Falling for the Goddess

If You Want to Cry, Just Cry. Don't Hold It In.

Adrian Blake returned, weary but determined.

Still seated on the floor, Sara Hart stared at him in disbelief. The momentary shock gave way to a quiet dread as she lowered her gaze.

He must know everything now.

She braced herself for what was coming—his questions, doubts, or indifference. Would he even give her the chance to explain?

As his footsteps drew nearer, her heart climbed into her throat, beating wildly. She didn't dare look at him, afraid of seeing disappointment or coldness in his eyes.

Adrian stopped in front of her, silent. The stillness stretched unbearably, and Sara felt her heart sinking, dragging her deeper into despair.

Just as she thought she'd drown in the silence, Adrian crouched down and pulled her into his arms.

Sara froze, her breath hitching.

His voice, calm and gentle, broke the silence. "Why are you sitting on the floor?"

The photo album on her lap slipped to the ground with a soft thud.

Sara blinked, startled by his unexpected question. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her shirt as she whispered, "You... already know, don't you?"

"Yes," Adrian said simply, holding her a little tighter. "Why didn't you call me?"

"Don't you want to ask me anything?" she ventured cautiously.

"I trust you."

Those three words struck her like a gentle yet powerful wave, dismantling the walls she had built around herself.

Unlike before, when doubts and accusations had come so swiftly, he now believed her unconditionally. And why wouldn't he? Many of the photos circulating online were of him and his car, taken during the countless times he had driven her to school.

As for the photo of the birth control pills, he vividly remembered the context—the aftermath of the incident where they had been drugged. Every detail is aligned.

Adrian had also dug deeper, uncovering the lies behind the accusations. He couldn't fathom how she had endured such a storm of falsehoods and malice, but now that he was here, he wouldn't let her face it alone.

"Does it feel unfair?" he asked softly.

Sara shook her head, though her grip on his waist tightened.

She didn't answer, fearing her voice would betray her. Instead, she buried her face in his chest, clinging to him like he were the only solid ground in a tumultuous sea.

Her tears, hot and silent, seeped into his shirt. Adrian could feel the damp warmth spreading against his chest.

He said nothing, one hand around her waist, the other gently stroking her hair.

Sara had weathered so much—slander, isolation, and countless trials—without complaint. Yet now, cradled in the warmth of his embrace, the weight of her pain overwhelmed her.

Tears she had suppressed for years flowed freely, and she clung to him as though he might vanish if she let go.

Adrian felt her trembling and pulled back slightly, touching her shoulders.

Her tear-streaked face tore at his heart. He pressed his forehead to hers, his voice low and soothing. "If you want to cry, just cry. Don't hold it in."

Sara looked up at him, her vision blurred by tears, and they spilled over uncontrollably at that moment.

Adrian reached up to wipe them away, but they kept coming, endless and relentless. Helpless, he lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her eye.

His kisses were feather-light, tender, without a trace of desire—only boundless care and affection.

The touch startled her. She blinked, momentarily forgetting to cry, and looked at him in stunned silence.

Her long, dark lashes glistened with tears, and her wide eyes mirrored her surprise.

Adrian leaned in and kissed her swollen eyelid. "Done crying?"

Sara hesitated before nodding, then shaking her head.

Satisfied that her sobs had subsided, Adrian brushed her hair back and helped her to her feet. "Your hands are freezing," he murmured, frowning. "You've been sitting here too long."

His arm around her waist, he led her toward the bathroom. "Take a hot shower. We'll talk after."

Sara nodded and disappeared into the bathroom.

When she emerged, refreshed but still subdued, Adrian stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his phone in hand.

She caught her reflection in the glass as he ended the call and turned to her.

"You came back so suddenly. What about work?" she asked hesitantly.

"Charlie can handle it," Adrian replied casually.

But the truth was, work was the last thing on his mind when he saw the online threats against her. The idea of her facing such hostility alone filled him with a bone-deep unease.

He was glad he had returned.

The image of her sitting on the floor, clutching her photo album, fragile and alone, remained etched in his mind, each thought of it twisting the knife in his heart.

He gestured for her to join him. "Come here."

Sara hesitated, then walked toward him. Her apprehension melted into a quiet yearning as she met his gaze, her emotions laid bare in a way she had never allowed.

Adrian pulled her down beside him on the sofa. He showed her the information he had gathered.

"It was your high school classmate, Lisa Moore. What do you want to do?"

Sara lowered her eyes, her voice steady. "I knew it was her. Our feud started in high school. She always believed I stole her boyfriend, no matter how much I explained. She never believed me."

She looked up at him, eager to clarify. "But I barely spoke to him. I never did what she accused me of."

"I know," Adrian said firmly. "I know."

That night, Adrian stayed at Sara's apartment for the first time.

With the lights off, he held her close in the dark, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "What were you like in high school?"

Sara paused, nestling closer against him. Her tone was light, almost teasing.

"High school feels like a lifetime ago. I was new to Beicheng, had few friends, and wasn't very talkative. It was just study, study, study. Nothing special."

She hesitated before adding with a small laugh, "Sometimes I'd sneak in a novel during self-study or skimp on homework without the teachers noticing."

Her attempt at levity didn't escape Adrian.

"I've read the full report on your high school years," he admitted quietly.

Sara's voice caught, her playful tone vanishing. "You... know everything?"

"Every detail," he confirmed. "It must have been hard."

Sara fell silent momentarily before murmuring, "It wasn't so bad. My grandmother had just passed, so nothing mattered. I drifted through those years, too numb to feel much."

"Being alone wasn't so bad," she added softly, though the unspoken pain lingered in her voice.

Adrian's arms tightened around her. Her resilience was awe-inspiring, but the thought of her hardships only deepened his resolve.

He wouldn't let her suffer anymore. Those who had wronged her would pay, starting with Lisa Moore.