The Unspoken Attraction

Chapter 9: Steps Towards Healing

The morning sunlight seeped through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow across Ian's penthouse. Everything seemed still, serene even, but the air between Ian and Isabella felt fragile as if held together by invisible threads. They had spent the night tangled in each other's arms, clinging to the closeness they had rediscovered, but the unspoken weight of their conversation still lingered.

Isabella woke first, her heart heavy with the remnants of last night's confrontation. Her body was warm against Ian's, but her mind raced with uncertainty. She had wanted so desperately to believe him, to take comfort in his words and his promise that Sofea meant nothing—but part of her still hesitated. Trust takes time, she reminded herself, pulling the blanket closer as Ian's steady breathing filled the quiet space.

She lay there for a few moments, staring at the ceiling, wondering how long it would take for the ache of doubt to fully fade. Can I truly trust him again? The question gnawed at her, though she hated to admit it. It's not about Sofea anymore—it's about us.

Trust. It was such a fragile thing for her. And it wasn't just about Ian—it was about the scars she carried, the ones from before they had ever met.

She thought back to a time when love had meant something different. Her first real relationship had started out as everything she had dreamed of—intense, passionate, all-consuming. But that love had quickly turned toxic, built on lies and manipulation. She had been lied to, cheated on, and left with a shattered heart that took years to mend. She had promised herself she wouldn't let anyone hurt her like that again, and had built walls around her heart to protect herself.

And Ian... he had broken through those walls so easily. His warmth, his genuine care, his patience—it had all made her believe that maybe, just maybe, she could trust again. But now, after seeing him with Sofea, after the doubts had started creeping in, her old fears resurfaced. What if she had been wrong? What if the man she loved was just another person who would betray her?

Ian stirred beside her, his arm tightening around her waist as he woke. His eyes blinked open, soft and sleepy, but as soon as they met hers, a smile curved on his lips.

"Good morning, love," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

"Morning," Isabella replied, her smile hesitant. She didn't want to ruin this peaceful moment, but the unease inside her was hard to ignore.

Ian reached up and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch tender. "How are you feeling?" His voice was filled with concern, his eyes searching hers for any sign of what was going on inside her mind.

Isabella hesitated. She wanted to say she was fine, and that everything was back to normal, but that would have been a lie. Healing isn't that simple.

"I'm trying," she finally admitted, her voice quiet. "I want to be okay. I want to trust that everything will be better, but..." She trailed off, her eyes downcast.

Ian's expression softened, and he shifted closer, his fingers brushing her cheek. "I understand," he said gently. "I know it's not going to be easy. But I'm here, and I'm going to keep showing you that you can trust me. I promise."

His words were sincere, and for a moment, Isabella felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this time, it will be different. Maybe this time, we'll make it through.

Isabella took a deep breath, "I've had a hard time trusting people... because I've been hurt before. Really hurt. I thought I had moved past it, that I could trust again with you. But when I saw you with her, it brought back all those fears I thought I had buried." she said after a long silence.

Ian's brows furrowed in concern, his eyes searching for the right words.

"I didn't know," he finally said, his voice soft. "I didn't know you went through that."