Chapter 16
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Chapter 16: Torn Between Two Worlds
The following days were a blur of mixed emotions. Lila tried to focus on her work, but her thoughts kept drifting to Lucas—the way he had looked at her, the way his words had stirred something inside her. She was torn. Torn between the love she had built with Ethan, the life they had created together, and the allure of something unknown with Lucas.
Ethan could sense the shift in her. He had always been attuned to her moods, to the subtle changes in the way she looked at him, in the way she spoke. And lately, he had noticed that something was off. Lila had become distant, more withdrawn. The spark that had once ignited their conversations now seemed to flicker, as though something or someone else had taken up space in her heart.
One afternoon, Ethan cornered her as she was preparing to leave the gallery for a meeting. His expression was serious, a mix of concern and quiet frustration.
“Lila, what’s going on?” he asked, his voice laced with worry. “I feel like you’re pulling away from me. You’ve been distracted lately, and I don’t know why.”
Lila froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She could lie, tell him everything was fine, but she knew that would only create more distance. Instead, she let out a breath and looked him in the eyes.
“I’ve been thinking a lot,” she admitted softly. “And I’m not sure I’m being fair to either of us.”
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I—” Lila’s voice wavered, but she couldn’t hold it back anymore. “I think… I think I’ve been feeling something for someone else. Someone who isn’t you.”
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and painful. Ethan’s face went pale, his expression unreadable.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Lila continued, her voice cracking. “I didn’t want to hurt you, but I can’t deny it. I feel confused.”
Ethan took a step back, the hurt in his eyes cutting through her like a knife. “So this is about Lucas, isn’t it?”
Lila nodded, unable to lie. “Yes.”
Ethan let out a breath, his eyes betraying the pain he felt. “Lila… I don’t know what to say.”
Lila reached out, but he stepped away, his posture stiff. “I can’t be part of this. Not if you’re unsure about us.”
“I don’t want to lose you, Ethan,” she whispered, feeling tears well up. “But I need time. I need to figure out what I want.”
Ethan shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. “Take all the time you need, Lila. But know this—you can’t keep me hanging on while you figure things out with someone else.”
He turned and walked away, leaving Lila standing alone in the gallery, the weight of her choices settling heavily in her chest.
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