Chapter 205

Chapter 205

Before the conversation ended, Molly slid a note with Juniper's address across the table. "This is where she lives now. If you're truly set on ending things, at least give her a proper explanation. Otherwise, I don't think she'll ever be able to move on."

Chris stared at the slip of paper, his fingers twitching slightly, but he didn't pick it up.

Yet as Molly rose to leave, she noticed him tuck the note into his suit pocket.

"Make the most of this chance," Molly said, a faint smile playing at her lips. "Don't let her down." She gathered her bag and turned to walk away.

That evening, Juniper received a call from the one person she thought she'd never hear from again.

"I'm downstairs." Chris's voice came through the receiver, hoarse and weary. "Can we talk?"

Juniper's hand trembled as she clutched the phone. She moved to the window and, sure enough, spotted that familiar silhouette standing beneath a streetlight, his shadow stretched long and solitary across the pavement.

She bit her lip, forcing a casual tone. "What, Mr. Murphy finally remembered his ex-girlfriend exists?"

"Juniper..." His voice carried a note of exhaustion. "Can we please just talk?"

Fifteen minutes later, the door swung open.

Juniper stood there in loungewear, her hair loosely pinned up, face free of makeup—unadorned yet strikingly beautiful.

Their eyes met, and the air between them seemed to freeze.

"Come in," Juniper said, stepping aside.

"Want something to drink?" she asked, turning toward the kitchen with her back to him.

"No need." Chris remained rooted in place. "I only want to say a few things, then I'll go."

Juniper turned around, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. "I'm listening."

"When I ended things—it wasn't because I didn't love you." Chris took a deep breath. "The opposite, actually. I loved you too much."

Juniper's lashes fluttered, though her expression remained composed. "That's a new spin on a breakup line."

"My father's business hit serious trouble—got tangled up in some complicated situations." Chris's words came with difficulty. "I didn't want to drag you into it. At the time, I thought leaving you was the best way to protect you."

"You thought?" Juniper's voice finally wavered. "Chris, what gave you the right to make that decision for me? You thought leaving was protection? Do you have any idea how much it hurt?"

Her eyes reddened, though she stubbornly held back tears.

Chris felt his heart wrench painfully. He stepped forward, reaching to touch her face, but his hand froze mid-air.

"I'm sorry." His voice broke. "I know it doesn't help, but I truly am."

Juniper looked at him—at this man she'd once loved so deeply—and suddenly all pretense felt meaningless.

She stepped closer, taking his suspended hand and pressing it against her cheek.

"Chris, you're an asshole." Her voice came soft but crystal clear.

"I know."

"So why can't I forget you?"

Then she rose onto her toes and kissed him.

Chris's eyes widened in shock. He felt the woman's tender, lingering kiss and found himself responding involuntarily.

His mind kept repeating warnings not to get close to her again, but his body betrayed him, drawn to her like a magnet.

And then everything spiraled beyond control.

Emotions suppressed for far too long erupted with overwhelming force. All reason, all reservations—cast aside in that single moment. Chris pulled Juniper tightly into his arms, as though trying to merge her into his very being.

Their kiss was fervent and desperate. Clothing scattered from living room to bedroom.

They tangled together in the darkness, boundaries dissolving.

Heavy breathing filled the space, magnified in the silence, heightening every sensation.

Juniper's fingers dug into his back, leaving trails of red marks.

"Juniper... Juniper..." He murmured her name over and over against her ear.

At first she responded, but gradually her voice fractured into broken sounds.

When the passion finally subsided, only their mingled breathing remained.

Juniper lay weakly in Chris's embrace, utterly spent.

One arm draped around his neck while her other hand absently traced circles on his chest, her eyes brimming with longing.

"Will you leave again this time?" she asked softly.

Chris didn't answer immediately.

He looked down at the woman in his arms, his dark eyes filled with tenderness and reluctance.

He knew he should leave.

Logic insisted he shouldn't pull her into this vortex again.

But when his gaze fell on her slightly swollen lips and saw the shimmer of tears forming in her eyes, his resolve crumbled.

Before seeing her, his answer would have been certain.

After seeing her, all his convictions evaporated. He couldn't bring himself to speak those decisive words to her face.

"I'm not leaving." His voice carried unusual gravity. "Unless you kick me out."

Juniper lifted her head, tears glistening in her eyes even as she smiled like a child. "Then you'd better prepare to be stuck with me for life."

Chris kissed her forehead, the tension that had gripped his heart finally releasing.

He knew he was completely lost.

Like a vine finding a wall to cling to—from this point forward, it would only wind tighter, never letting go.

 

The next day, Molly received a message from Juniper containing just four words: "We made up."

Molly gazed at her phone screen, a smile tugging at her lips.

She showed the message to Edward. "See? I told you they still had a chance."

Edward wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Happy now?"

"Very!" Molly turned in his embrace, looping her arms around his neck. "Thank you for helping. When they get married, they'll owe it all to you."

The woman's smile was radiant.

Edward raised an eyebrow, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "That's hardly enough gratitude. I'm expecting more."

Molly laughed, brushing a light kiss across his lips. "How about this?"

"Still nowhere near sufficient." He tightened his hold, deepening the kiss.

When they finally broke apart, Molly leaned against him, breathless. "When are we leaving for our trip?"

"Next week." Edward stroked her hair. "I've already made all the arrangements."