Once, my paranoid love

Paul had hurt me, yes, but I couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering, even if it was a consequence of his own actions.

“But, Elena, I have a problem,” Derek admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. It was clear that he was conflicted, torn between his desire to protect me and the difficult decision I had just presented.

Yes,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The weight of my secret and the decision we had made hung heavily in the room, but I knew I had to stay resolute.

Derek’s displeasure was palpable, and his frustration was etched on his face. “I don’t like it when you show concern for him,” he expressed, his words laced with disappointment. I swallowed hard, feeling the tension between us. I had anticipated his reaction, but I couldn’t deny my own conflicted emotions.

“I’m not going to do that. But all I want now is for him to be normal,” I replied, my voice trembling. I knew that I no longer had any rights over Paul, that our childhood bond was shattered, and that the person I once knew had become a stranger.

Derek’s gaze softened, and he reached out to comfort me, his fingers brushing against my cheek. “Elena, you can trust me. I’m not going to kill him,” he reassured me, his voice filled with a promise of protection. It was a complex situation, and Derek’s love for me was evident in his willingness to honor our decision.NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

I shifted my gaze to the opposite side of the room, unable to meet Derek’s eyes. My heart ached for the innocence we had shared with Paul in our childhood and for the protector who had come to my aid whenever I was in trouble. But today, that person seemed like a distant memory; our love and promises were all replaced by darkness.

“Why are you sad?” Derek questioned me abruptly, his concern for me evident. I was grateful for his presence and his understanding, even if it conflicted with the decision we had made.

“I’m not,” I said, trying to mask the sadness that threatened to consume me. I couldn’t let my emotions get the better of me now. There was a difficult path ahead, and I had to stay strong.

Derek nodded, his gaze filled with empathy. “Elena, I’ll do everything I can to make this right for both of us,” he promised, his voice unwavering.

I did not respond to him; instead, I said, “Please tell someone to give him food. He can’t stand hunger.”

**

Derek’s POV.

Elena’s words cut through me like a knife, revealing her genuine love for Paul. I couldn’t deny that the complexity of our situation had triggered a surge of jealousy and anger within me. The thought that she might still love Paul, even after all he had done, was maddening.

I fought to control the tempest of emotions raging inside me, struggling to reconcile the love I had for Elena with the jealousy I felt toward the man from her past. My hands clenched involuntarily as I grappled with the turmoil within me.

I can clearly see you love him so much, and that’s the thing that’s making me angrier.

I immediately took my phone and called the maid, telling her to give him food.

**

“Derek, will he be normal like before?” I asked, my voice laced with uncertainty. I needed to know if there was any hope of the Paul I once knew returning, despite all the pain he had caused.

Derek sighed, the weight of our situation pressing down on him. “It depends,” he replied, his words carrying the weight of uncertainty.

The thought of seeing Paul’s face and the person he had become was daunting. Derek’s next question brought my inner turmoil to the surface. “Elena,” he said, his voice gentle, “Do you want to see him?”

I tightened my jaw, struggling to contain the emotions that surged within me. See him? The thought was a painful one, for the person I once knew had been replaced by someone unrecognizable. “No,” I said with a nod, my voice resolute. I’m not interested in seeing him. I’ve already found my way.

I turned to look at Derek, and without a word, I suddenly embraced him, holding onto him tightly. The embrace was as much about seeking comfort in Derek’s arms as it was about trying to forget the painful memories associated with Paul.

Maybe it was an attempt to bury the past, to leave behind the pain that Paul had brought into my life. Or maybe it was an effort to conceal the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes, or maybe it was because I love Paul.

**

Derek’s POV

The first time Elena hugged me was after that night. As her arms wrapped around me, I held her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. Her hair was soft to the touch, a contrast to the turmoil that had recently swept through our lives.

In that embrace, there was a moment of peace and quiet, a brief respite from the storm of emotions that had shaken us both. I cherished these moments-the simple intimacy of being held by the woman I loved. I wished I could stay like that forever, with Elena in my arms and the world at bay. But even in the quiet of that moment, the turmoil of my own heart was palpable.

I had come between Elena and Paul, pushing her to accept. The weight of my actions and the demands I had placed on her had left their mark on both of us. In the stillness of that embrace, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had hurt her more than I had intended.

But just as the embrace seemed to provide solace, the driver unexpectedly brought us back to the reality of our situation. “Sir, we are here,” he announced as the car came to a stop.

Elena reluctantly let go of the hug, her eyes staring out of the car window, lost in thought.