Open Marriage, Broken Promises: When Love Turns to Ashes novel Chapter 65

During my time in Toronto, it was Ryan who kept me company.

I had a vague idea of what he wanted, but since he didn't say it outright, I didn't bring it up.

"Elena, are you going back?"

He was peeling fruit for me. The weather in Toronto was dry, so he bought a lot of fruit and brought it to me.

"I won't go back for now. I'll deal with things later."

I knew I was still running away. After all, seven years of a relationship can't just be ended with a snap.

Ryan fell unusually silent. Though we hadn't known each other for long, I could tell his mood was heavy and lonely.

I couldn't help but smile, trying to ease the tension.

"Don't want me to go back?"

He tugged at the corner of his lips.

"If I say I don't want you to, would you stay?"

"I might consider it."

His long fingers peeled a piece of orange and fed it to me.

"Then I'll behave, and you won't go back."

He fed me the whole orange.

After washing his hands, he sat beside me, gently wrapped his arm around my waist, and rested his head on my shoulder.

His breath was as light as a feather, brushing against my ear, making me feel ticklish. I instinctively moved to the side, uncomfortable.

But Ryan only held me tighter.

"Elena, we—"

I knew what he was about to say, so I turned my head and kissed him to silence the words.

Our breaths mingled. We were so close, yet both of us were lost in our own thoughts.

Before bed, he hugged me from behind and asked once more.

"Elena, let's be together."

I didn't answer for a long time. In the stillness of the night, even the air seemed to hold its breath.

"I'll treat you well, I—"

I turned around and gently pushed him away.

"Ryan, I'm sorry."

"Why?"

He looked down at me, and in the moonlight, I could see the stubbornness in his eyes and the faint redness at the corners.

I lowered my head, avoiding his gaze, afraid that I wouldn't be able to bear it.

"You're great, it's me. I'm just not ready to start a new relationship."

The moment I finished speaking, he hurriedly spoke up.

"Elena, I can give you time. Take as long as you need."

"Can we start by dating first?"

His tone, full of pleading, left me speechless.

"I'm sorry."

I turned around, afraid he would see the expression on my face.

I began to regret that my indulgence with Ryan might have been a mistake.

Ryan didn't leave. He drove around the city center of Toronto, then returned to the university where he and Elena had first met.

He had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, possessing so much that his desires were minimal.

The first time he saw Elena was at the zebra crossing near the side gate of the school.

While waiting for the light, he sat in his car and saw an old lady fall in the middle of the road. No one went to help, but Elena did.

She wore a pure white dress, her hair in a ponytail, looking like a warrior heading into battle.

Even in an age where helping elderly women across the street could end up in scandal, she still stepped forward.

That was their first meeting.

The second time they met was at school, when the family of the old lady Elena had helped came to accuse her.

She stood there, unbowed, her back straight. At that moment, Ryan thought she was foolish—doing good deeds only to be extorted.

Fortunately, there was surveillance footage, so Elena was not harmed.

He thought the girl would learn her lesson this time. But when the teacher asked her what she would do if the situation happened again, Ryan still clearly remembered what she said.

With her ponytail and bright smile, Elena replied. "If everyone is afraid and no one does anything, then this world is truly beyond saving."

"Okay, teacher! I'll be more careful next time," she said in a playful tone before leaving.

She completely disregarded Ryan, who had been watching from the sidelines, quietly falling in love with her.

From then on, whenever Ryan happened to pass by Elena, he always hoped she would notice him. But Elena treated him as someone from another world, and their paths never crossed.

Ryan's unrequited love was long and difficult.

Eventually, he went abroad to study, bringing an end to this one-sided affection.