Page 94 of Of Vows and Betrayal

My Dearest Ophelia,

Iam writing to you from Zurich, the final leg of my journey. The return feels bittersweet, for despite how deeply I miss you and yearn to be with you, your silence speaks volumes. It tells me that you don’t feel the same and that my return is more of a burden than a joy.

Yesterday, I spoke with Lucchese. He will offer you his protection and grant you the freedom you desire. He will erase all traces of the marriage you never wanted. I say “you” because I do. I do want to be married to you, but not like this—not with you feeling trapped.

Please speak with Derek. Tell him where you wish to go, and he will help you. It’s not charity; it’s what you deserve. I owe you that and so much more.

You are welcome to stay in the penthouse for as long as you need. I will stay at the hotel. Even in this sorrow, know that I love you deeply and will always be yours, my sweetheart. Thank you for bringing me back to life, even if it was only for a fleeting moment.

With all my broken heart,

Your Javier.

My hands tremble as I hold the last letter, the finality of Javier’s words sinking in. The pain in my chest is unbearable, an ache that tells me all I need to know. My silence, filled with unspoken words and missed opportunities, has brought us to this point.

I can’t let it end like this.

I pick up my phone and dial Derek’s number, my heart pounding with each ring. When he answers, his voice issteady, a calm presence in the storm of my emotions.

“Hey, Phee. What’s up?”

“Derek, I need your help,” I say, my voice breaking slightly as I consider my decision.

“Alright,” he replies softly. “I’ll be right there.”

I hang up, standing by the window, staring out at the city that suddenly feels full of possibilities and uncertainties. The pain in my chest is still there, but it’s joined by a spark of something new, something hopeful that maybe this will work.

Chapter 24

Javier

Miserable doesn’t begin to cover it. I spent hours staring at the ceiling, the ache in my chest a constant reminder of my mistakes. My eyes burned from sleepless nights, and the loneliness pressed down on me like a heavy fog. Writing those letters felt therapeutic, but baring my soul on paper instead of facing her confrontational, angry gaze was still painful.

It takes a special kind of man to let all the walls fall, and this is not me. But for her, I’m willing to try. There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for her, even let her go.

Lucchese agreed to take on her protection, a burden that feels like a life sentence. It’s quite ironic, really, how I’m giving up part of my hard-earned freedom to ensure the woman I love can stay away from me. The irony isn’t lost on me as I sit in this hotel room, staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment in my mind.

I sealed each letter with trembling hands, pouring my heart onto paper, hoping she would see the loveetched in every word. Days turned into weeks, the silence a cruel response. I found myself checking the mailbox repeatedly, each empty return shredding another piece of my hope.

I keep my eyes closed as the plane touches the tarmac. It’s late afternoon here, and instead of going back to my place, to the illusion of a home I’ve made of it, I’m heading to a downtown hotel, waiting for Ophelia to leave me for good.

Maybe it’s all I deserve; perhaps love is not for sinners, and I’ve sinned for far too long.

“Sir?”

I sigh, turning toward the hostess. “Yes. I’m coming.”

When I get off the plane, I falter when I see Derek instead of my usual driver.

“Missed me that much, huh?”

He snorts. “No, we have somewhere to go.”

I sigh. “Listen, man, my eyes are barely open. Three weeks of constant travel and meetings have left me feeling like a zombie.” Long, depressing weeks. “I just want to?—”

“No, less whining, more moving. You’ll thank me later.”

Despite my exhaustion, a trace of curiosity keeps me from arguing. I follow Derek to his car, my mind swirling with questions. As we drive through the city, my mind drifts back to Ophelia, the pain of our separation still raw. The thought of losing her forever gnaws at my soul.

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