Confrontation and a Search for Solution

Emma’s p.o.v.:

I came back home with a heavy heart, my mind still swirling with the memories of our past. I found Daniel in the living room, staring at his laptop. Taking a deep breath, I decided it was time to confront him.

"Daniel, we need to talk," I said, my voice trembling slightly.

He looked up, concern etched on his face. "Emma, what's wrong?"

"I've been doing a lot of thinking," I began, my hands clasped tightly together. "About us, our relationship, and everything we've been through."

He set his laptop aside and stood up, walking towards me. "Emma, I love you. You know that, right? I'm ready to give you everything you ask for. I can transfer the shares I inherited from my father to you. I can put the house under your name. Let's just put this behind us."

I shook my head, feeling tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. "It's not about the money or the house, Daniel. Do you really love me, or are you just settling?"

His eyes widened in shock. "Emma, you're not a woman to settle for. I chose you because I love you."

"Then why do I feel so insecure?" I asked, my voice breaking. "Why do I feel like I'm just here because your first love isn't?"

He looked away, his jaw tightening. "Emma, that's not true. I have a tattoo of your name on my chest, for God's sake."

"I was there when you got that tattoo," I replied bitterly. "It was a joke to you."

He stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "I can do anything to earn your trust back."

"I don't know how," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "We've been together for ten years, and yet here we are."

"Let's go on a holiday," he suggested suddenly. "Just the two of us. We can go to Greece. Lily will be under her nanny's and grandparents' care. Let's try to sort things out."

"I don't think it would work," I replied, my heart aching with doubt.

"Please, Emma," he begged, his voice breaking. "I miss you like crazy. Being able to touch you only in your sleep, being looked down upon by you with disdain, it's all too much. I want to be close to you."

I stood still, my mind racing. He approached me and kissed me deeply. I didn't push him away, and he deepened the kiss, his breath coming in heavy gasps.

To my surprise, the kiss wasn't repulsive to me like it had been before. His touch felt familiar, almost comforting. I heard him whisper, "Shall we do it here on the couch or go to the bedroom?"

"I'm on my period," I stated, trying to refuse his advances.

"It doesn't matter to me," he said, his eyes filled with desperation. "We can put a towel on the bed or the couch."

Looking into his begging eyes, I couldn't refuse him. "The bed," I said softly.

We moved to the bedroom, and he laid a towel on the bed. As he kissed me again, I felt his hands gently exploring my body. Despite my initial hesitation, I found myself responding to his touch. It had been so long since we had been this close.

After half an hour of intimacy, he held me tightly, whispering, "It feels like our first time. That's how much I've missed you."

I stayed silent, staring at the ceiling, my mind a whirl of emotions. Surprisingly, I felt a sense of relief after our intimacy. Maybe a trip to Greece could help us find a way to resolve our conflict.

As he drifted off to sleep beside me, I wondered if this was the start of a new beginning or just a brief respite from the inevitable end.