Once, my paranoid love

My heart raced, and I could feel sweat forming on my forehead. The pressure of the moment threatened to overwhelm me, and it seemed like I might pass out in Derek’s strong and protective embrace.

In that moment, I realized that the secrets of my past were like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode and shatter the fragile peace that had settled over us. The truth had the power to change everything, and I had to decide whether to confront it head-on or continue to navigate the treacherous waters of deception.

The tension in the room had reached its breaking point, and the weight of Paul’s insinuations hung heavily in the air. As he continued to press the issue, his voice laced with arrogance and challenge, I felt a surge of frustration and humiliation rise within me.

“Do you want me to say it in front of everybody, Elena?” Paul’s words cut through the silence, and he began to approach me with cautious determination.

My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the depth of the dilemma before me. Paul was prepared to reveal our past, to expose the secrets that I had tried so hard to bury. The room watched in rapt attention, awaiting my response.

But Paul’s words took a sharp turn as he turned his gaze to Derek, his tone dripping with contempt. “Elena only loves me,” he claimed, leaving his sentence unfinished as my patience wore thin. “Did she kiss you? She, on the other hand, always k…”

“Shut up, Paul!” I shouted, my voice filled with a mixture of anger and desperation. I couldn’t take the humiliation any longer. I had endured enough, and it was time to put an end to this toxic game. I stopped him before he could say the word.

In that moment, I made a choice-one that I hadn’t wanted to make but knew I had no other option. I couldn’t let Paul’s words define me or dictate my actions any longer. I had to reclaim my own narrative.

Taking a deep breath, I took the bold step that had been building within me. I moved toward Derek, wrapping my arms around his neck with determination. My lips met his in a defiant kiss, a kiss that spoke of my commitment to our new life together.

As our lips pressed together, the room fell into a stunned silence. The weight of the moment hung in the air, and I could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on us, even Paul’s.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the kiss lingered, a testament to the emotions that had swirled within me throughout this tumultuous evening.

I squeezed my eyes while thinking, ‘You made me do it, Paul.’

**

Derek’s POV.

Elena’s unexpected kiss took me by surprise. It was a bold and passionate move that left me momentarily stunned. Before I could fully process what was happening, her lips were on mine, and I felt an electric surge of emotion coursing through me.

In front of everyone, she kissed me-an act of defiance and declaration rolled into one. I couldn’t help but be captivated by her, by the intensity of her feelings that she conveyed through that kiss.

Her lips were soft and inviting, and they tasted faintly of strawberries, a sweet and alluring sensation that drew me in. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the moment, my own lips responding to hers with equal fervor.

As our kiss deepened, I couldn’t help but let my hand glide to her cheek, caressing the softness of her skin. Her tears, which had welled up in her eyes, were now glistening on her cheeks. With a gentle touch, I wiped them away with my finger, feeling the warmth of her tears against my skin.

In that intimate moment, I couldn’t help but wonder about the man who had caused her so much turmoil and anguish. Who was he, exactly? What role had he played in her life, and did she still hold feelings for him?

My thoughts raced as our lips remained locked in a passionate embrace. The world around us seemed to fade into the background, and all that mattered was the connection we shared in that moment.

But as the kiss finally came to an end, I opened my eyes to meet Elena’s gaze. It was a gaze filled with vulnerability, longing, and a hint of fear. I couldn’t ignore the questions that lingered in the depths of her eyes.

“Elena,” I whispered softly, my voice filled with a mixture of tenderness and concern.

Paul’s POV.

The sight of Elena kissing another man in front of me shattered my world into a million pieces. It was an image that seared into my mind, an act that left me breathless and bewildered. How could this possibly be happening? What had transpired that led to this moment?

The questions raced through my mind like a whirlwind, each one more agonizing than the last. I couldn’t fathom what I was witnessing, and it felt like a cruel twist of fate that had plunged me into darkness.

Memories of the night when Elena kissed me with the same passion flooded my thoughts. I had believed in the sincerity of her actions, in the love that seemed so real. But now, confronted with this bewildering scene, I couldn’t help but wonder if it had all been a charade.

Had she kissed me that night out of genuine affection, or had it all been an act? Did she truly love me as deeply as I loved her, or had her feelings been a facade? The uncertainty gnawed at my heart, tearing it apart with every passing second.

Elena’s actions left me reeling, and I struggled to make sense of the chaos that had unfolded. It was a betrayal that cut to the core, leaving me with a profound sense of heartbreak and confusion.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

As I watched Elena and the man she had kissed, anger simmered beneath the surface. I couldn’t deny the surge of possessiveness that welled up within me. I felt a burning need to protect her, to assert my claim over her heart.

But in the midst of the turmoil and questions that swirled around me, one thing became clear-that man had no right to kiss my Elena.

To be continued.