Deeper Healing

67| Ill-Fated

Leilani Edwards

I sighed deeply when Nikolai pulled up in the parking lot of the building where Isla asked to meet me.

"I don't know what I'm walking into and it's freaking me out," I told him, taking another controlled deep breath. "I don't trust her."

Nikolai took my hand and held it in his, lacing our fingers. "I don't trust her either and the good thing is, it's not too late to back out from this meetup. We can always come up with an excuse."

I smiled, holding his hand a little bit tighter. "Then that would mean going in circles for another while and I'm tired of it, honestly. I need to start focusing on more important things like my career—"

I leaned close to him, following his eyes with my hand framing his face. "—you and everything about us. I want to be the best girlfriend you could have ever dreamed of having and for that to happen, my attention needs to be fixed."

He smiled, leaning in to tease me with a light kiss. "You're right, but I can't let you walk in there alone. Let me come with you."

I lightly kissed him on his lips before pulling away, my forehead gently pressed into his. "I need to do this by myself, Nik."

We'd already had that conversation before he drove me here. This was my battle and I needed to fight it to the end on my feet.

He was there to support me, yes, but I felt like I needed to do this by myself despite how much it terrified me.

He nodded. "I understand. I'll stay on alert in case a problem arises."

I was going to pull away from him, but he drew me back closer to him by cupping the back of my head.

"Leila?" he called my name.

I softly hummed. "Yes, Nik?"

"I love you," he confessed for the umpteenth time this morning. "I love you so much and look forward to spending the remainder of my life by your side."

His words always had their way around my heart and my senses. We were dating right now, but I could see a bigger picture for us both.

It covered beyond what we had now. I had dreams of us getting engaged, married and ultimately having children of our own and growing our family. I wanted to create life with him in a world where we were perfectly safe and happy.

The more time I spent with him, listening to his words and opening up to him the more I realised we were on the same page.

He saw a future with me and so did I. I was ready for this chapter of our lives and for it to begin on a good note, I had a couple of doors I needed to close first.

"I love you too, Nikolai," I responded sincerely. "I always will and can't wait to open this new chapter of my life with you by my side."

His lips stretched into a soft smile. "I know and I feel so lucky every single day."

In truth, I was the lucky one, striving to deserve to be by his side. Lately, it felt easier and natural. It felt meant to be and I reached a stage where I stopped trying.

We were happy together and I intended to keep it that way at all costs.

When Nikolai let go of my hand, I exited the car after giving him one more kiss. He told me he'd wait for me in the car no matter how long this meeting would be. I hoped it wouldn't take time and we would wrap things up quickly.

There wasn't much to discuss anyway, especially if she wasn't willing to tell me the root of her resentment towards me that'd led her to all the atrocities she'd committed against me.