Chapter 15: Standing Firm
The first time Elara saw Sophie Lane again, her chest tightened. Sophie, Adrian's former fiancée, had returned to the city, radiant and composed, with the same poised confidence that had once captivated Adrian's social circle. She approached them at an upscale charity event, her smile polite but calculating.
"Adrian," Sophie said, her tone casual but carrying an edge. "It's been a while."
Adrian's hand immediately found Elara's, a subtle but unshakable anchor. "It has," he replied evenly, his eyes never leaving Elara's. "Elara, this is Sophie Lane."
Elara forced a smile, though her stomach fluttered with unease. Sophie's eyes lingered on her a moment too long, measuring, assessing, before she tilted her head slightly. "She's… lovely," Sophie said, and though the words were courteous, there was a clear undertone of challenge.
For a moment, doubt crept into Elara's mind. Could she compete with someone like Sophie? Someone Adrian had known for years? But Adrian squeezed her hand, a silent reassurance that grounded her.
Adrian's gaze met Sophie's, firm and unwavering. "Elara is the one I'm with," he said quietly but firmly. "I'm with her now, and that's where I belong."
Sophie's smile faltered, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "I see," she said, masking any emotion, before excusing herself politely.
Elara's pulse raced, a mixture of relief and exhilaration. "You didn't have to—" she started, but Adrian shook his head, his thumb brushing the back of her hand.
"I did," he said, voice low, intimate. "I won't let anyone make you doubt your place with me. You're mine, Elara, and I choose you. Always."
The intensity in his words, the unwavering certainty in his eyes, banished any lingering insecurity she had felt. She leaned into him, letting the tension of the evening dissolve as his arms wrapped around her, drawing her close.
Later, when they found a quiet terrace overlooking the city, Adrian held her against his chest, lips pressing a tender, lingering kiss to her temple. "I want us to be unshakable," he murmured. "No whispers, no doubts, no past ghosts can change what we have."
Elara rested her head against him, heartbeat syncing with his. "I believe you," she whispered, her hands holding him tightly. "We're stronger than that. Together."
Under the moonlight, with the city sprawling quietly below them, they stood firm—side by side, hearts aligned, choosing each other and the love they had fought to nurture. No one could come between them, not Sophie, not doubts, not the world outside.
For the first time in a long while, Elara felt entirely safe—in his arms, in his heart, and in the certainty of their love.