After Ethan's confession, days passed in quiet turmoil.
Lila found herself torn between compassion and anger — between the man she had once loved and the pain he had caused. She saw the honesty in his eyes now, the remorse, the man stripped of pride and secrets. Yet trust, once broken, was not easily mended.
Still, something in her softened.
Ethan didn't try to convince her with promises. Instead, he showed her change through his actions — through his patience, his humility, and his quiet care. Every day, he stood beside her, never pushing, never demanding.
One afternoon, as the campaign neared its launch, Lila received a call from the hospital.
Her heart sank the moment she heard the words — Ethan had been in an accident.
She rushed there without a second thought, her hands trembling as she ran through the sterile white halls. When she reached his room, she froze — Ethan lay on the bed, pale but conscious, a bandage around his arm and a faint bruise on his temple.
"Ethan!" she gasped, tears brimming.
He tried to smile. "I'm fine, just… a small car crash. Nothing serious."
"Nothing serious?" she whispered angrily, her voice shaking. "Do you have any idea how terrified I was?"
He reached for her hand, and this time, she didn't pull away.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he said softly. "But I'm glad you came."
The sincerity in his eyes broke her composure.
"I thought I lost you again," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks.
He squeezed her hand gently. "You didn't. I'm still here. And I'm not going anywhere this time."
For the first time, Lila realized how fragile everything truly was — love, life, second chances. In that hospital room, all the resentment, all the pride, seemed to fade into something smaller than the feeling of his hand in hers.
"Ethan," she murmured, her voice trembling. "Don't ever make me go through that again."
He smiled faintly. "Then don't ever walk away again."
She laughed through her tears. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," he said. "But I still love you."
The moment felt fragile — raw and real. They didn't kiss, but something deeper passed between them: forgiveness.
That night, as Lila sat by his bedside, watching him sleep, she realized something profound — love was not about perfection. It was about staying when it hurt, believing when it seemed hopeless, and forgiving when the heart still trembled.
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