interrupted. "It doesn’t. But Kade has been hiding something. Something about his past. And you need to ask him about it. Because if you don’t, you might not like what you find out too late."

A sick feeling twisted in Lanesra’s stomach. She wanted to deny it, to dismiss the entire conversation as nonsense. But deep down, she knew she wouldn’t be able to ignore it. Not now.

Erin pushed a folded piece of paper across the table. "If you don’t believe me, start here. This will tell you everything."

Lanesra stared at the paper, her hands frozen in her lap.

"Do you love him?" Erin asked suddenly.

Lanesra’s throat tightened. "Yes."

"Then you need to decide whether love is enough."

Lanesra’s hands trembled as she reached for the paper. She didn’t want to open it. Didn’t want to read whatever truth it held.

But she knew she would.

Because she had to.

As Lanesra left the café, she glanced back at Erin, who remained seated, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. Something about her felt off.

Who was Erin really?

Had she reached out to Lanesra out of concern—or was there something more? A grudge? A vendetta?

Had Kade hurt her? Had she been a past lover, someone left behind with unfinished business?

Or was she just someone who wanted to watch Kade’s world burn?

Lanesra knew she had walked into a storm. The only question was, would she make it out unscathed?