Chapter 13: The Road to Trust
The following week passed in a haze of introspection for Emma. She had been spending more time with Lucas, though their meetings remained slow and careful. Their conversations were easy, and the silence between them wasn't filled with the same heavy tension it once was. But Emma couldn't help but wonder if things could truly go back to the way they were, or if the cracks in their relationship would always be visible, lurking just beneath the surface.
She spent hours thinking about trust—how she had placed so much of it in him, only to watch it crumble when the truth came out. How could she rebuild it? Could she rebuild it?
On Friday afternoon, she was walking through the park, lost in thought, when she felt the familiar buzz of her phone. It was a text from Lucas.
Lucas: "I've been thinking… I know things are still a bit messy between us, but I'd like to take you somewhere special this weekend. Just us, no distractions. Maybe a chance to reset? I promise I'm not rushing anything. Just a peaceful day together, whenever you're ready."