Once, my paranoid love

Paul, despite the blood trickling down his face, laughed in response to Derek’s punch. He wiped his nose with a grimace, seemingly undeterred by the physical pain he had just endured. His words took on a haunting quality as he continued, “I couldn’t sleep without her, and she couldn’t either. Every night, Elena hugged me with her tiny hands.”

The room fell silent, the weight of Paul’s words sinking in. It was a disturbing revelation, a testament to the complexities and secrets that had been hidden beneath the surface of their relationships. Elena’s past, her connection to Paul, and the truth about her life before Derek had become a tangled web of emotions and revelations.

Elena herself was left speechless, torn between the conflicting claims of the two men who had entered her life. The chaos that had erupted around her had shattered any semblance of normalcy, and the truth seemed more elusive than ever.

Paul’s laughter filled the room as he spoke those unsettling words, and his actions only added to the chaos that had gripped the gathering. It became increasingly evident that his intentions were not solely about claiming Elena but also about provoking Derek and testing the depths of Elena’s feelings.

Derek’s reaction was swift and fierce. He gripped Paul’s neck, his frustration and anger boiling over. It was clear that Paul’s provocations had pushed him to the breaking point, and he was not willing to tolerate any further disrespect or manipulation.

Elena, caught in the crossfire of their volatile emotions, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of shock and helplessness. Her heart ached as she witnessed the violence and hostility that had overtaken the room, leaving her torn between the two men who had entered her life.

Paul, despite the physical pain he was undoubtedly experiencing, wore a smile as he looked at Elena. His intentions had been to stir up chaos and discomfort, and he seemed to revel in the emotional turmoil he had created.

Inwardly, he mused, ‘When you saw the blood on my hand, you tried to come to me. But that jerk wouldn’t allow you in.’ His gaze remained fixed on Elena, and it was clear that he still held a powerful sway over her.

Anne was overwhelmed with grief and desperation as she pleaded for her son’s safety. Her maternal instincts had been pushed to the forefront, and she sobbed as she implored Elena to intervene.

“He is my only son, Elena. Please,” Anne sobbed, her voice filled with anguish.

Elena found herself trapped in a heart-wrenching dilemma as the chaotic scene unfolded before her. Paul, who had once been a source of torment and pain in her life, now faced the wrath of Derek, and she was caught in the middle, torn between her past and her present.

The guilt and regret welled up within Elena as she grappled with her conflicting emotions. She hadn’t wanted Derek to become the instrument of Paul’s potential demise. Despite the torment she had endured at Paul’s hands, she couldn’t bring herself to wish for his death. The thought of watching him die was unbearable.

Tears welled up in Elena’s eyes as she silently questioned her own actions and the choices that had led to this moment. She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to escape the torment of her own thoughts.

“Derek,” she finally managed to say, her voice quivering with uncertainty and anguish. Her plea was directed at her husband, who had Paul in his grip.

Paul, who had been enduring Derek’s hold, turned his attention toward Elena as she spoke. Derek, sensing her distress, gradually released his grip on Paul.

Paul, with a self-satisfied tone, remarked, “See, Elena, you can’t see me in pain.”

Elena’s heart ached at his words, for they held a kernel of truth. She couldn’t bear to witness Paul’s suffering, regardless of their past. She knew that, deep down, she still cared for him in some way, even if she had moved on with Derek.

‘You’re right, Paul,’ Elena admitted to herself, her inner voice filled with sorrow and resignation. ‘I can’t see you in anguish. I’m sorry, but I’m not able to, and you’re completely aware of this.’

Her words were a testament to the complexities of her emotions and the enduring connection she felt with her past.

Elena’s POV.

“Guard!” Derek’s command sent a shiver down my spine. My heart raced erratically for reasons I couldn’t fully comprehend. I dreaded what Derek might have in mind, and anxiety washed over me like a tidal wave.

“Boss,” two burly men responded promptly as they approached Derek. Their towering figures exuded strength and capability. I could only wonder what Derek had instructed them to do.

Without hesitation, Derek issued his directive with unwavering resolve. “Take him.”

Panic overtook me, and I felt helpless as I watched Anne rush to her son’s side, desperately pleading with Derek to reconsider. Her tearful appeals tugged at my heartstrings, but Derek’s determination remained unyielding.

“Please, Derek, don’t do this,” Anne implored, her voice quivering with desperation.

Derek’s response was resolute, and he left no room for compromise. His command reverberated through the room as he barked, “Everyone out!”

The guards, their imposing presence accentuating the tension, moved in to apprehend Paul. They held his arms firmly, but despite the impending confrontation, Paul wore an enigmatic smile. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the brewing storm.

Anne, still by her son’s side, sought answers desperately. Her voice trembled as she turned to me, seeking information about Paul’s fate. “Paul, wait, where are you guys taking my son?”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

In that poignant moment, Paul shifted his gaze to me, his expression softening. He spoke directly to me, and his words carried an undeniable sense of longing and a belief in our connection.

“Elena, I love you,” Paul declared with genuine sincerity. “I know you love me as well. I will come back to marry you.”

My emotions swirled in a turbulent tempest, torn between my past and the present. The room had become a whirlwind of conflicting feelings, and the path forward remained obscured in uncertainty.