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Chapter 110 – Ethan's POV
"The Morning After Everything Changed"
She was still in my arms when I opened my eyes.
The early morning sun spilled through the curtains, casting a golden warmth across the sheets tangled around our bodies. Amara shifted slightly, letting out a small sigh as she nestled deeper into the crook of my arm. Her cheek was pressed against my chest, and her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns along my skin.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
We just breathed. Quiet and connected.
It was peaceful in a way I'd forgotten existed.
I turned my head slightly and looked down at her.
She was already awake — not saying anything, just looking at me, her pale brown eyes soft but thoughtful.
"You're staring," I murmured with a smile.
She gave a faint smirk and ran her fingers up my chest. "You snore."
I chuckled. "I do not."
"You do," she teased, resting her chin on my chest. "Like a dying engine."
I groaned. "That's rude."
"You earned it," she said, then after a beat, her voice turned softer. "Are you feeling better?"
"Much," I said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks to you."
"You were burning up," she whispered. "I was worried."
I nodded slowly. "I know. I remember pieces of the night... but what I remember most is that you stayed."
Her eyes flickered, her hand stilling on my chest.
"I wanted to," she said quietly.
"I didn't deserve it."
She looked at me for a long moment, then exhaled through her nose. "Maybe not. But I needed to be here anyway."
Silence returned. Not awkward. Just deep.
Her hand found mine and laced our fingers together over the blanket.
"I didn't think I'd ever stay the night again," she admitted. "After what happened last year... after you shut me out."
"I was scared," I confessed. "I've always kept people at a distance. Especially the ones who matter."
"You think that's a good reason?" she asked.
"No," I said. "It's just the truth."
Her gaze softened, but her jaw was still set, firm and brave and honest. "I was scared too."
I looked at her. "But you came anyway."
"Yeah," she whispered. "Because something told me… if I didn't come, I'd lose something I wasn't ready to let go of."
The words wrapped around my heart like thread, pulling tight.
"You didn't lose anything," I said, tightening my hand around hers. "You found something. We both did."
She blinked quickly, like she was trying not to let the emotion take over.
"I love you, Amara."
Her lips parted.
I swallowed and continued. "And I've loved you since the night you left without a word and I hated myself for letting you. I was just too much of a coward to admit it."
She closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. "Don't say it if you don't mean it."
"I mean every word," I said, lifting her hand to my lips and kissing it gently. "And I'm not letting you go again."
Tears shimmered in her eyes now, and her voice broke a little when she said, "I love you too."
Hearing those words out loud — from her lips, so soft, so real — nearly undid me.
We laid there in silence, letting the words settle between us like a vow. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like my heart wasn't just beating for me anymore.
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A while later, Amara stretched like a lazy cat, her leg sliding against mine as she yawned. "I'm starving."
I laughed. "I thought you were about to say you wanted to go for a run or something."
"God, no," she mumbled, flopping back onto the bed dramatically. "I just want to be fed and adored."
"Well, good news. I'm great at one of those."
She lifted a brow. "And which one is that?"
"You'll see." I winked, climbing out of bed.
Her eyes followed me as I threw on a pair of sweatpants and a shirt. "Ethan…"
"Yeah?"
She sat up a little, the blanket falling slightly from her shoulders. "Don't burn the place down."
"No promises."
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In the kitchen, I moved around with purpose.
Eggs. Bread. Coffee. Strawberries. I wasn't a gourmet chef, but I could make something edible. Maybe even impressive.
Every sizzle of the pan and pop of the toaster made the silence feel like a soft song.
This wasn't just breakfast.
It was a declaration.
I wanted her to know I wasn't just the man who kissed her and walked away. I was the man who stayed. The man who cooked for her. The man who woke up beside her and didn't regret a single second.
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She came out ten minutes later, wrapped in a light robe, her hair tied into a messy bun.
"Smells good," she said, padding toward me.
"It's probably the coffee," I replied, handing her a mug.
She took it and sipped. "Okay, I'm impressed."
"Only took a year," I said with a grin.
She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
I pulled out a chair for her, and she sat. Her eyes widened slightly at the plate I set down.
"Wow."
"Told you. I'm excellent at this."
She took a bite of the omelet and groaned. "Okay… okay, I forgive you for last year just a little bit more."
"I'll take it."
We sat across from each other, eating and smiling, sharing glances that said more than words could.
At one point, she reached across the table for my hand.
"I'm scared," she whispered.
"So am I," I replied, tightening my hold. "But let's be scared together."
She nodded, and this time, there were no more walls, no more hesitation.
Just us.
And for the first time… it felt like forever had finally started.
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End of Chapter 110 – Ethan's POV