Chapter 8: A Family Shadow
One evening, Hedro received a call from his father.
"Have you finalized the partnership agreements?" Javier asked.
"Not yet, but we're close," Hedro replied.
"Good. And remember, focus on the business. We can't afford distractions."
Hedro clenched his jaw, the unspoken warning clear. His family had always expected him to prioritize duty over everything else. But this time, he wasn't sure he could comply.
Aliana, too, faced her own challenges. Her colleagues began noticing her frequent absences during lunch breaks, and her supervisor reminded her of the importance of staying focused.
"You've been distracted lately, Aliana. Is everything okay?"
"Of course," she lied, though she couldn't deny that her growing connection with Hedro was consuming her thoughts.
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Chapter 9: Unspoken Feelings
One crisp autumn evening, Hedro and Aliana found themselves sitting on a bench overlooking the Hudson River. The city lights shimmered on the water, creating a scene of quiet beauty.
"I feel like I've known you much longer than a few weeks," Hedro said, his voice soft.
Aliana smiled, her heart pounding. "I feel the same. It's strange, isn't it? How quickly we connected."
Hedro hesitated, then turned to face her. "Aliana, I don't know where this is going, but I know I don't want it to end."
Aliana met his gaze, her own fears bubbling to the surface. "It's not that simple, Hedro. Our lives are so different."
"Different, yes. But maybe that's what makes this worth exploring," he said.
For a moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them and the unspoken promise of what could be.