Chapter 19
Anya finally spoke again, her voice much softer than before. “Did Harry tell you everything?”
I looked at her emotionlessly. “Yes. And it really disappointed me, Anya.”
Anya didn’t answer. She looked down, as if searching for answers on the shiny marble floor.
“In the past,” I continued, my voice low but piercing, “I left my husband to find my happiness, Anya. And after that, do you think I would go back to the same pit as before? I’ve already felt the pain of being ignored. I don’t want to feel that again, Anya.”
I slowly stepped away from her, walking down the gallery hallway filled with wedding decoration replicas. Every detail looked perfect, but none of it felt real to me. It was all empty.N
Anya followed my steps. Her voice trembled as she said, “Bella, I’m sorry for disappointing you. But I truly believe that you and Harry, sooner or later, could love each other. After all, Harry once loved you.“N
I stopped. Slowly turned around. Looked her straight in the eyes.}
“I don’t know how to make you understand anymore, Anya. Yes, we can get married. But we could also very possibly end up separated. Maybe, after you’re gone.”
Those words hit like a slap. Anya’s face turned pale, her lips trembled, but not a single word came out.”
I stepped closer, my steps slow but certain. Our eyes met in a frozen tension.}]
“All the choices are yours, Anya. You want to keep holding on to your desires, but all of it is fake. Or you can start opening your eyes wide, and realize that your true happiness–and Harry’s–lies within yourselves. I have nothing to do with the two of you.”
Anya bit her lip, as if holding back something she wanted to let out. “I… I don’t have much time left to make him happy, Bella. I just want to make sure he’s not alone.”
“But that doesn’t mean you can’t, right?!” my voice rose. “Better a little than nothing at all! Happiness isn’t about how long or short the time is, Anya, but about how you use it!“}
Anya’s body seemed to weaken. Her gaze blurred. Like something inside her was slowly crumbling. I looked at her anxiously.
“Anya?” I tried to approach, wanting to reach for her hand.
But before my hand touched her, a body stood between us.
“Don’t touch Anya!” shouted a deep voice that immediately stopped me in my tracks. “You’ve hurt her! Get out of our lives!“}]
I looked up. Harry. His gaze pierced through me, full of burning anger.
I froze. Anya turned toward Harry, her body swaying. And before she could speak, her body collapsed, falling into Harry’s arms as he caught her.
Chaos broke out.
Some staff ran in panic. Someone shouted for an ambulance. The next few seconds felt slow and blurry. Anya was taken to the hospital.}
I stood frozen. My chest tight. It hurt. A wound I had long closed reopened.”
I stepped out of the gallery. The night greeted me with a chill that pierced to the bone.}]
In my heart, I could only pray–hoping Anya would be okay. Hoping she would realize that she was the only one who deserved to stand beside Harry.”
My phone rang. Uncle Jack’s name appeared on the screen.
I answered right away, trying to steady my voice. “Uncle… how are you?“}
But the voice I heard made me freeze.
“Irish… I finally found you.”
That voice. It wasn’t Uncle Jack. It was Bobby.”
My hands trembled. My heart pounded faster than ever.
“Irish…” he said softly. His voice was deep, tired… but full of longing. “I’m sorry. Wait for me. I’m coming to get you.“}
It was as if the world stopped spinning. My chest tightened with emotions I couldn’t explain. Anger. Longing. Brokenness. Confusion.
“I don’t know where to start,” he said. “But I know I can’t let you walk any further… without knowing the truth.”
I gripped the phone tightly. All the resentment and pain I had buried came rushing back like a storm. But one question echoed loudly in my mind.
Would I still be able–or even willing–to give him a second chance?!
