Shattered Hearts

♡⁠(⁠>⁠ ⁠ਊ⁠ ⁠<⁠)⁠♡

Chapter 25

As the clock struck midnight, a strange sound echoed through our room, jolting me awake from my slumber. I sat up in bed, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and curiosity, as I strained to listen for the source of the noise. Unable to shake off the feeling of unease, I glanced out the window, my eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement.

Just as I was about to dismiss the sound as nothing more than a figment of my imagination, a faint rustling caught my attention. My gaze fell upon a piece of paper fluttering in the gentle night breeze, pinned to the railing of the balcony overlooking the pool.

With trembling hands, I reached for the paper, my heart racing as I unfolded it to reveal a hastily scrawled message:

"Meet me by the pool. I'll be waiting for you.
~Josh"

A shiver ran down my spine as I read the words, a sense of foreboding washing over me. Why  could he have left this mysterious message, and what did he wants with me? My mind raced with a million questions, each more unsettling than the last.

Turning to wake Ethan, I found him lost in a deep slumber, oblivious to the events unfolding around us. With a heavy heart, I realized that I would have to face this alone. Wrapping myself in my coat for warmth, I quietly slipped out of the room, careful not to disturb Ethan's peaceful sleep.

The night air was cool against my skin as I made my way to the poolside, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger. Moonlight danced on the surface of the water, casting eerie shadows across the deserted area.

As I approached the pool, a figure emerged from the darkness, sending a jolt of fear coursing through me. It was Josh, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine.

"Lizz," he said, his voice low and urgent. "I need to talk to you."

Torn between fear and curiosity, I took a hesitant step forward, my instincts urging me to flee from this dangerous situation. But something in Josh's demeanor told me that he meant me no harm, at least not in this moment.

"What do you want, Josh?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my heart hammering in my chest.

Josh took a deep breath, his expression grave. "I know this is unexpected, but I had to see you," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "There's something I need to tell you, something that could change everything."

My heart pounding in my chest, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, causing my vision to blur and my legs to weaken. I stumbled forward, my balance faltering, and just as I felt myself teetering on the edge of the pool, ready to plunge into the icy depths below, strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back from the brink.

I gasped in shock as I felt myself being pulled away from the edge, my body pressed against the warmth of Josh's chest. His grip was firm yet gentle, his touch sending a surge of electricity through my veins as he held me close, keeping me safe from harm.

"Are you okay?" Josh asked, his voice filled with concern as he steadied me on my feet, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress.

I nodded, still reeling from the close call, my heart racing with a mixture of fear and relief. "Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, as I leaned into his embrace, grateful for his timely intervention.

Josh held me close for a moment longer, his arms a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions swirling inside me. And as I finally regained my composure, I pulled away from him, my gaze meeting his in the dim light of the poolside.

"What were you doing out here?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly with residual fear. "And why did you want to talk to me?"

Josh sighed, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the right words. I love you Lizz. I still love you," he admitted, his expression grave. "I was waiting for you since that day."

My heart skipped a beat , a sense of unease settling over me like a dark cloud. "What ?" I demanded, my voice tinged with apprehension. "What aren't you telling me?"

Josh hesitated, his gaze flickering with uncertainty before he finally spoke, his words heavy with meaning. "Seriously I love you.," he began, his voice barely a whisper. "You are my everything Lizz. I can't live without you. And that man whatever the name is.... Ohhh Ethan.... He is not perfect for you Lizz. You are mine. Only mine..... Leave him! Lizz."

Shocked by Josh's confession, anger and feeling of betrayal surged within me like a tempestuous wave. Without a second thought, I raised my hand and delivered a resounding slap across Josh's cheek, the sound echoing in the stillness of the night.

"How dare you!" I seethed, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and hurt. "You have no right to meddle in our lives, to come here. You had left me when I was in pain. When I need your support you're not there. You had left in midway of my life."

Josh recoiled from the force of my blow, his hand instinctively rising to cradle his stinging cheek. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief, the flicker of pain mirrored in their depths.

"Lizz, wait," he pleaded, reaching out to grab my arm as I turned to leave. "You don't understand. You need to listen to me. Still I love you."

But I shook off his grasp, my resolve unyielding as I backed away from him, my gaze filled with determination. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say," I declared, my voice ringing with finality. "Just stay away from me and Ethan, or you'll regret it."

With those words, I turned on my heel and fled from the poolside, my heart heavy with the weight of Josh's ominous confession. As I made my way back to our room, a whirlwind of emotions churned inside me, leaving me feeling shaken and vulnerable.

But amidst the turmoil, one thing remained clear – I would do whatever it took to protect my relationship with Ethan, to safeguard the love we shared from anyone who sought to tear us apart, even if it meant facing the dark secrets of his past head-on. And as I slipped back into bed beside Ethan, the warmth of his presence a soothing balm to my troubled soul, I knew that together, we could weather any storm that came our way.

I secretly admired him with cares.
•♡•

Happy reading my dear readers! ❤️
Sorry for late update 🥺