Chapter 16 Seeing and Touching the Wound
"Bye..." Aveline said, about to step into her car.
Ezra offered a smile and held the door open. But when he glanced across the street, his smile suddenly faded.
"Ave... Isn't that..."
Aveline paused and followed Ezra's gaze. That's when her body went rigid.
About thirty meters from them, under the canopy of another restaurant, stood a figure she knew very well.
Adrian. He was with a woman.
The woman was supporting Adrian's visibly unsteady body; it was clear that Adrian was heavily drunk. Adrian's hair was messy, his tie was loose, and his face was flushed like someone who had lost control. The woman held Adrian's cheek, bringing her face closer... too close. As if trying to calm him down, or worse... perhaps about to kiss his cheek.
Aveline froze. Her entire body felt like it was being pulled out of itself. At that moment, she couldn't hear the sound of the rain. She couldn't even hear her own heartbeat. There was only a burning sensation. No, not hot. But more accurately called Scorched. In her chest. In her throat. And in her eyes.
"No..." she whispered almost soundlessly.
Ezra looked at her for a long time, his face darkening from warmth to seriousness. Without asking anything, without saying anything hurtful, he just made a quick decision.
"Come on," he said softly but with full authority. "Get in the car."
"I..." Aveline swallowed, her voice breaking. "Ezra, I..."
"Get in." This time, his voice was lower, but not angry. Rather, it was protective.
Ezra reached for Aveline's hand, guiding her without forcing, steering Aveline's body into the car. Aveline could barely think; her body moved only by Ezra's push.
As soon as the car door closed, the sound of the rain became clearer, like a thousand fine needles dancing on the metal surface.
Aveline sat stunned, her hands trembling.
It can't be... Adrian...
Her stomach tightened. Her chest felt constricted. A surge of anger erupted, but mixed with something more painful: jealousy. A hurt she didn't want to admit but couldn't deny.
Ezra sat beside her, holding the steering wheel but not turning the car on. He looked at Aveline. Not with curiosity or questions, but with understanding.
"Aveline," Ezra said, his voice deep, almost a whisper. "Look at me."
Slowly, Aveline turned her head. And something in Ezra instantly changed. His gaze became thicker, deeper, as if he were holding something back.
Ezra raised his hand and touched Aveline's cheek with warm fingers. "Don't let him make you feel bad."
The words struck like silent lightning. Aveline opened her mouth, but not a single sound escaped her lips.
"He doesn't deserve to make you cry," Ezra continued, his voice lower. "And he has no right to shatter your heart just like that."
Aveline felt her tears rising, but she held them back fiercely.
Then Ezra moved closer. Very close. While the rain continued to fall heavier on the car window, every drop felt like a heartbeat.
"Aveline..." he called softly. "You are not alone."
And before Aveline could think of anything, Ezra tilted his face and kissed Aveline's lips. This time it wasn't a rushed kiss like the one at Aveline's house. This was deep, intense, and full of emotion. As if Ezra wanted to absorb every wound that might be in Aveline's heart. His hand held Aveline's jaw, pulling her closer, his body leaning over until the space between them vanished instantly.
Aveline felt a heat flowing to her fingertips. Pain, jealousy, anger—everything mixed into one, pulsing together with the feeling Ezra gave her.
And she responded. She didn't know why.
Maybe because her heart was fractured. Maybe also because someone outside was holding another woman while she was losing her breath. Or maybe... because Ezra had walked too far into her, much deeper than she realized.
The kiss lasted quite a while. Their lips locked, and their tongues mingled. It was quite warm and intoxicating, as if Ezra had done it on purpose to distract Aveline from the pain of jealousy over Adrian.
Ezra's hands moved more boldly. They slid down, caressing Aveline's neck... then slid down to Aveline's chest and slipped under her cardigan. He squeezed the firm, supple substance beneath.
Aveline's body tensed, but she couldn't resist. Instead, her body melted and surrendered to the touch, even though logic told her this was all wrong.
When Ezra finally pulled away, their breaths were ragged. Ezra's forehead rested on Aveline's forehead.
"Listen to me carefully," Ezra said, his voice almost trembling. "You don't need to be afraid. You don't need to feel alone. And you don't need to feel like you're bad."
He looked directly into her eyes, without blinking.
"As long as I'm here... you won't feel lonely or hurt again. To me, you are everything, Ave, and you are amazing. I love you... You believe that, don't you?"
The words echoed in the confined space of the car.
Aveline couldn't answer. Her throat was too tight. Her head was too full.
Then Ezra smiled faintly. A smile that wasn't genuinely happy. More like someone holding back something from spilling out.
He opened the car door.
"I know you need time," he said as he got out. "So... go home. Peacefully."
Aveline looked at him, still struggling to breathe.
Ezra stood outside, the rain hitting his shoulders, his hair beginning to soak. But he kept looking at Aveline with a gaze that was... dangerous, yet also warm and deep.
"Good night, Aveline."