Chapter 7: A Flood of Memories 

Ethan’s confession, so unexpected and heartfelt, left Amelia speechless. It was all so surreal. His intense gaze and the sincerity in his voice were in stark contrast to the cold, distant Ethan she thought she knew. 

Mark pushed his way through the crowd, grabbing her arm. 

“Are you done with this ridiculous charade?” he snarled, his eyes burning with jealousy as he glared at their joined hands. 

Amelia looked at him, then at Vivian, who was standing behind him, a triumphant smirk on her face. They both looked so smug, so sure that she would come crawling back. They’d always underestimated her. 

“Mark, honestly, your behavior is embarrassing,” she said, her voice cold. “Just be with Vivian. Stop making a fool of yourself. You’ll be happier, and so will I.” 

She turned to leave, ignoring their shocked expressions. There was no anger, no sadness, just a sense of relief. She had wasted enough time on him. 

As she walked away, hand in hand with Ethan, she heard Ethan ask, his voice laced with 

concern, “Are you okay?” 

Amelia smiled, squeezing his hand reassuringly. “Do I look like I’m about to cry? I’m 

tougher than I look.” 

She wouldn’t waste a single tear on someone like Mark. She was done. 

Chapter 8: A New Beginning 

Ethan canceled his plans with his friends, opting to spend the evening with Amelia. They found themselves by the beach, watching the sun paint the sky in hues of orange and purple. They sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. 

Amelia stole a glance at Ethan, noticing a faint blush on his cheeks. 

He taught her staring and turned towards her, his gaze intense. Amelia felt her heart skip a beat and quickly looked away. 

“Amelia,” he began, his voice hesitant. “You… you called me your boyfriend earlier. Was 

that…” 

Amelia blinked, then nodded. She’d been so caught up in the moment, so mesmerized by his eyes, that she hadn’t even registered what she’d said. 

Ethan stared at her for a moment, then a slow grin spread across his face. He linked his pinky finger with hers. “It’s a deal then. No take–backs!” 

She noticed the surprised look on her face and quickly added, “I mean, unless it’s too soon, of course. We can… try things out. And if you’re happy with the trial period, then we can… you know, make it official.” 

Amelia couldn’t help but laugh at his flustered, earnest expression. “Okay,” she agreed, her 

heart lighter than it had been in years. 

From that day forward, Ethan made sure to see Amelia every day. He’d pick her up from work, surprising her with a bouquet of fresh flowers. 

“Are you trying to bankrupt yourself, Ethan?” Amelia teased, looking at the ever growing collection of vases in her apartment. “Or are you hoping I’ll quit my job and open a flower shop?” 

He surveyed the colorful blooms with a thoughtful expression. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Maybe we should buy out the shop next door? Didn’t you always say you wanted to be surrounded by flowers” 

13:09 Fri, 13 Dec M 

Amelia stared at him, stunned. How did he know that? It was a childhood dream she’d 

shared with no one. 

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“How did you…?” she began, a sudden thought hitting her. “Did we know each other as kids?” 

Ethan hesitated, his eyes flickering to hers. “No. We didn’t.” 

He quickly changed the subject, taking her hand and leading her out the door. “Come on, let’s grab some dinner. Don’t want your stomach acting up again.” 

True to his word, Ethan bought the shop next door and helped Amelia open her dream flower shop. She left the coffee shop in the capable hands of her employees, who teased her relentlessly about abandoning them. 

“But it’s just next door!” one of them exclaimed. “You can’t even spare a few minutes to visit 

us anymore?” 

“You don’t understand,” another chimed in, looking at Amelia with a knowing smile. “Don’t you see how happy she is? She’s practically glowing.” 

“Yeah,” another agreed. “She used to be so pale and quiet, like a wilting flower. Now look at her, she’s a blooming rose!” 

Amelia laughed, shooing them back to work. 

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she had to admit, they were right. She looked… different. Gone was the anxious, insecure woman who spent her days trying to decipher 

Mark’s moods. 

The ten years she’d wasted on him had felt like an endless cycle of trying to earn his affection. She’d forgotten what it felt like to be her own person, to have dreams and aspirations that didn’t revolve around him.