Ethan slowly lays me down in the bed and washes his hands in the sink of the room. After sanitizing his hands, he takes a seat next to me and places a tablet in my mouth. He lifts the glass of water near my mouth, letting me drink from it. I swallow the tablet. I don't like medicines. I would never take medicine if any other person would be giving me, but I don't want to trouble Ethan anymore, that's why I didn't protest. I used to throw up medicines. Oh my god! I have literally changed too much. If my parents saw me like this, they'd never believe I'm their same picky, fussy daughter. “Ethan, how did you hack the phone? Can you tell me?” I ask curiously, breaking the ice. “You clicked on a malicious link, and your phone got hacked,” he says, laying me down in the bed. “Is it that easy? Can you teach me how to do that?” “Why do you want to learn it? Do you want to hack someone?” he asks, looking into my eyes.“Yes,” I say, squinting my eyes. “I want to hack you. You don't say any
Slowly, I open my eyes and yawn. My eyes land on the sexiest man alive in this world. My love. My Ethan. My lover boy couldn't sleep all night because of me, and still he's making sure I'm all okay. He's massaging my feet gently. I just can't see him like this now. It's hurting me. “Ethan, take a rest now. You must be tired,” I say, my voice barely audible. “Your body, and especially your feet might be aching. Let me do this to ease your pain,” he blurts out, continuing massaging my feet. “I want to kiss you at this moment. I wish I could.”“You wish you could? Do that if you want to. I didn't stop you, sweetheart,” he retorts.“You didn't stop, but…neither have I taken a shower, nor have brushed my teeth for the last few days. I'm sludgy, and out of sorts,” I explain, the corners of my lips turning downwards. He leans in and quickly pecks my lips. My eyes widen and my mouth drops open. “I told you, you are sweet for my heart. You can never be sludgy for me,” he whispers in my ear
After making the necessary arrangements, my father prepares for our journey back to Bulgaria. As we board, the cabin is filled with a sense of quiet determination. My father settles beside me, ensuring I am as comfortable as possible. His personal assistant, a few close aides, and the nurse accompany us. The jet takes off smoothly. Despite the turbulence of the past few weeks, there is a certain calm in knowing that I am heading to a place where I can focus entirely on my recovery.The flight is serene, and I allow myself to rest, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety about the road to recovery ahead. My father’s reassurance and the comfort of the jet make the transition from hospital to home feel like a hopeful new beginning.The private jet lands smoothly in Sofia, and as we disembark, I can’t help but feel a mix of relief and anticipation. My father’s luxurious car awaits on the tarmac, and we make our way to our home.Once we arrive, he carefully helps me from the car and into my r
As the weeks go by, I start to notice the first signs of improvement from the dengue hemorrhagic fever. The intense pain and debilitating symptoms that once overwhelmed me are gradually easing. My father's care and the medical team's expertise are making a noticeable difference.The fever has long since subsided, and the constant nausea and weakness begin to fade. I am now able to eat small, nourishing meals without feeling queasy. Each day, I find myself gaining a little more energy and strength.I start with short, gentle movements. I practice sitting up in bed and shifting my position slowly, building up my endurance. Each small victory, like managing to sit up and stay upright for longer periods, feels monumental.The doctors continue to monitor my progress closely, ensuring my recovery is on track. They are pleased with my improving blood counts and reduced symptoms. I am gradually weaning off the medications and treatments as my body regains its strength.By the end of the month
After spending four months here in Sofia, I’m feeling so much better and can’t wait to get back to school. What I’m looking forward to the most is seeing Ethan. I miss him so much and can’t wait to be back at school where I can see him again. The thought of reuniting with him keeps me motivated and excited as I recover.Packing my things in Sofia is bittersweet. My room, with the posters of models, my library shelves, and the beautiful mirror where I did my makeup—all these have been part of my healing journey. As I fold my clothes and place them into my suitcase, each item reminds me of the struggle and the progress I've made.My father helps with the last of my bags. He has been my rock through all of this. Now, as we prepare to leave for NYC, I see the worry in his eyes mixed with pride. Boarding the private jet, I take a last look at Sofia, a city that has become a part of me.The flight to NYC is long, giving me time to reflect. Leaving Sofia feels like closing a chapter filled w
I take a deep breath and grab my bag. I make my way to Aiden’s apartment, determined to have a conversation with him. When I finally reach his building, I pause for a moment to gather my thoughts and my courage. I need answers, and I need to understand why things happened the way they did.I press the buzzer, my heart pounding in my chest. After a few moments, the door buzzes open. When the door opens, Aiden stands there, looking surprised to see me. I take a deep breath and step inside, ready to face the conversation that has been weighing on my mind.We both are just staring at each other, not uttering a single word. He might be thinking why I am here so suddenly. He was pretending as if he's innocent all the time. I want to see if he still tries to pretend that he loves me, or if he's going to tell the truth. “It’s been a while. You seem okay now,” he says, his voice choking with emotions. “I still have feelings for you. Can we patch up? I love you,” I say, locking my eyes with h
I take steps backwards, and as my feet touch the couch, I collapse onto the couch, sobbing uncontrollably. Aiden tries to speak, but I can’t hear him through the sound of my own heartbreak.I just sit here, feeling lost and broken. The anger I felt moments ago is gone, replaced by an overwhelming numbness. I can’t find the will to think or react—only the dull ache in my chest and the silence around me.Aiden approaches me and kneels down in front of me. “Slap me a thousand times more, but trust me…I love you,” he says, brushing his fingers on my feet. “Please, give me a chance. I will never hurt you again.”I'm just staring at Aiden as he talks, but his words barely register. I feel numb, like I’m in a daze. The pain in my heart is so overwhelming that I can’t even process it fully. It’s like a dull, constant ache that won’t go away, no matter how much I cry or scream."My mother used to say that when I will grow up, a prince will come, riding a white horse from the moon, to sweep me
“I thought you were the guy I met in Corsica, so I made you my boyfriend,” I say, glancing away briefly. “That's why I accepted your proposal.”“So, all this time, you thought I was someone else? Someone you met in your childhood? I was never enough on my own, was I?” Aiden’s voice trembles with pain.His words cut deep, each one a reminder of my own misguided beliefs. How could I have been so blind?“I thought you loved me for me,” he continues, his eyes searching mine for answers. “But now I realize you were just seeing a ghost from your past.”Guilt washes over me, heavy and suffocating. “Aiden, I…I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just…” I pause, as my words falter, caught in the web of my own mistakes.“I thought you liked me,” he says, his voice breaking. “I thought what we had was real. I thought you were my forever. But now I see it was all based on a lie.”“I never meant to deceive you, Aiden. I cared for you, truly. It’s just…when I met you, everything about you
The next day, overwhelmed by the realization that the boy from Corsica is actually Ethan, I decide to leave Sofia. I head to Corsica, hoping to relive the feelings and memories from my childhood, to see if they can help me understand the emotions that have been haunting me.The waves gently lap at the shore as I sit alone on the familiar sand of Ajaccio Beach, the place where our story began. The sun is setting, casting the sky in a warm, orange glow, but all I can feel is the cold emptiness in my heart, all I feel is the heavy weight of unanswered questions pressing down on me.I close my eyes, and in my mind, I can see Ethan sitting beside me, just like we used to. I lean my head on his shoulder, feeling the familiar comfort of his presence, even if it’s only in my imagination.“Why, Ethan?” I whisper, my voice trembling with the ache in my heart. “Why did you leave me waiting all these years? Why didn’t you come back for me?”Tears spill over, sliding down my cheeks as I continue,
I fold the letter and slip it into an envelope, carefully writing ‘A Letter I'll Never Give to Ethan’ on the front. I place the envelope in the book Beauty and the Beast, alongside the first rose Ethan gave me, the one I have pressed between the pages. With a deep sigh, I shut the book, trying to push away the lingering sadness.Just then, my phone rings. I answer, and my heart skips a beat when I hear it's a modeling contract offer.“Hello, Belle?” a voice on the other end says. “We’re thrilled to inform you that your first major modeling contract has been finalized. You’ll be featured on a billboard in Paris.”My eyes widen in disbelief. Paris—the city where fashion dreams come true—is where my face will be showcased. The excitement and pride swell inside me as I thank the caller and hang up, my mind racing with the reality of this incredible milestone.As soon as I hang up, tears well up in my eyes. This is my first major contract, a clear sign that my hard work is paying off. Over
Ethan looks more grown-up now. If I'm twenty, he might be twenty one, I guess. He looks more like a man than the teenage boy I remember. He still has that same cold, intense look in his dark brown eyes and his jaw remains tight, just like before. But now, these expressions are framed by a more mature face. Seeing Ethan taking slow, deliberate steps toward me, my heart begins to pound so hard that I can hear it echoing in my ears. Everything around us fades away, leaving just the two of us, lost in each other’s gaze. I can’t move, can’t think—only feel the magnetic pull between us growing stronger with each step he takes. “Are you really here?” I whisper, as he finally reaches me, my voice trembling with disbelief.“Yes, I’m here,” he replies softly, his eyes shimmering with tears.Tears brim in my eyes as I lock my eyes with his. “I don't believe it,” I mumble. Seeing him here now feels like a dream I don’t want to wake up from. “I'm imagining you.”It has been two years since we sa
It has been two years since I left New York City and Ethan behind. Now, at twenty, my life has changed dramatically. I’m thriving as a model, spending long days and nights on my modeling career. Photoshoots, fashion shows, and casting calls fill my calendar, leaving little room for anything else. When I'm not modeling, I'm handling my father's hotels and resorts businesses, trying to prove myself in a world that demands so much. It feels amazing, earning money by myself at this young age. In the whirlwind of responsibilities and ambitions, I've almost forgotten about love. Due to my busy schedule, I've completely let go of the idea of relationships and dating now. Two years have passed, and my shoulder-length hair—that had once been trimmed by Aiden—now falls comfortably to my mid-back. While it’s not as long as it was before, it has grown out beautifully, mirroring the changes and growth in my own life.I had been taking my medications and therapy sessions for schizophrenia as well,
The journey back to Sofia feels like a blur. I sit in the private jet with my father, staring out the window but seeing nothing. My mind is consumed with thoughts of Ethan, the pain of our separation pricking my heart. Once we land, I retreat into the familiarity of our mansion, but it offers no comfort. Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, yet the ache remains. I isolate myself, shutting out the world and everyone in it. My parents are frustrated with my demeanor, especially my mother, who doesn’t understand why I’ve stopped caring about everything I once loved.In the solitude of my room, time seems to stretch endlessly. I spend hours staring out the window, feeling no shift in my own heart. The walls of my room, once comforting, now feel like a cage. Every object, every corner, reminds me of Ethan, of what we had, and what I’ve lost. And Ethan's hallucinations make it even harder to forget about him. “Belle, you need to get out of this house,” my mother snaps one day from
As graduation day approaches, the excitement that usually accompanies the end of high school is overshadowed by a deep sense of melancholy. I’ve spent the past few days packing up my belongings, preparing to leave the dorm that has been my home for these formative years. Every item I pack feels like a piece of my past being sealed away, and the act of boxing up my life brings an unexpected weight to my chest.The day arrives with its usual pomp and ceremony. The campus is filled with graduates in their caps and gowns, the air buzzing with a mix of excitement and nostalgia. The graduation ceremony itself is a blur of speeches and applause. I’m called up to receive my diploma, a moment that should have been filled with pride and joy. Instead, it’s tinged with sadness, as I feel the weight of everything that has happened. The graduation ceremony is also the final chance to see everyone before we all go our separate ways. Friends and acquaintances gather for one last hurrah. The atmosphe
I push open the heavy wooden doors of the church, the familiar creak echoing softly through the quiet space. I walk down the aisle, my footsteps muted by the worn carpet, and make my way to my usual spot—a solitary pew in the corner.The church is dimly lit, shimmering with a soft glow from the candles flickering by the altar. I sit down, feeling the weight of my heart pressing heavily on my chest. I bow my head, folding my hands in my lap, and let out a shuddering breath."God, it’s me again," I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. "I’m not sure how to start this conversation. I don’t even know where to begin."I close my eyes, trying to steady my racing thoughts. Ethan’s face flashes in my mind, and my tears begin to fall, tracing hot lines down my cheeks."I don’t understand why things had to end this way. I wanted so much more. I thought we had a chance, a real chance to be happy together."I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me."He said he loved me, but I
Ethan comes running behind me, asking me to stop for a second. As I keep on walking on the road, my vision blurs by the car headlights. I'm too lost in my thoughts to notice the car speeding towards me. Suddenly, I feel a strong hand grab my arm, pulling me back just in time."Belle, what the hell are you doing?" Ethan yells, his voice filled with panic and anger.I can hardly breathe, my heart pounding from the close call. I look up at him, and his eyes are filled with a mixture of relief and fury. My mind feels like it’s spinning, and I can’t tell what’s real or just a trick of my mind. Everything around me seems to blur, and I feel disconnected from my own thoughts. It’s like I’m trapped in a fog, struggling to understand what’s happening.I'm just done with my life. The schizophrenia makes it hard to define for me what's real or what's hallucination. I've literally gone mad. It would be better if I would have bumped into that car. Why did he pull me back?“Why the hell are you he
As he kisses and touches me, his hands roam possessively over my body. I gasp, feeling overwhelmed and exposed.“Ethan, it's enough,” I whisper against his lips.“No, it's not. I want more of you, sweetheart,” he whispers, his voice raw with desire. "What if someone enters and sees me like this?" I ask, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and desire. “I don't want anyone else seeing me in this semi nude form.”“You’re mine, Belle,” he murmurs, his voice low and possessive. “Every part of you is mine, and only mine. If anyone else dares to see what’s meant for me alone, I’ll make sure they regret it.”He looks at me with a fierce, possessive glare. "If anyone dares to see you like this," he growls, his voice dripping with intensity, "I'II make that person blind. No one can dare to take a glimpse of your naked form until I'm breathing. No one means no one.”Hearing Ethan's words, my heart pounds in my chest. The intensity in his voice, the fierce protectiveness in his eyes—it sends a