Eternal Echoes

Chapter One Hundred- Twenty-One: A Decision on New Year's Eve (Part 1)

3rd Person POV

The morning light filtered gently through the curtains as Michaella stepped out of the shower, a decision firmly made in her heart. She wrapped herself in a plush towel, feeling an odd combination of calm and nerves, then reached for her phone on the counter, typing out a quick text to Damien.

"Can we meet? We need to talk."

Setting her phone back down, she focused on making a pumpkin spice latte, the familiar aroma easing her thoughts. Today was New Year's Eve. Usually, she loved the holiday season, but ever since her breakup, something had shifted. The holidays held a different kind of quiet now, a reminder of things that once were.

Her phone buzzed. Damien's name lit up the screen.

"Hey," she answered, her voice light but tinged with anticipation.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Nothing's wrong. Why?"

"You texted me that we need to talk, and, well... not hearing your voice for a whole day has been harder than I thought," he said, a slight chuckle in his tone.

A smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, we do need to talk."

"When?"

"Um, you could... come over?"

She barely finished her sentence before he replied, "On my way," and hung up.

With her heart racing, Michaella abandoned her latte, running upstairs to quickly change out of her pyjamas. Glancing at herself in the mirror, she noted how her curls framed her face. She looked nice, not too done up, yet natural and presentable. Just as she took a deep breath, the doorbell rang.

Expecting Damien, she was surprised to see Dortha, her housekeeper, at the door.

"Heeey, you came at the perfect time!" Michaella grinned, letting her in.

"What's going on, Miss Michaella?" Dortha asked, setting her bag down.

"Well, someone's on their way, and the living room and kitchen... well, they could use a little... attention."

Dortha raised an eyebrow with a knowing smile. "Say no more. I'll take care of it."

"You're a lifesaver, Dortha!" Michaella beamed. "I'll help too."

"Oh no, go look pretty," Dortha teased, waving her off.

"I don't already?"

Dortha laughed, glancing at Michaella's outfit. "Oh, you do, but maybe you'd like to... I don't know, add a little something extra?"

"No, I think I'm fine like this." Michaella gave her a wink, still feeling a tad jittery. Together, they tidied up the living room, arranging cushions and clearing away stray papers. Once finished, Dortha went to tackle the kitchen while Michaella stood by the window, watching the street.

The doorbell chimed again, and Dortha answered as Michaella made her way down the stairs. Damien stepped inside, looking effortlessly handsome as always, a trace of excitement in his expression.

"Good morning, love," he greeted, his voice warm and gentle.

"Good morning, Damien," Michaella replied, feeling a strange yet comforting calm wash over her.

"Damien, this is Dortha, my housekeeper. Dortha, this is Mr. Knight."

Dortha extended a friendly smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Knight."

"Likewise, call me Damien" he replied, nodding courteously.

Dortha turned to Damien. "How do you like your coffee?"

"Black, please. Thank you," he replied, watching as Dortha left the room.

He looked at Michaella, his expression questioning but patient. "So...?"

"Oh, she already knows what I want," Michaella said, filling the moment's pause.

He nodded, a half-smile playing at his lips. "Should we... go outside? It's a nice day."

She nodded. "Sure, let's."

They stepped out onto the patio, the early winter sun casting a soft glow over the garden. Damien looked at her with that same quiet intensity, waiting.

Michaella took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Damien... I feel like I owe you the truth about a lot of things. About why I am the way I am."

He nodded, watching her carefully. "Go on."

"There's a part of me that... misses him, my ex, Gabrielle" she admitted, her voice wavering slightly. "I think about him sometimes. And it's strange because I know I don't want to be with him, but I can't deny he's still there in my heart, like this... echo." She looked down, afraid to meet his gaze.

Just then, Dortha stepped out, quietly placing their coffees on the small table beside them. "Enjoy," she said warmly, before retreating back inside to give them privacy.

Michaella wrapped her hands around the warm cup, the aroma of pumpkin spice steadying her nerves. She took a small sip, gathering her courage before continuing.

"I know that's not what you want to hear, Damien," she said, finally meeting his eyes, which held an understanding she hadn't expected. "But if we're going to be honest with each other... I just wanted you to know. I don't want you to feel like you're dealing with someone who's... not fully here. Do you really want to take this on, with all my emotions?"

Damien reached across the table, taking her hand in his, his touch gentle but grounding. "Michaella, I wouldn't be here if I didn't. I want all of you—the good, the messy, the uncertain. I want you to be mine."

She looked at him, her heart racing, his steady gaze calming her yet sparking something else within her. His eyes were both soothing and challenging, as if daring her to truly take the leap.

"Okay," she whispered, a smile spreading across her face.

He raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Okay, what?"

She let out a soft laugh, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. "I want to give you a chance."

A laugh escaped Damien, a sound she hadn't heard from him before. It was genuine and warm, as though her words had broken through an unspoken barrier between them. Before she could say anything else, he reached for her, cupping her face, pulling her close.

His lips met hers, demanding yet tender, a kiss that felt like a promise. Michaella melted into it, her hands wrapping around his shoulders as she felt the weight of her fears dissolve, replaced by something thrilling and freeing.

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