Once, my paranoid love

As the room remained cloaked in the quiet of the night, Derek’s thoughts drifted through the darkness. The chill outside had seeped into the room, and he was about to suggest calling a maid to remedy the situation when he felt something unexpected.

A soft, warm blanket was draped over him, and he could feel its comforting weight enveloping his form. The gesture took him by surprise, and for a moment, he hesitated, unsure of what had just transpired.

He had been ready to get up to address a maid because of the cold that had begun to creep through the room, but the unexpected act of kindness gave him pause. Derek hastily shut his eyes, feigning slumber, not wanting to betray the awareness of the person responsible for this small but meaningful gesture.

‘Elena,’ he whispered in his thoughts, his heart pounding in his chest.

The warmth of the blanket and the closeness of the moment stirred emotions within Derek that he had long suppressed. In that instant, he yearned for more than just the physical warmth of the cover; he yearned for the emotional connection he had lost.

‘You just put the blanket on me,’ Derek mused silently, his mind racing. ‘All I want to do right now is hold her in my arms.’

But the room remained silent, save for the soft sounds of their breathing.

** .

Elena gently placed the blanket over Derek, her fingers lingering on the fabric for a moment. She then settled down beside him on the bed, her thoughts a tumultuous mix of emotions.

‘He is the man with whom I am married,’ she acknowledged to herself, a quiet but significant realization. The truth of their shared past was undeniable, and it was something she needed to accept, even if it meant confronting the complexities and uncertainties that lay ahead. It was indeed a frigid night for both of them. **NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

Paul returned home, his footsteps heavy with weariness. The atmosphere in the house was charged with tension as he entered, and it wasn’t long before Anne, his sister, directed a concerned question his way.

“Paul, where have you been?” Anne’s voice held a note of urgency, her worry evident.

Paul, however, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the path to his room. He seemed lost in thought, his mind preoccupied with a singular purpose.

Anne’s frustration grew as Paul continued on his way, ignoring her inquiries. She raised her voice, calling out to him more insistently, “Paul.”

Finally, Paul stopped in his tracks, turning to face Anne. His expression was one of weariness, as if he had been on a relentless quest.

“I was looking for Elena,” he admitted, his voice tinged with fatigue and concern.

Anne’s response was swift and decisive. “Paul, let her go, okay?” Her words held an undertone of caution, as if she were trying to protect him from something he couldn’t see.

But Paul remained resolute, his determination unwavering. He ignored Anne’s plea and continued on his path toward his room, as if nothing else mattered.

Anne, not one to be easily dismissed, persisted. “Are you listening to me?” Her voice was tinged with frustration.

Paul, however, responded with a stark and unequivocal, “No.”

There was a sudden, abrupt halt, and he turned back to face his mother, Anne, with a look of determination in his eyes.

“Mom!” he called out, his voice soft yet filled with urgency.

Anne, eager to hear what her son had to say, watched him intently.

In a calm and measured tone, Paul finally spoke the words that had been weighing on his mind. “If you know where she is, tell me.”

Anne’s heart sank as she heard her son’s plea. She had anticipated this moment and even feared it. She knew that if Paul was to discover the truth about Elena’s marriage, he would be devastated, and it could lead to recklessness that would disrupt their lives.

“I… How could I know it?” Anne stammered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and guilt. Her response was a reflex, a way to protect the fragile balance that had been maintained, even though it was built on a foundation of secrets.

“Only… Robert knew it, I think,” Anne added.

Paul’s eyes bore into his mother, Anne, as he awaited her response with a sense of urgency and resolve. The tension in the room was palpable, as if the truth hung in the balance and the choices made in this moment would determine the course of their lives.

“I hope you are telling the truth, Mom,” Paul said, his voice a mixture of hope and caution. His words carried a weight that echoed throughout the room. “But if I get to know you are lying, then you know the consequence.”

Anne felt a shiver of unease crawl up her spine as her son issued his warning. The gravity of the situation had not escaped her; she knew that the secrets she held were a double-edged sword. Revealing the truth about Elena’s marriage could shatter many things, but concealing it might lead to his discovery and the potential consequences he had alluded to..

As Paul spoke, he didn’t wait for his mother’s response. His determination to find Elena was unwavering, and he left the room, leaving Anne behind with her own inner turmoil.

“Damn this boy,” Anne grumbled bitterly, her voice a whispered lament. She knew that the choices she had made and the secrets she had kept had brought them to this precipice. The consequences of her actions were now staring her in the face, and she was acutely aware of the delicate balance she had to maintain.

**

Derek’s POV.

At midnight, I felt a cool hand on my chest, and I stirred from the edge of sleep. Elena’s presence beside me was a surprise, and my heart skipped a beat as I opened my eyes to see her petite form curled against me, her breaths steady and serene. She was soundly sleeping, her features softened by the gentle light filtering through the curtains.

A tender smile formed on my lips as I gazed down at her. Her closeness and the warmth of her body against mine filled me with a sense of contentment that I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was as if the tumultuous whirlwind of emotions and memories had led us to this intimate moment.

I couldn’t resist the urge to reach out and gently move a stray strand of hair away from Elena’s peaceful face. My touch was feather-light, a silent declaration of the affection and tenderness that swelled within me.

“Elena,” I whispered softly, my voice barely audible in the stillness of the night, “you are simply breathtaking. I never expected you to be mine.”

As I spoke those words, I couldn’t help but marvel at the twists and turns that had brought us back together.

I couldn’t resist the impulse to show my affection for Elena as she lay soundly asleep beside me. With a gentle peck on her cheek, I pulled her closer, embracing her petite form against my chest. The softness of her skin against my lips and the warmth of her body against mine filled me with a sense of tenderness that I had longed to express.

As I held her, my mind began to wander, and the weight of my past actions pressed heavily on my conscience. I truly wanted to make this night special for us, a night filled with the promise of a fresh start, but I couldn’t escape the nagging thoughts of the mistakes I had made before our reunion.

I had been too rash and impulsive, and I had been undeniably rough when confronting her father. The consequences of my actions had rippled through our lives, creating a chasm that I wasn’t sure could ever be fully repaired.

My decision not to attend the registration office to formalize our marriage was a choice I now deeply regret. I understood the significance of that act, and I couldn’t ignore the impact it had on Elena and our relationship. The trust that had been eroded because of my actions was a wound that ran deep.

I gently caressed Elena’s cheek, my thumb tracing a delicate path along her skin. “I’m so sorry, Elena,” I whispered softly into the quiet of the night. “I know I’ve hurt you, and I deeply regret my impulsive decisions.”

In the stillness of the room, I knew that forgiveness would not come easily. The wounds I had inflicted were not easily healed, and I was aware of the work that lay ahead to rebuild the trust that had been shattered.

With a sigh, I pressed a gentle kiss on Elena’s forehead and whispered, “Sleep peacefully, my queen.” My words were a silent vow, a commitment to do whatever it took to mend the rift between us and to make amends for the mistakes of the past.