The Hart estate was bathed in a gentle, silvery radiance as the moon hung high in the sky. Olivia's engagement to Lucas Blackwell was celebrated in the vast ballroom below, which was packed with family, friends, and business acquaintances. Glasses clinked in jubilation as laughter reverberated through the corridors. For Olivia, however, the whole evening was a haze. It seemed as though she was acting out a scene from a script she didn't create with every forced grin and courteous exchange she had. This was the role of the contented wife, the obedient daughter, the lady with everything but nothing that was really important.
As the evening went on, Olivia found herself withdrawing to the balcony once more because she needed a respite from the commotion and the pressure of expectations. She leaned on the railing and gazed out at the ocean that stretched infinitely before her, the cool air a pleasant comfort. In contrast to the manufactured joy within, the sound of the waves breaking against the rocks below was calming.
Olivia gave herself permission to reminisce for a time. There had been simpler days when she and Ethan had been inseparable. His hand would slide into hers, their fingers entwining as if they were born to be there, and she could practically feel his presence at her side now. She had always thought that they could conquer anything and that they were in love. Then the hard truth set in: the strain to uphold the Hart family name, the demands of her father, and the expectations of her relatives.
Olivia inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She was no longer able to deny it. Deep within her heart was the love she still harbored for Ethan. He was the one she had always desired, regardless of how hard she tried to ignore it or how many years had gone by. The one she would always remember.
"Olivia?"
She was startled out of her reverie by the sound of Lucas's voice, and she turned to see him standing behind her. His nice suit and well-groomed hair gave him the polished look of the ideal fiancé, and he smiled confidently. However, even as she gazed at him, she was unable to resist the gaping hole that only Ethan could fill.
"Lucas," she said quietly, attempting to conceal the turmoil within herself. "I was just taking a breath."
His eyes softened as he gazed out at the water, and he moved closer, resting a hand on the railing beside hers. "I figured you might require some privacy. This must be too much to handle.
Olivia nodded, appreciating that he appeared to comprehend. Lucas was, in many respects, the ideal guy for the position her family had given him. He was a successful, affable man who genuinely cared about his future with her. She was grateful for his understanding, but she couldn't get rid of the persistent sense that something was lacking.
Lucas continued in a firm voice, "You know, Olivia, I don't have to do this," but there was a glimmer of something more profound in his eyes. "We are under no obligation to proceed with this engagement. I'll release you if you—
Olivia cut in, her heart thumping in her chest, "No." "No, Lucas. I made this choice. I must do this for my household. For all that we have constructed.
Lucas's face relaxed, yet there was a glint of doubt in his eyes. "I get it. But remember, Olivia, that you are worthy of happiness. You are worthy of more than simply granting your family's wishes.
She turned her back on him, gazing down over the vast expanse of ocean. More to herself than to him, she muttered, "I don't know if I can be happy anymore."
Ethan, meanwhile, was sitting in his car outside a tiny café in downtown Los Angeles, tapping the steering wheel impatiently. The chaos within him appeared to be reflected in the late-night sky above him. Driving through the city in an attempt to get rid of the throbbing emptiness that had taken hold of his chest, he had left the coast behind. However, it was failing. He was unable to avoid the reality no matter how far he traveled or how many hours he spent attempting to keep Olivia at bay.
There was nothing he could do to stop her from slipping away from him.
He had spent years persuading himself that he could live without her and that he would be alright. However, he became aware of how much he had deceived himself as he sat there looking at the deserted street in front of him. In reality, he was nothing without Olivia.
He had been mistaken in his belief that love was a force that could overcome everything. Love was insufficient. Never had it been sufficient. Not when confronted with life's hard realities. Not after Olivia's family had stated unequivocally that they were never meant to be together.
Feeling the pressure of his annoyance pressing into his ribcage, Ethan inhaled deeply. He wasn't sure what he wanted; perhaps he just wanted anything to divert his attention or dull the ache. However, he noticed a figure standing on the sidewalk on the other side of the street as he looked around.
A tall, self-assured woman was approaching the café with a purpose in her stride. For a brief minute, Ethan believed he knew her as his eyes followed her motions. But his heart skipped a beat as she got closer.
Olivia was the one.
Why had she come here? Her presence made the world seem smaller and more genuine, but he wasn't sure why she had come to this area of the city.
Before he could stop himself, he hurriedly opened the car door and got out, his feet already approaching her. Her head was slightly cocked as if she were deep in contemplation, and she hadn't seen him yet. However, as she raised her head, their gazes locked, and for a moment, all else vanished.
"Ethan?" His heart lurched in his chest at the sound of her voice, which was no more than a whisper.
"Olivia..." His words caught in his throat as he stepped forward. "Why are you in this place?"
Her expression was a mix of astonishment and something darker, like sorrow or longing, as she glanced down and then back up at him. "I had to leave," she murmured softly, her voice trembling. "With everything going on, I couldn't stay there."
Ethan stepped closer to her, his heart racing. "You have no business being here. You must be with your family and Lucas. Olivia, you have your whole life ahead of you. Please don't let me ruin that.
With tears in her eyes, she shook her head. "Ethan, I'm at a loss for what to do. Being the person that everyone wants me to be is something I'm not sure how to do. Additionally, I'm not sure how to let go of us.
The words, laden with all they were unable to express, hung in the air between them. Ethan extended his arm and grasped her hands, using a firm yet delicate touch.
He said, "Olivia, you don't have to let go of anything." "I won't be leaving."