Chapter 21 Sudden Confession
I speak in a choked voice, “What did you do?”
My voice is trembling, as if with every word my strength is breaking apart. He remains completely expressionless. There is no rise or fall in his eyes, no emotion visible. In a flat voice, he simply says, “Nothing.”
The moment he says that, something inside me breaks loose. Suddenly, still sitting in his lap, I cling to his chest. The sound of my sobs fills the car. I can’t stop myself. Tears keep flowing uncontrollably. Without saying a word, he gently rubs my back, as if trying to calm me down.
“Calm down,” he says softly.
Through my tears, I ask, “Why are you doing all this?”
There is both a question and pain in my voice. But he doesn’t answer this either. He only holds me tighter in his arms.
His silence hurts me even more. I go quiet, staying pressed against his chest. The steady beat of his heart slowly begins to soothe my screaming silence.
There is very little conversation between us. Time seems to freeze. For the next fifteen minutes, we remain like this me resting against his chest, and him holding me close.
The car slowly comes to a stop. I try to get down from his lap, but he doesn’t let me. In the next moment, he lifts me into his arms and steps out of the car. I look at his face in surprise, but he keeps walking without stopping.
Then my eyes fall on what’s in front of us. A huge villa… incredibly beautiful. The lights are soft, the architecture elegant. I say in shock, “Where… where have we come?”
Looking straight ahead, he replies calmly, “My villa.”
I’m even more surprised. “Then why were we staying in a hotel?”
He pauses slightly and says, “There was a reason.”
I immediately ask, “What reason?” This time, he falls completely silent. Not a single word. His silence pierces me from the inside. It hurts.
A thought rises in my heart when he expects everything from me, why doesn’t he share every part of his life with me? Does he see me as nothing more than a responsibility? Is there really no love here?
Carrying me in his arms, he walks into the villa. The inside is even more beautiful elegant interiors, soft lighting, and a strange sense of peace. He takes me straight upstairs and into a room. The room is beautiful too calm.
Within the next ten minutes, both of us change into nightwear. He seats me on the sofa near the window. My gaze goes to the large glass window. Outside, there is a breathtaking view of snow white, quiet, almost unreal. Snow is falling, as if even the sky is slowly crying.
He turns the heater on and sits down on the sofa. Then he lifts me once again and settles me on his lap. My shawl is lying on the side table. He picks it up and gently drapes it over me. That small gesture touches my heart deeply.
I rest my head against his chest. His breath brushes softly against my hair. I sit quietly, watching the snow fall outside, saying nothing at all.
I slowly lift my head and look at him. So many questions are swirling inside my heart. Gathering a little courage, I finally ask,
“Why did you call me the CEO?”
He answers while still looking out the window, his voice filled with calm certainty,
“Because you are the CEO.”
His words touch my heart deeply. My eyes grow moist, and I feel surprised at myself. Hesitating, I speak again, “But… how can I be? I mean… why are you doing all this?”
Now he slowly turns his face toward me. His gaze settles straight into my eyes, as if he is looking into my soul. In that moment, time seems to stop. Then, in a very soft yet completely honest voice, he says, “Because I love you.”
The moment I hear those words, it feels as if my ears are playing tricks on me. I go numb for a second. My heart starts pounding wildly. A thought instantly crosses my mind maybe this is guilt, maybe he is trying to ease the weight of his mistakes. But when I look into his eyes, there is no compulsion there… only true, genuine love.
Seeing my shock, he asks with a faint smile, “Do you love me?”
There is longing in his eyes, a little fear, a little hope as if he has placed the decision of his entire world in my answer. I am unable to say anything. Words abandon me. There is only a feeling… deep, sincere, filled with trust.
Silently, I rest my head on his shoulder. Then, suddenly, I hold him tightly, as if letting go would mean losing everything. I hide my face in his arms and close my eyes. At that moment, I don’t need to answer my silent embrace says it all.
He gently pats my back, just like someone protecting their most precious treasure. The comfort of his arms reaches deep into my heart. Snow continues to fall outside, the room grows quieter, and all my exhaustion slowly melts away, Sleep slowly begins to take over me.
The next morning, I slowly wake up. My eyes are half open, my mind still tangled in the emotions of the previous night. I stretch my hand to feel his presence beside me, but the other side of the bed is empty. I sit up slightly and look around. I am alone on the bed… he isn’t there.
A slight restlessness rises within my heart. For a moment, it feels as if something is missing. Just then, I hear a soft sound from a distance. The door of the study room opens, and he walks out. His eyes fall directly on me, and the same warm smile appears on his face the one that instantly fills my heart with calm.
He walks toward me slowly and sits at the edge of the bed. Without saying a word, he places a gentle kiss on my forehead. His voice breaks the quiet of the morning, “Awake already, CEO ma’am?”
I look at him with a soft smile. Sleep still lingers in my eyes, but my heart is fully awake now. Looking at me lovingly, he says, “Get ready, then come downstairs. We’ll enjoy it today.”
Hearing his words, my smile deepens. I nod gently in happiness, silently saying “yes.” A childlike excitement runs through my heart. I quickly get down from the bed and rush toward the bathroom without another word, as if I might miss all the fun if I get late.
As soon as I enter the bathroom, I look at myself in the mirror. There is a different kind of glow on my face. I freshen up quickly, set my hair, and get ready simply.
In about fifteen minutes, I step out, fully ready. I walk into the living area, and I am left completely stunned because standing right in front of me is Diana.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!