Chapter 5: The Return
630 Words
Monday came and went, but the strange feeling that had settled in Aria's heart refused to leave. Ethan's hurried departure replayed in her mind more often than she cared to admit. She wanted to believe his explanation, yet something told her he was carrying a burden far heavier than a busy work schedule.
The next afternoon, Morrison & Hart was unusually quiet. Most of the staff had gone out for lunch, leaving Aria alone in the conference room to review the latest campaign proposal. She adjusted a few slides, satisfied with the progress, when a knock interrupted her concentration.
"Come in," she called.
The door opened slowly.
Standing in the doorway was a tall man dressed in a navy-blue suit. His dark hair was neatly combed, and his confident smile suggested he had never doubted his place in the world.
For a moment, Aria froze.
The folder slipped from her hands, scattering papers across the floor.
"No..." she whispered.
The man smiled as if they had only been apart for a few days.
"Hello, Aria."
Her heartbeat quickened.
It was Ryan Foster.
The man she had loved.
The man who had shattered her heart three years earlier.
Ryan stepped forward and bent down to help gather the papers.
"You still organize everything by color," he said with a faint chuckle. "Some habits never change."
Aria quickly pulled the papers from his hands.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was hoping we'd talk."
"I don't think we have anything to discuss."
His smile faded.
"I deserve that."
She folded her arms tightly.
"You disappeared without an explanation. You ignored every call and every message. Then, months later, I heard from someone else that you were engaged."
Ryan lowered his eyes.
"It wasn't what it looked like."
Aria laughed bitterly.
"That's exactly what everyone says after they've broken someone's heart."
Before Ryan could respond, Daniel walked into the room.
"Oh, good. You've already met."
Aria stared at him in confusion.
"Met?"
Daniel nodded.
"Ryan's company has partnered with Ethan Blake's firm for the new product launch. He'll be working closely with our team for the next few months."
The words hit Aria like a wave.
Working together?
Every day?
She forced herself to remain calm.
"Excuse me," she said quietly before leaving the room.
She walked quickly toward the rooftop terrace, hoping the cool afternoon breeze would steady her racing thoughts.
She gripped the railing, trying to control the emotions she had spent years burying.
Footsteps approached behind her.
She didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
"I'm sorry," Ryan said softly.
"I don't want your apology."
"You don't even know what happened."
"I know enough."
"No, you don't."
She finally turned to face him.
His eyes carried a sadness she had never noticed before.
"I never stopped loving you, Aria."
The words hung in the air.
She searched his face for any sign of dishonesty, but before she could answer, another voice interrupted them.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
They both turned.
Ethan stood at the rooftop entrance, holding a file in one hand.
His expression was calm, but the tension in his eyes was impossible to miss.
He looked from Ryan to Aria, silently taking in the scene before him.
For the first time since they had met, the warmth in his smile was gone.
"I'll come back later," Ethan said quietly.
Before Aria could explain, he turned and walked away.
She called after him, but he didn't stop.
Ryan watched Ethan disappear before speaking.
"Is he... important to you?"
Aria didn't answer.
Because she wasn't sure.
She only knew one thing.
The carefully rebuilt peace in her life had just been shattered again.
And this time, walking away from the past wouldn't be nearly as easy.
- Writer
