Got so engrossed in writing the 23rd chapter that I didn't realise it was past 3 😅.
Anyway, enjoy!

✨ Sorin's POV ✨

What the fuck am I doing?!

This is wrong. This will be considered cheating and I can't do this to Harlow. She doesn't deserve this.

But my heart doesn't seem to beat for Harlow anymore like it used to. It's in chaos at the moment.

I told Harlow that even if I get married, I won't betray her and here I am doing exactly what I promised not to.

Yes, I lust over Drea but that's not it. It goes deeper than that, my feelings for her.

The first time my heart was drawn towards her was the day she stood near the glass door leading to the backyard and waving awkwardly to the children. She looked so fucking cute. And how gently and nicely she was with the kids specially Vanessa.

Harlow doesn't like kids. I am not judging her; it's okay if she doesn't like them. Everyone has their own choices. However, I love kids and seeing Drea love them too was a beautiful sight.

She is gentle, kind, innocent, cute and fucking beautiful. My heart starts to beat faster every time I look at her, everytime I hear her speak while stuttering, see her looking so innocent.

I need to make a decision. It's now or never. It's either Drea or Harlow.

I am not the kind of person to stay in denial about my feelings. If I want someone, I want them. End of the argument. And I want her physically and especially emotionally.

(A/N: Enough with those 'I am going to stay in denial about my feelings until she is dying' male leads.)

I turned my head to my left to see Drea sleeping peacefully facing me, a strand of hair fall over her face, her mouth slightly parted. A smile instantly formed on my face on seeing her.

Shifting closer, I tucked the strand of hair behind her ear so that I could see her face clearly. I couldn't control myself as I brushed my knuckles over her cheeks, completely mesmerized by her.

That caused her to scrunch up her nose and her lips formed a pout as if I was disturbing her sleep.

My eyes flickered down to her plump lips, the urge to kiss her overpowering me and I ran my thumb over her lower lip.

She's a light sleeper, I thought as she groaned softly so I removed my hand from her.

I couldn't bring myself to look away from her, so I stared at her. Some time later, her hand slowly started to extend towards me as if searching for something.

Unconsciously, her fingers brushed against the side of my chest and then against my arm which was resting on the bed next to her and my heart skipped a beat.

Her hand lingered near mine and then she gripped it firmly, shifting closer to me trying to cuddle most probably.

Ah, fuck it!

Removing her hand from over mine, I pulled her closer to me and wrapped my arm around her waist and she buried her face in my chest, her arm going around my body. My heart quickening its speed.

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head and rested my chin there, closing my eyes only to fall in a peaceful sleep.

.
.

I woke up to Drea wiggling in my arms, trying to break free. With half opened eyes I looked down at her attempt to remove my arm from around her waist without waking me up.

"What are you doing?" I asked in a hoarse voice and she froze.

The first thing she did after realising I was awake was look at me in fear. "I-I...am sorry...I...I didn't mean to...wake you...up."

What the fuck?! Does she think I am going to scold her?

"You are scared of me." I stated in a gloomy voice, pulling her closer.

Her eyes widened. "N-no...I...I... don't--"

Grabbing the back of her head, I pressed her face to my chest and placed my chin on top of her head like last night.

"Fuck." I breathed. "You are scared of me. I am sorry, Drea. Please forgive me for treating you so badly. Please tell me what I can do to make that up."

"I-it's okay...I...am n-not scared--"

"Then why do you stutter? I am not judging you or something, it's just a genuine question, do you have some problem? Or do you do that only when you are nervous?"

She spoke against my chest. "I...d-don't have a... problem..."

"So it happens when you are nervous." I stated. "And you are always nervous around me. Please, don't be. I am not going to hurt you or you are not going to offend me, okay?"

"Okay", she whispered softly after a moment.

I pulled back to look at her face only to find her blushing that made me smirk. "Why are you blushing?"

She shook her head quickly. "N-n-no...I am not blushing!" And she covered her cheeks with her palms.

That made me laugh, a genuine wholehearted laugh. She was too cute.

When I was done laughing I realised she was staring at me the whole time, looking mesmerized, a dreamy look in her eyes.

"What?" I asked, smiling at her.

"Nothing." She looked away, if possible she blushed even harder.

Cupping her cheek, I made her look at me again. "Something...?"

She seemed to contemplate whether to say it or not but in the end, she said, "It's just...your...sound of laughter...is beautiful."

Happiness bloomed inside me, a wide smile spreading on my face. "You like it?"

She nodded shyly. "I do."

She looked so fucking bewitching at the moment, her eyes lowered, a blush on her cheeks and a hint of smile on her lips and she even admitted that she liked my laughter.

"Fuck." I groaned making her look at me. "I want to kiss you so badly right now. You are making it difficult for me."

Her reaction to that was widening of her eyes as if she couldn't believe my words.

"W-what?" She blurted out.

I leaned closer until the tip of our noses were brushing. "I want to kiss you, Drea. I want to kiss you until you won't even remember your name. That's the affect you are having on me."

Her eyes fell on my mouth and she bit her lips. I hope she did not do that on purpose.

Closing my eyes, I leaned in even closer until I could feel her breath on my lips.

"Harlow." She whispered in an urgent manner making me snap out of the trance. I pulled back and in the corner of her eyes were tears. Shit.

"Please, you are with Harlow. This is not right. Don't mess with me." She pleaded in a low, broken voice, a tear rolling down her eyes which she wiped away hastily with the back of her palm.

Before I could react, she got and up and dashed to the bathroom leaving my heart in turmoil.

When I dropped her at college later, not once did she look at me. Reaching there, I wanted to kiss her forehead but she was quick to get out of the car and make her way inside.

.
.
.

The last meeting for the day concluded and as soon as everyone left the conference room, I picked up my phone to make an important call but the person I was about to call seemed to have something important too.

I pressed the phone to my ear. "Harlow."

"Sorin." She breathed out. "I...well...I think we should talk. I need to tell you something."

Huh?

"What?"

"Can you come to my home? It's really important."

"I wanted to talk to you too, I'll be there in sometime."

"Okay." And she ended the call and I sighed.

This is it.

Seeing Drea cry today because of me was heart wrenching, I can't put her through all that. She deserves more than that. She deserves the whole universe.

Revving the car, I drove out of the parking lot and towards Harlow's penthouse to which I had the access.

The elevators dinged as the doors opened and Harlow stood on the other side in a comfortable shirt and jeans.

She smiled on seeing me and coming forward, gave a kiss to my cheek.

"You wanted to talk about something..." I spoke. I wanted to hear her first.

"Hmm...I do." She walked to the couches in the living room and sitting down, gestured me to take a seat too.

"Sorin." She began. "You are an amazing person and my friend since childhood and you have been an amazing boyfriend too but...I don't think so it's working between us anymore."

This was the last thing I expected her to say.

"Are you serious?"

She nodded. "I am. And I am sorry but there's something more you need to know."

I gestured her to go on and she took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant."

Wait a damn minute. What the actual fuck?

My jaw dropped. "What?"

"Now that's something you should know that..." She looked sad and guilty to say it, "it's not yours."

I blinked a few times to make sure I was hearing right. And I also know that blinking doesn't have to do anything with hearing but whatever.

"What do you mean it's not mine? Were you..." I trailed off letting her to explain herself. I am not jumping to conclusions.

"The day you got married. I was devastated. And I got drunk, highly intoxicated and I...hooked up with someone."

I took some time to process the information.

She continued. "I found out about it two weeks later and I wanted to tell you as soon as possible but I just couldn't gather up the courage for it. I am so sorry for cheating on you but I swear it wasn't intentional, I hardly remember anything from that night."

My mind went to sometime back and I remembered how she was having mood swings and weird cravings. She's pregnant.

Throwing my head back, I let out a frustrated groan. "Okay, listen. I don't care if you did it intentionally and or unintentionally because in anyway, I was coming here to tell that...it won't work between us anymore. And now you want the same thing."

She just hummed in reply.

"I..." I ran my fingers through my hair. It did make things a little easy for me. "Are you not going to ask my reason for breaking up?"

She gave me a knowing smile. "I think I know. Drea deserves you, Sorin. Please make it work with her. I do hope to see you both together and happy forever."

Not knowing what to say, I just nodded and got up to leave and she followed.

"I want you to know that I still love you." She spoke.

I smiled at her sadly. "I'm just another man, Harlow. You will get over me soon."

There were tears in her eyes as she nodded. "Thank you for being my first in everything. I really cherish those memories we made together."

"Me too."

And she came closer and leaning in, placed a lingering kiss on cheek. "Can we please not be in contact for some time?"

"Sure."

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.
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Getting inside the house, I leaned my back against the door and sighed heavily. I feel free.

And now there's only one thing left to do, give Drea the fucking whole world. With that thought, I made my way upstairs only to pause outside the door cause I heard Drea giggling.

Is there someone else? Is she having any guests?

I slowly pushed open the door and my heart seemed to burst with love on seeing the scene infront of me.

She stood in the middle of the room, a cylindrical shaped thin bottle in her hands and a bubble blower stick in her other hand through which she was blowing the bubbles upwards. And she giggled like a small girl everytime the bubbles touch her and burst.

For the first time in my life, I saw her so happy, carefree, smiling and for the first time ever, I heard her laugh. And like she said that my sound of laughter was beautiful, hers were a thousand times more beautiful.

My wife.

She blew more bubbles again and closing the bottle, placed it away and stood as the bubbles flowed over her.

Without wasting any more time, I took long strides towards her and grabbing her forearm turned her around.

And I captured her lips in a long awaited kiss.

Chapter completion on: 4/5/22
Published on: 13/5/22