Tides Of The Heart

Five

My head was spinning as I paced through my room. Memories from the day's event hung heavy in my mind. He had kissed me—maybe out of impulse, to make a point or maybe, just maybe, because he meant it. The kiss caught me off guard. I wasn’t sure whether to scream, cry, or run. It was only after I mustered the courage to pull away that I realized Patrick was gone. The kiss drove him away. After pulling away, I slapped Jack without thinking, his shocked expression matching my angry look.

He didn’t respond. He couldn’t. Annoyed, I turned and practically bolted into my hotel room, slamming the door behind me. My heart was hammering against my ribs, and my breathing felt shallow. What had just happened? And why was I more shaken than angry?

I paced the length of the bedroom, replaying the moment over and over. Jack had kissed me. The same Jack who’d turned my impulsive ring handoff into an accidental engagement. The one who had stood by me when I didn’t even know I needed someone.

It was infuriating. And maddeningly… sweet. No. I couldn’t go there. He kissed me without my permission. We didn't even know each other that well.

I flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. Patrick’s betrayal had shattered me, leaving me convinced I’d never trust another man again. So why did Jack’s actions feel different? Why did they stir something inside me that I hadn’t felt in years—if ever? I didn't leave my room for the rest of the day, neither did I honour Jack's dinner invite.

The next morning, I woke up determined to focus on my original plan: finding closure. I’d come to the Maldives with Patrick in mind, and I wasn’t about to let a surprise engagement or a sudden kiss distract me. My heart might have been a mess, but I needed to move forward.

I stepped out onto the hotel resort’s deck, where the ocean sparkled under the morning sun. Jack was nowhere to be seen, which was both a relief and a disappointment I didn’t want to examine. I headed to the resort’s main dining area, hoping the fresh air and a strong cup of coffee would clear my head.

Instead, I found Patrick. Why was he everywhere?

He was seated at a table near the edge of the terrace, his back to me. But even from behind, I recognized his posture, his tailored shirt, and the way he ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair. Beside him sat the woman I’d caught him with—the same woman who’d turned my world upside down in one night.

My blood ran cold. I hadn’t expected to see them together, at least, not here. But before I could retreat, Patrick turned, his eyes locking onto mine. His expression shifted from surprise to something else entirely—guilt, maybe, or regret. I wasn’t sure, and I wasn’t about to stick around to find out.

I spun on my heel and started to walk away, but Patrick’s voice stopped me.

“Amelia, wait!”

Against my better judgment, I turned. Patrick was already on his feet, leaving the other woman behind as he approached me. He looked… dishevelled. For the first time since I’d met him, I noticed how bad he looked. His well-kept physique seemed to lag something, with eye bags clogging his eyes.

“What do you want, Patrick?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. “Haven’t you done enough?”

“I just want to talk,” he said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Please, Amelia. Just five minutes.”

I hesitated. Every instinct told me to walk away, but curiosity and a lingering need for closure made me stay. I nodded curtly and followed him to a quieter corner of the terrace.

“Amelia, I made a mistake,” he began, his voice low and urgent. “I let my insecurities get the better of me, and I ruined everything. But I still love you. I always have.”

I blinked, taken aback by his sudden confession. “You have a funny way of showing it,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “You cheated on me, Patrick. On the trip, I planned for us.”

He flinched but pressed on. “I know. And I’ll never forgive myself for that. But Amelia, we have something special. Something worth fighting for. Don’t throw it all away because of one stupid mistake.”

I stared at him, incredulous. “You threw it away, Patrick. Not me.”

“But we can fix it,” he said, stepping closer. “I can fix it. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Before I could respond, a shadow fell across us. I looked up to see Jack standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable. His gaze flicked between me and Patrick, and something shifted in his stance—a quiet, simmering tension.

“Is this a bad time?” Jack asked, his tone deceptively calm. But his eyes were locked on Patrick, who suddenly looked much less confident.

“We’re in the middle of something,” Patrick said, his voice edged with irritation.

“Really?” Jack said, arching an eyebrow. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re trying to weasel your way back into Amelia’s life after blowing it spectacularly.”

Patrick’s jaw tightened. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“It does when you’re bothering my fiancée,” Jack shot back.

My heart stopped. Fiancée. The word hung between us like a challenge, and I wasn’t sure whether to be furious or grateful. Jack’s timing might have been impeccable, but his words only added fuel to an already blazing fire. I didn't want him to be here; I was still angry about yesterday's incident. I needed to feel in control again, not having two men fighting over me like I was a doll.

Patrick’s eyes darkened. “You’re not her fiancé!” he growled out, making me flinch. Then, as if a lightbulb had gone off, his expression shifted, somewhat cunning and deceptive. “You're just a two-faced bastard using her to get back at me.”

Jack stiffened, and I glanced between them, confused. “What do you mean? You two know each other?” I asked.

Patrick let out a humourless laugh. “Oh, we know each other, all right. Jack used to be my boss.”

My stomach dropped as the pieces began to click into place. Jack’s tension, Patrick’s sudden hostility… there was history here, and it wasn’t good.

“Is that true?” I asked, turning to Jack.

He hesitated, his jaw tight. “Yes,” he admitted. “But that has nothing to do with this.”

“Doesn’t it?” Patrick said, a smug smile creeping onto his face. “Tell her the truth, Jack. Tell her why you fired me from the company. Tell her how you screwed up everything you touched.”

Jack’s hands curled into fists at his sides, and for the first time, I saw a crack in his usually unshakable composure. But before he could respond, Patrick turned to me, his voice dripping with false concern.

“You deserve better than this, Amelia. Don’t let him drag you down like he did everyone else.”

I stared at them, my head spinning. Secrets, accusations, and half-truths swirled around me, and I didn’t know who to believe. But one thing was clear: I was caught in the middle of a storm far bigger than I’d realized.

And I wasn’t sure if I’d make it out unscathed.