Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 94

Chapter 94: The Quiet Resignation

The days felt like a blur, and as the wedding loomed closer, Adhara couldn't shake the growing emptiness that gnawed at her from the inside. It was no longer about the family reputation, no longer about fulfilling any expectations. If she was being honest with herself, she had never cared about that.

Her entire life had been dictated by others—by her father's ambitions, by the alliances that had been made before she was even born, and by a future she had never wanted. But none of it mattered anymore. She had made a choice, and it was the hardest decision of her life.

It wasn't about the Malfoy name or her family's legacy; it was about Fred.

Fred deserved better. He deserved someone who would never break his heart, who could love him freely without the weight of her past or her family's demands. He deserved someone who wasn't tied to the chains of a legacy she no longer wanted to be a part of.

And so, she had stepped aside. She had allowed this marriage to happen. Allowed Max Laurent to become her reality. Allowed herself to become something she never thought she could be—someone who didn't fight for what she wanted.

But it was for Fred.

She was alone, and it was a relief. It was the first time in days she had been able to sit with her thoughts and not feel like she was constantly being watched.

She stood from her desk and walked to the window, staring out at the busy streets of Diagon Alley below. Her reflection stared back at her—someone who had made a choice, but had no idea what came next.

It was then that the door to her office opened, and she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps she had learned to recognize over the years.

Draco.

She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He stepped into her office quietly, his eyes scanning her, trying to gauge what kind of mood she was in.

"You look... distracted," he said, his voice flat but not unkind.

Adhara didn't respond at first. She was still lost in thought, in the strange mix of emotions that had consumed her.

"You're thinking about it, aren't you?" Draco continued, stepping closer. "About the wedding. About Fred."

The mention of his name felt like a sudden jolt to her chest. She turned slowly, meeting Draco's eyes.

"Yes," she whispered, almost to herself. "I'm thinking about everything."

Draco studied her for a moment, his brow furrowing as he observed her. He knew her well enough to know when something was wrong, even if she tried to hide it.

"You know," Draco said after a long pause, "Father and I—"

"I know what you're going to say," she cut him off, her voice steady but tired. "It's what's best for the family. It's what's expected. I get it."

Draco frowned. "That's not it. I mean... yes, Father is focused on that, but that's not what I meant. I meant... are you okay?"

Adhara's heart twisted in her chest, and for the first time in a long while, she felt vulnerable. She had spent so much time pretending, so much time holding everything in, that she hadn't realized how much it hurt. How much she was carrying.

"No," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not okay."

Draco stepped closer, his face softening with sympathy. "I thought you'd be happier about this. You've done everything you were supposed to, haven't you? Everything they wanted."

"I've done everything they wanted," she repeated, her voice quiet. "But it doesn't make it right."

There was a long silence between them. Draco's expression was unreadable as he tried to make sense of her words.

"I don't deserve Fred," she finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice wavered, and she had to steady herself before continuing. "He deserves someone who can love him without this... without all the baggage I've carried. Someone who isn't haunted by her past or tied to a family that doesn't care about anything other than power and control."

Draco's eyes softened, and he opened his mouth to say something, but she raised her hand to stop him.

"I'm letting go," she continued, her voice growing stronger. "I'm letting go of what I wanted, of what could have been. Because I know deep down that Fred needs someone who can give him everything I can't. Someone who won't hurt him the way I would."

"You're wrong, you know," Draco said softly, shaking his head. "You think you're protecting him by walking away, but all you're doing is hurting yourself. Fred never needed perfection, Adhara. He just needed you."

Adhara looked away, her gaze drifting back to the window. She could feel the sting of tears in her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall. Not now. Not when she had made her choice.

"Maybe," she whispered, her voice shaking. "But sometimes... love isn't enough."

The silence in the room grew heavy, and for the first time in a long while, Adhara felt as if she were standing on the edge of something she couldn't control.

Draco sighed, his expression softening. "Just remember one thing," he said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. "You don't have to give up everything to find happiness. You don't have to lose yourself to make everyone else happy."

But Adhara didn't respond.

Because she knew that in the end, it wasn't about anyone else's happiness. It was about her own—and she wasn't sure she could find it again.