Avey clung to her mother tightly, her body shaking with uncontrollable sobs. “But Lucian… he never ignored me like this,” Avey stammered between sobs, her words broken and trembling. “He always picks up on the first ring, mother. Always.
But I’ve been calling him since yesterday and… he’s not answering.” Her voice cracked, and she buried her face deeper into her mother’s shoulder, as if doing so could somehow stop the tidal wave of emotions crashing over her.
Melody sighed softly, continuing to stroke her daughter’s back in slow, soothing circles. She could feel the tremble in Avey’s body, the raw pain she was trying to contain. “Did you hurt him again, sweetheart?” Melody asked, her voice gentle but with a firmness that hinted at the concern that had been building inside her.
She had watched her daughter reject Lucian’s love time and time again, and as a mother, she worried. Not just for Avey, but for Lucian too.
Avey didn’t respond. She couldn’t. The sobs tore through her, making her chest ache, and her mind spin with the weight of regret that had been piling up since her return to the past. Her body shook as she clung to her mother, her fingers gripping the fabric of her mother’s dress as if she were afraid to let go. In her heart, she knew the answer to her mother’s question. Yes, I hurt him.
I hurt him every time I pushed him away, every time I acted like his love meant nothing. But she couldn’t say it aloud. She couldn’t face that truth, not yet.
In her last life, she had never understood the depth of Lucian’s love until it was too late. Until he had taken his own life. The memory of that day finding out that Lucian had died haunted her. It was a pain so deep, so shattering, that even now, in this second chance, it felt like a wound that hadn’t fully healed. How could it, when she had been the one who had pushed him to that edge?
Her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You know, Avey, you’re very lucky to have someone like Lucian,” Melody said softly, still holding her daughter close. “Not everyone gets a person who loves them so deeply, so unconditionally.” She paused, her hand resting on Avey’s back. “But I worry that someday, you’ll realize this… and it’ll be too late.”
Avey’s heart clenched at her mother’s words. Too late… The very phrase felt like a knife twisting in her chest. She had already experienced that once in her last life realizing far too late just how much Lucian meant to her. The thought of going through that again, of losing him again, was unbearable.
“Opportunities like this don’t come often, especially when it’s about love,” Melody continued. “You shouldn’t let him go on hurting. If you don’t feel the same way, that’s fine. I’ll support you, no matter what you decide.” Melody’s voice was soft, but there was a seriousness beneath it. She had seen the toll this unrequited love had taken on both of them.
“But Avey, if you truly don’t want him… then let him go. Stop hurting him.”
Avey’s body trembled again at her mother’s words. Let him go? The idea felt impossible. How could she let him go when every part of her was screaming that she needed him, that she had been wrong, and that she had always been wrong? Tears rolled down her cheeks as she squeezed her mother tighter.
“No, I don’t want to lose him,” Avey whispered, her voice barely audible. Her heart ached just at the thought of Lucian being gone from her life. The pain was almost unbearable. “I can’t lose him, Mother. Not again.” The weight of her regret pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. Why didn’t I see it sooner?
Why didn’t I realize what he meant to me until he was gone?
Memories of her last life flooded her mind the countless times she had rejected Lucian, the look of hurt in his eyes that she had so easily brushed off. She had told herself it didn’t matter, that his feelings weren’t her problem. She had ignored the way his smile had slowly faded over the years, how his shoulders had sagged more with each rejection. And then one day, he was gone. Just like that.
And all the times she could have chosen differently, all the moments she could have taken his hand instead of pushing him away, haunted her.
Avey’s sobs grew louder as the guilt consumed her. “Why… why did I treat him like that? Why couldn’t I see how much he loved me?” she choked out, her words barely coherent through her tears. Her mother continued to hold her, whispering soft words of comfort, but nothing could take away the pain that gripped Avey’s heart.
“It’s not too late,” Melody said softly, pulling back just enough to look at her daughter’s tear-streaked face. “If you don’t want to lose him, then fight for him. Show him that you care.”
Avey nodded, but deep down, fear gnawed at her. What if it was already too late? What if this time, Lucian really had given up? The thought terrified her. She had seen how broken he had been at the end of their last life, how he had spiraled into despair until there was nothing left. She couldn’t let that happen again.
She wouldn’t.
But where was he? Why wasn’t he answering her calls? The uncertainty gnawed at her, making her panic rise. What if something happened to him? What if he’s already given up?
Melody looked down at her daughter’s tear-stained face and sighed. “Avey, don’t wait too long to figure out what you want. Sometimes, when you wait, the person you care about the most isn’t there when you finally decide.”
Avey’s heart lurched at her mother’s words. What if he’s not there when I reach out? What if I’m already too late? The thought sent a fresh wave of panic through her, but she pushed it down. No. I can’t think like that.
I have to find him.
“I have to fix this,” Avey whispered to herself, her tears still falling. “I won’t let him go. I can’t let him go.”
She stepped back from her mother, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Her heart felt heavy, but there was a new determination burning in her chest. She had to find Lucian. She had to make things right, even if it was the hardest thing she’d ever do. She couldn’t let history repeat itself. Not this time.
Avey wiped the last traces of tears from her cheeks as her mother, Melody, gave her a gentle pat on the back. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Melody said with a soft chuckle, trying to ease the tension in her daughter’s heart. “Lucian will come. That boy is more obsessed with you than you think. The world would end before he missed your birthday.”
Avey let out a shaky breath, her confidence slowly returning. Despite everything, there was a certainty in her that Lucian would show up. He always did. Lucian might forget to eat, but he would never forget me. That’s just how he is, she thought, trying to calm herself. Her mother’s reassuring words helped, but deep down, she was still anxious.
Why hasn’t he answered my calls?
As Avey and Melody stood near the grand entrance to the party, their conversation was interrupted by a stir of excitement. The murmurs of the guests rippled through the air, and all eyes turned toward the entrance.
A woman in a beautifully tailored dress entered the venue, her elegance and presence undeniable. Olivia Kane, Lucian’s mother, had arrived. Her face carried a professional, composed smile, but to those who looked closely like Avey and Melody the signs of exhaustion and emotional turmoil were evident.
Her eyes were swollen and red, a sharp contrast to the impeccable image she always presented to the world.
Both Avey and Melody exchanged surprised glances, their expressions lighting up at Olivia’s unexpected presence. The guests, who had been idly watching the party unfold, now turned their attention to the powerful woman walking in. It wasn’t just anyone. This was Olivia Kane, a woman whose very name commanded respect.
“Olivia, I didn’t expect you to come! It’s such a pleasant surprise,” Melody said warmly as she approached Olivia, pulling her into a gentle hug. Despite her outward composure, Melody couldn’t hide the admiration and respect in her eyes. For all her own success, Melody knew she was standing in front of someone on an entirely different level.
Olivia returned the hug with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her mind was elsewhere, haunted by guilt and the crushing realization of her failures as a mother. She had spent the last night in agonizing reflection after coming back in time, remembering how she had let Lucian suffer, how she had ignored him for so long.
Now, the weight of that guilt hung over her, clouding her usually sharp focus.
Melody’s words were genuine, but Olivia barely registered them. She would have avoided coming altogether if not for one reason: Lucian. It wasn’t about business or appearances; it was about being the mother Lucian needed, even if she had failed him in the past. Coming to Avey’s birthday was about more than the party it was about supporting her son, even if he didn’t want to be here.
Despite Lucian’s insistence that he no longer wished to pursue Avey, Olivia didn’t believe him. How could she? She knew her son’s heart better than anyone, or at least she thought she did. His dedication to Avey was undeniable, something she had failed to support in the past, and something she wouldn’t fail to do now.
“I’m happy you came, Olivia,” Melody continued, her admiration evident. She pulled back from the hug, flashing a genuine smile. “I didn’t think you’d have the time. You’re always so busy, running the world as you do,” she joked lightly, though there was a deep respect in her tone.
Olivia nodded, trying to maintain her composure. “Yes, well… this is important.” Her words were measured, but inside, she felt like she was being crushed under the weight of her own expectations. I have to make things right with Lucian, she thought, her mind racing. This time, I’ll be the mother he needs. Even if I don’t deserve it.
Melody couldn’t help but admire the woman standing in front of her. Olivia Kane was the epitome of power, elegance, and strength. Women across the world looked up to her not just because of her business acumen, but because of her ability to command respect in a male-dominated industry. To Melody, Olivia was more than a role model; she was an ideal.
Despite her own status as a successful woman from a wealthy family, Melody knew there was a vast difference between her and Olivia. She had married into her wealth, become part of an established family. But Olivia… Olivia had built the Kane empire from the ground up. She was the force behind every major decision, every success. And she had done it all on her own.
It wasn’t just business, either. Olivia was a public figure, a beacon for women all around the world. Billions looked up to her. She wasn’t just a CEO she was a living icon. And here she was, attending Avey’s birthday, a personal gesture that spoke volumes about how important this day must have been for her.
But beneath all that prestige and admiration, Olivia felt hollow. Her mind buzzed with the echoes of her past mistakes. She had failed Lucian over and over again. And now, standing in front of Melody and Avey, she felt more disconnected than ever from the person she had spent her life becoming. All those years of business success meant nothing when she had lost her son’s trust.
“I’m just happy to be here,” Olivia said quietly, forcing herself to focus on the present, though her thoughts kept drifting to Lucian. She had come for him. Even if he wasn’t here, she had to make sure that Avey understood how important she was to Lucian. And maybe… maybe she could help her son heal. She had made a decision.
Avey was the girl Lucian had loved all his life, and if Lucian wanted her, then Olivia would make sure they ended up together. She couldn’t afford to lose this fight, not after everything that had happened.
She had failed in so many ways as a mother, but this time, she wouldn’t let Lucian’s happiness slip away. She was determined to secure the future he had always wanted, even if he was too tired to fight for it himself. If that meant convincing Avey to see things differently, then so be it.
Melody’s eyes flickered with curiosity as she noticed the tiredness in Olivia’s expression, the weariness that even her carefully constructed façade couldn’t hide. “Is everything alright, Olivia?” she asked gently. “You look… well, you look exhausted.”
Olivia forced a smile, brushing it off. “Just a bit tired,” she said vaguely, her voice betraying none of the inner turmoil she felt. How could she explain to anyone, especially Melody, the storm that had been raging inside her since she came back in time? The regret, the guilt, the shame of realizing that she had failed her son so deeply.
How could she admit that, for all her power and influence, she had lost the most important person in her life?
Melody nodded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. Olivia Kane, the woman who had always seemed invincible, now looked fragile, like she was carrying a weight too heavy even for her formidable shoulders.
As the party continued around them, Olivia’s mind drifted back to Lucian. I hope you come, Lucy. You need to be here, she thought, though her heart clenched with the fear that maybe, for the first time, Lucian really wouldn’t show up. And if that was the case… what would she do then?
—–
hey guys here almost 2400 word’s well almost comparable to two chapters
we’ll guys today was quite hard to write
just looking weak and pathetic… crying like a baby for issues i dont even have control over sighh
anyways freewebnoveℓ.com
thanks for reading my lovely dovely readers haha
your all handsome and charming… author lazydiablo