Chapter 24 – A Love Finally Spoken
Four days had passed since Zayn confessed he was falling for Elira. Their honeymoon in the Maldives had been nothing short of magical clear beaches stretched into starlit evenings, and warmth bloomed between them in every shared look and quiet moment.
Elira sat in an open-air pavilion, facing the sea. The moonlight cascaded over the waves, and the gentle breeze carried the scent of salt water.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Zayn whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Yes," she replied. "I wish we could stay here longer."
"So do I," Zayn said, pressing his lips near her temple. "Elira, I need to tell you something."
She turned to face him, sensing the nervous edge in his voice.
"I realized I love you," he said. "Truly love you."
Elira's breath caught.
Zayn continued, "I know I wasn't fair to you. I pushed you away because I didn't know how to love. I resented the marriage before it began, because I hated that I lost control of my life. But now… I see you've always been my light."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Zayn…"
He wiped a tear from her cheek. "Have I hurt you?"
"Yes. Before. But not anymore."
"I promise to love you right this time not just protect you, but truly love you, in every way you've always deserved."
He kissed her temple. "I was a fool. How could I not see you for who you are?"
Elira wrapped her arms around him. Her voice trembled. "I love you, Zayn."
They stayed in silence, only the waves and their hearts speaking.
That night, they lay side by side, holding each other. Zayn treated her with tenderness, and Elira traced his lips with her fingers, realizing this was the man she married the same man she had grown to love.
No longer broken. No longer afraid.
Just… hers.