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Tears well up in my eyes again as I struggle to find my voice. "I don't know... I don't know what to do," I manage to say through sobs. "I love you, Michael. I love John too. But I can't bear to hurt him."
His face softens with understanding, yet his voice carries a deep-seated hurt.
"But you're willing to hurt me," he murmurs, his words piercing the silence. "You're willing to let go of what we have."
I shake my head vigorously, "No, no, that's not what I want. I don't want to hurt either of you. But John means so much to me; he has been there for me since I was a kid. I can't leave him."
"Right," Michael nods slowly with a sad smile. "Message received."
The reality of my decision starts to sink in….
Michael and I are done, maybe for good.
As I leave Michael's house, tears streaming down my face. I can’t help but feel a profound sense of loss and regret. It was the decision I was forced to make, and I can't shake the feeling that I've made a grave mistake.
The future seems bleak, and I'm left to live with the consequences of my choice.
Chapter 19
Confrontation
Michael
My room is surrounded by darkness, except for a solitary lamp's dim, flickering light. The smell of alcohol permeates the air. It’s a bitter reminder of my futile attempt to escape the painful reality. Empty glasses lie scattered on the floor, mirroring the shattered fragments of my heart.
Anger courses through my veins, boiling beneath the surface of my despair. With a violent sweep of my arm, I send another glass crashing against the wall, the shattering sound echoing my inner turmoil. I scream into the emptiness, trying to release my frustration and sorrow.
But as the scream fades, my desolation settles. I collapse onto the floor, surrounded by the empty glasses, remnants of my self-destruction.
Tears stream down my face, and I run my hand through my messy hair, trying to regain composure in the face of unbearable loss.
In the depths of my sorrow, memories of Serena flood my mind, a bittersweet reminder of the love we once shared. Amidst my misery, a single flashback emerges, vivid and tender.
I find myself transported to a scene where Serena stands before me, her warm smile casting a gentle glow in the room. She is preparing a meal. I creep up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist, holding her tightly from behind.
Her laughter fills the room. She turns around, glowing with joy, and I’m reminded of the depth of our connection. In that precious moment, our lips meet, and the world fades away, leaving only the intoxicating taste of her lips.
As we reluctantly part, we press our foreheads together, enjoying the remnants of the sensation from our kiss.
"Serena," I murmur, "I want every day to be like this. I want to wake up to your smile and sleep with your kiss. I can't imagine a life without you."
"Michael," she whispers, "I feel the same way. You are my everything, and I can't imagine a future without you." Her heartfelt response comforts me.
We find ourselves lost in another tender hug, our lips meeting once more. But as the memory fades, I am pulled back into the grim reality of the present, being lost in despair.
I love Serena enough to understand her situation and the difficult decision she was forced to make. Yet, her decision weighs heavy on me, leaving me in anguish.
John is my dear friend and a trusted business partner. I understand why he felt betrayed because of how he found out about our relationship. Yet, I can't hide my anger towards him for forcing Serena to choose one of us.
I am left shattered by losing Serena and the injustice she endured.
As I lie there on the cold floor, tears filling my eyes, I am left to wonder if I didn’t do enough to keep Serena and me together.
The tension between John and I is evident as we enter the boardroom. We exchange curt nods, maintaining a facade of professionalism for the benefit of the shareholders seated around the table. The weight of our strained relationship hangs heavy in the air, threatening to suffocate any chance of productive conversation.
The meeting begins, and the discussion centers around the growth of our hotel chain in the countries where we have established a presence. It's a topic we both feel passionately about. Still, our personal conflicts simmer beneath the surface, threatening to erupt at any moment.
John leads, presenting the financial projections and outlining our aggressive plans for the coming year. His voice carries confidence and authority, but I can see the tightness in his jaw and the strain in his eyes. He's trying hard to keep up the appearance that nothing is wrong between us, but I can sense his frustration towards me lingering.
