The rain had started as a light drizzle, but by the time Celia stepped out of the café with Gabriel, it had turned into a full storm. The air was thick with moisture, the city streets glistening under the downpour. Everything felt heavy, as if the universe itself was pressing down on her.
As they moved through the streets, Celia's heart raced with a strange blend of fear, confusion, and something else—something she didn't want to name. Gabriel's words echoed in her head. Ezra had fallen for her. Could that be true? Could she trust that his feelings went beyond the deal that had destroyed her life?
Her phone vibrated again—another message from Ezra, but this time, her mind was too muddled to focus on the words. All she knew was that every path she took led her back to him. Ezra, the man who had married her out of duty, the man who had saved her, yet the man whose lies had broken her heart.
She suddenly stopped walking, standing under the rain as the droplets soaked through her jacket, her hair plastering to her face. Gabriel turned to her, his eyes full of concern.
"Celia, what's wrong?" he asked, stepping closer.
"I… I need to go," she whispered, not even sure where she wanted to run, only knowing that her emotions were crashing over her in waves too strong to bear.
Without another word, she turned and hurried in the opposite direction, away from Gabriel, away from the café, away from everything.
She didn't stop running until she reached the towering building that housed Ezra's penthouse. Breathing heavily, soaked to the bone, she stared up at the structure, her chest tightening. Why had she come here? She had sworn to herself that she would stay away from him. She had sworn to herself that she wouldn't let him hurt her again. But despite everything, she was here, drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
Before she could change her mind, the doors slid open, and she stepped inside. The elevator ride to the top floor felt agonizingly long. By the time she reached his floor, her heart was in her throat, pounding in a wild, erratic rhythm.
The door to his penthouse stood slightly ajar, as if he had been waiting for her.
She pushed it open slowly, stepping inside to find Ezra standing in the middle of the living room, his phone in hand, eyes wide as he took in her rain-drenched form.
"Celia," he breathed, his voice rough, as if he had been waiting for this moment just as long as she had.
Before he could say anything else, Celia cut him off, her voice trembling. "Why didn't you tell me the truth, Ezra? Why didn't you just tell me?"
Ezra took a step forward, his expression unreadable, but there was something raw in his eyes. "Because I thought I could handle it. I thought I could keep you safe without dragging you into my world. I didn't want you to hate me."
"Hate you?" Celia laughed bitterly, wiping at her wet face, though it was hard to tell if it was the rain or tears anymore. "I don't hate you, Ezra. I'm just… I don't know what to feel. You saved me, but you also kept me in the dark."
"I know," he said, his voice soft yet laced with guilt. "I thought I was doing the right thing, but I've only caused you more pain. I'm sorry, Celia. For everything."
The sincerity in his voice broke something inside of her. All the anger, confusion, and sadness she had carried since the divorce bubbled up, threatening to drown her. "I don't know how to do this anymore," she whispered, looking up at him, her chest tight with emotions she had tried so hard to bury. "I don't know how to feel anything except hurt."
Ezra's eyes softened as he closed the distance between them, his hand gently cupping her cheek. The warmth of his touch contrasted with the cold of the rain that still clung to her skin. "You don't have to know right now," he murmured, his thumb brushing her skin. "I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'm not asking for anything except this moment."
Celia closed her eyes at his touch, her breath shaky as she tried to steady herself. But how could she? How could she ignore the way her body responded to him, the way her heart ached not just with pain, but with longing? She had loved him once—deeply, passionately—and despite everything, part of her still did.
Before she could stop herself, she leaned into his touch, her resolve crumbling. "I don't know how to let you back in," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ezra's other hand came up, gently pulling her closer. "Then let me show you," he whispered back, his lips inches from hers.
Time seemed to stop as their eyes locked, the air between them charged with something electric, something inevitable. Without another word, Celia closed the remaining distance between them, her lips crashing into his with a desperation that mirrored the storm raging outside.
Ezra responded immediately, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her flush against him. The kiss was raw, intense, filled with all the unspoken words and unshed tears they had carried for so long. It was a kiss that wasn't just about desire—it was about forgiveness, about finding something they had lost along the way.
Celia's hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as if she feared he might disappear. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart against her chest, the warmth of his body chasing away the cold that had settled deep inside her.
They stumbled back toward the bedroom, their lips never parting, their hands grasping at each other as if the world outside no longer existed. When they finally collapsed onto the bed, it wasn't just about physical need—it was about finding solace in each other's arms.
Ezra hovered above her, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he looked down at her, his gaze filled with something she hadn't seen in a long time—vulnerability. "Are you sure?" he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.
Celia's answer was in the way she pulled him closer, her lips finding his again in a kiss that spoke of all the things she couldn't say. In that moment, it didn't matter that their relationship had been built on lies. It didn't matter that the world outside was still filled with danger. All that mattered was that they were here, together, rediscovering what they had lost.
As the night wore on, the storm outside raged, but inside, there was only warmth, only the feel of their bodies moving together in a dance that was as old as time itself.
When it was over, they lay tangled in the sheets, the silence between them heavy but not uncomfortable. For the first time in a long time, Celia felt at peace. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but for now, in Ezra's arms, she felt safe.
Ezra's voice broke the silence, soft and hesitant. "I love you, Celia. I always have."
She closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her, but she didn't respond. She couldn't—at least not yet. There was still too much pain, too much left unsaid. But for now, she would hold onto this moment, this fragile peace, and hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.