Chapter 14 

Weeks turned into months, but Marco‘ s relentless pursuit didn’t fade. Every few days, I’d find a bouquet of roses at my doorstep or a heartfelt note slipped under my door. He was desperate, trying anything he could to make me reconsider. I saw the regret in his eyes whenever our paths crossed–how he’d give me a pleading look, as though hoping I would forgive and return to him. He apologized for everything, swearing that he had changed, that he was a better man now. But no matter how many times he begged, the 

I had moved on. 

Being with Lance had given me a peace I didn’t even know I was missing. He made me laugh, brought lightness into my life that had once been shrouded in darkness. There were no complicated games, no lingering tension. With him, it was simple–it was easy. And I needed that more than anything. The scars of my past with Marco were still there, but Lance’s love helped me heal, piece by piece. 

One evening, Lance and I took a walk along the river, the city lights twinkling across the water. The air was cool, and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close. I 

leaned into him, savoring the warmth and the 

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arm around my waist, pulling me close. I leaned into him, savoring the warmth and the steadiness of his presence. We stopped at a 

small bench by the water, watching the boats pass by in the distance. 

“You know,” he began, his voice soft and thoughtful, “I never imagined I’d find someone who could make me feel this way. You make everything better, Isabelle.” 

I smiled, looking up at him. “You make everything better, too.” 

He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out something small and shiny. My breath caught in my throat when I realized what it was. 

“Isabelle,” he said, his voice thick with emotion as he knelt down in front of me, 

holding out a delicate ring, “I want to spend 

the rest of my life with you. Will you marry 

the rest of my life with you. Will you marry 

me?” 

For a moment, I couldn’t speak, 

overwhelmed by the love in his eyes and the simplicity of the moment. It wasn’t grand or flashy, but it was everything I wanted. Lance was everything I wanted. 

Tears welled in my eyes as I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. “Yes. Yes, I will.” 

He slipped the ring onto my finger, standing up to pull me into a tight embrace. I felt a warmth bloom inside me, a sense of happiness and contentment that I hadn’t felt in years. We kissed, and in that moment, everything felt perfect. All the pain of the past, the heartbreak, the struggles–it all melted away. 

Later that night as we lay on the couch in 

melted away. 

Later that night, as we lay on the couch in each other’s arms, my mind wandered back to Marco for just a moment. His attempts to win me back had once made me feel conflicted, but now I realized that I had made the right choice. Marco had been a part of my life for so long, but that chapter was over. Lance was my future. 

It wasn’t long before Marco’s efforts began to fade. The flowers stopped coming, the calls stopped ringing. Perhaps he had finally realized that I wasn‘ t coming back. Maybe he found peace in letting me go. Whatever the case, I felt lighter knowing that chapter had truly ended. 

One day, I ran into Marco on the street. His 

face was tired, but there was a quiet 

acceptance in his eyes. He didn’t say anything at first, just gave me a small nod, acknowledging what we both knew: that things between us were over. 

“I hope you‘ re happy, Isabelle,” he said finally, his voice softer than I had ever heard it. 

“I am,” I replied, my hand instinctively touching the engagement ring on my finger. 

Marco’s gaze flickered to the ring, and for a brief moment, I saw the pain flash across his face. But then he smiled–a sad, almost resigned smile. 

“Goodbye, Isabelle,” he said, and with that, he walked away, disappearing into the crowd. 

As I watched him go, I felt no anger, no bitterness–just a sense of closure. That part 

As I watched m go, i fent i aige, 110 

bitterness–just a sense of closure. That part of my life had come to an end, and I was ready to move forward. 

Lance and I spent the next few months planning our future together, dreaming about our wedding, our life as a married couple. It wasn’t just about escaping the darkness of the past—it was about building something beautiful together. 

And as we stood together, hand in hand, I knew without a doubt that I had found where I truly belonged.