C
Alejandro didn’t push the conversation further after Ashley called him out. He knew that dwelling on his feelings would only make things harder for her.”
Especially now–when she was already struggling with her mental health. The last thing he wanted was to add to her
burden.
“Let’s head back. The wind’s picking up.“”
It was an excuse. A flimsy one. He felt restless, eager to cut their time alone short before the weight of unspoken words became unbearable.
How ironic. For years, Alejandro had wished–ached–for her to notice his feelings. Now that Ashley had known about it,
all he wanted to do was hide.
Pathetic.
He mocked himself bitterly. ‘Alejandro, you’re nothing but a coward.”
He walked ahead, his frame poised and composed, never once betraying the depth of his emotions.
Somehow, that restraint only made Ashley feel them more. The chandelier above them swayed slightly. Alejandro’s lips parted, his eyes darkening with urgency–then, without warning, he lunged at her, knocking her to the ground.
She saw it happen. But she heard nothing. A strange pressure coiled in her chest, thick and suffocating, until she could barely breathe.
Ashley knew this feeling. She was slipping–again. Her condition always worsened when her emotions swung too wildly
and this time was no different.
As Alejandro helped her up, his face pale with worry, she finally noticed the blood dripping steadily from his arm.
The chandelier had fallen. Alejandro had thrown himself over her, shielding her from harm.
“Are you hurt?“”
His arm was bleeding, yet his only concern was Ashley. His dark eyes, deep and steady, held nothing but worry. Even in pain, he had noticed something was wrong with her before she had even said a word.
Ashley’s heart, long numb and detached, gave the faintest tremor. Back inside the building, the family doctor arrived quickly.
As the doctor pressed an alcohol–soaked cotton ball against Alejandro’s wound, Ashley sat quietly nearby, her fingers curling and uncurling in her lap–a subtle sign of her unease.
Alejandro noticed.”
“You don’t need to feel guilty,” he said lightly. “This was my fault. The housekeeper warned me the chandelier needed to come down. I forgot. And then I brought you through that hallway.“”
“So if anything, I should be apologizing to you.” He spoke so matter–of–factly, as if the injury meant nothing.”
Ashley frowned. “Why do you always do this? Why are you so good to me? Is it worth it? Even if I can’t give you what you want?“!
Alejandro, truthfully, wasn’t great with pain. But right now, he acted as if it was nothing–because the last thing he wanted was for her to see him as weak.
At that moment, the faint smile on Alejandro’s lips wavered, turning stiff for a brief second before he forced it back into place.
The family doctor, having just overheard something far beyond his pay grade, wasted no time packing up his medical kit. If he could sprout wings and fly out of the room, he would.
Once the doctor was gone, Alejandro’s expression darkened slightly.
“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same,” he said quietly. “This was always just my burden to bear. My choice. My consequences.”
Before tonight, as long as they left things unspoken, Alejandro had been able to hold on to the fragile illusion of hope. Now, with Ashley’s words hanging between them, that dream had shattered completely.N
But then…W
“That chandelier…” Ashley’s voice was unsteady. “If you hadn’t shielded me, it wouldn’t have been your arm that got hurt- it would’ve been your head.”W
“Does your love for me really have to go that far?”
Did he have to risk his life for her?!!
“You know? We could try.” Her voice trembled as the words slipped out, even surprising herself.
When she walked away from Max, she had been certain it would be a long time—maybe forever–before she could let
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12.54 AM DO
Before tonight, as long as they left things unspoken, Alejandro had been able to hold on to the fragile illusion of hope. Now, with Ashley’s words hanging between them, that dream had shattered completely.%
But then…
“That chandelier…” Ashley’s voice was unsteady. “If you hadn’t shielded me, it wouldn’t have been your arm that got hurt- it would’ve been your head.”
“Does your love for me really have to go that far?”
Did he have to risk his life for her?W
“You know? We could try.” Her voice trembled as the words slipped out, even surprising herself.
When she walked away from Max, she had been certain it would be a long time–maybe forever–before she could let
herself love again.
But life never followed a script. And now, there was Alejandro.
For the first time in a long time, her heart, once lost and adrift, finally found the courage to reach for something new. “Are you serious? I don’t want this to be a rushed decision you’ll regret later.“”
Alejandro’s voice shook. This was everything he had ever hoped for, the moment he had spent years dreaming about. But more than his own desires, he cared about Ashley’s feelings.
What if, one day, she realized she had only chosen him out of guilt or impulse?!!
He didn’t want a love built on fleeting emotions. If it meant avoiding that heartbreak, he would rather stay on the sidelines, quietly watching over her from afar.
“But I want to be impulsive for once! As long as you don’t let go of me, we’ll stay together.“”
Saying it out loud made her feel a little self–conscious, but she didn’t take it back.
“Well? Are you going to give me an answer?”
Ashley held his gaze, her eyes searching his. In those deep, dark irises, she saw the war raging inside him–shock, hesitation, longing.
For a split second, he wavered. Never in his life had he wanted anything as much as this. It was too tempting. Too impossible to resist.”
For years, he had spent his sleepless nights in the quiet solitude of his study, tracing the worn edges of an old photograph, clinging to the memory of a fleeting summer romance.
And now, she was here. Offering him something real.
His lips parted, trembling slightly. Then, finally, he breathed the word he had been waiting a decade to say.”
“Okay.”
And just like that, the wish he had carried for ten long years finally came true.”
