Worth The Wait

One

CHAPTER 1

Lara ended the video call with Ali and pulled out her laptop. With trembling hands, she opened the browser and typed his name into the search bar.

Reagan Clark Sanford

She hit enter.

Within seconds, dozens of articles and gossip blogs appeared.

“Tech Billionaire Reagan Clark Sanford Spotted Ring Shopping with New York Model.”

“Engagement Rumors Swirl as Reagan and Socialite Seen Cozy in Manhattan Boutique.”

Lara’s vision blurred as she clicked the photos. One of them showed Reagan inside a jewelry store, standing beside a tall, elegant woman. He was looking down at a display case. The timestamp was just two days ago.

The same woman appeared in another photo with him, smiling, close.

It wasn’t photoshopped. It was real.

Lara’s chest tightened painfully.

So it’s true?

She wanted to deny it. She wanted to believe it was all a misunderstanding. That it didn’t mean what it looked like. But the pictures told a different story. And the silence from Reagan lately? That made it worse.

She felt sick.

Her fingers hovered over her phone screen before she dialed Reagan’s number.

No service.

She tried again.

Still unreachable.

Frustration bubbled in her chest, quickly turning into anger. Not just at the situation, but at Reagan too.

He said he would wait. He promised he wouldn’t rush her. He was the one who reassured her every single day, who told her he wouldn’t fall for anyone else.

So why was he with another woman in a jewelry store?

And more importantly… why hadn’t he told her?

Yes, she had told him before that he was free to fall in love again if ever the wait became too long. But still, he stayed. He never acted like he’d give up on her. And now she was falling for him more and more, only to be hit with this?

“No,” she muttered, pacing the floor of her suite. “No. I need to know the truth.”

Without thinking further, she dialed Duke’s number.

He picked up after a few rings. [“Lara? Wow, calling me this early? You must miss me.”]

“Duke,” she said urgently. “Where’s Reagan?”

There was a short pause. [“Uh… he’s on a business trip. Why?”]

Lara’s voice rose slightly. “Have you seen the rumors online? About him getting engaged?”

Duke chuckled. [“Oh, so that’s what this is about.”]

“Don’t play dumb. Answer me, Duke,” she snapped. “Is it true? Is Reagan getting engaged?”

He let out another chuckle, and it grated her nerves.

“Oh my god,” she muttered, annoyed. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

[“Relax,”] Duke said, amused. [“Why? Are you jealous?”]

“Yes! Of course I’m jealous!” she snapped without hesitation. “What’s the problem with that?!”

He burst out laughing, clearly entertained by her reaction.

“Duke, I swear—stop laughing and just tell me! Is it true?” she asked again, more desperate this time.

There was a beat of silence, and Duke’s tone shifted. [“What if it is? What are you going to do?”]

Lara froze.

She didn’t have an answer.

[“I mean, you and Reagan aren’t official, right?”] he continued. [“You’ve been away for more than a year. The guy’s patient, but even saints have limits.”]

Her throat tightened. “God, Duke… this isn’t funny.”

[“I’m not joking anymore,”] he said softly. [“I’m serious. What are you going to do if the rumor’s true?”]

“I... I don’t know,” Lara whispered, her voice breaking. “Do I even have the right to do anything? We’re not even in a relationship. It’s not like I own him.”

[“Well, you should’ve tied him down before you ran off around the world. Then you wouldn’t be stressing out like this now.”] Duke said bluntly.

Lara let out a frustrated groan. “God, you’re the worst. You’re supposed to calm me down, not make it worse.”

Duke chuckled under his breath. [“Hey, I’m just being real.”]

“Ugh, whatever,” she muttered, exasperated. “Just… just let me know if you hear anything from him. Please.”

[“Alright, alright,”] he replied. [“I’ll text you if he calls. For now, try not to overthink it. Wait until you hear it straight from him, okay?”]

“Thanks,” Lara murmured, then ended the call with a heavy sigh.

She lay back on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, but her mind was far from still. The anxiety didn’t leave, it only grew heavier, settling in her chest like a weight she couldn’t shake.

What if it’s true?

What if Reagan is really getting engaged?

Should she have said yes to him before she left the country? Should she have made things official between them like Duke suggested? Maybe then this wouldn’t be happening. Maybe she wouldn’t be lying here, terrified of losing him.

But wasn’t it too late?

After all, if the rumors weren’t true, wouldn’t Reagan have already denied them? Released a statement? Taken the articles down?

Unless…

Maybe he hadn’t seen them yet. Maybe he was too caught up with work. He was on a business trip, after all. Maybe the news just hadn’t reached him yet.

But what if he had seen them... and chose not to say anything?

The thought hit her like a punch to the gut.

“No,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Reagan wouldn’t do this to me.”

He wouldn’t.

...Would he?

Her vision blurred as the tears finally came—hot, silent, and unstoppable. She stared at her phone screen, willing it to light up. Wishing for a message, a missed call, anything.

Because if she had to lose him now after everything, after all the waiting.. she honestly didn’t know what she’d do.