Rejected: A love story-Chapter 91: Will you be able to sleep at night?

Ella dropped onto the couch, her legs stretched out, staring at her neatly arranged wardrobe, her old clothes were now lacking space. Fiona sat beside her, but she wasn’t smiling anymore. Her expression had turned stiff and distant. Ella noticed immediately.

"What’s with the face?" Ella nudged her with her foot. "Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about that rude saleswoman. We already destroyed her."

"It’s not that," Fiona murmured.

Ella sat up straighter. "Then what?"

Fiona hesitated. Her fingers played with the edge of one of the shopping bags, twisting the handle. She kept her voice low when she finally spoke.

"Remember the woman from the kidnapping?"

Ella froze. "Fiona..."

"She told me to break up with Nathan," Fiona whispered, finally looking at Ella. "It’s been two weeks already and I’m left with just a few days"

Ella’s face twisted like she couldn’t believe she was hearing this again. "And you’re actually thinking about what she said?"

"She knew so much about You and Julian," Fiona said, voice barely steady. "She probably knew things his family didn’t even know. She knew about Leo, she literally knows everything about... us. Everything. She wasn’t just some random person."

"Yes, and she also was behind kidnap you," Ella shot back sharply. "Why are we listening to her like she’s some wise adviser?"

Fiona sighed and leaned back on the couch. "Because she didn’t hurt me. She had the chance to, but she didn’t. And the look on her face... she really believed she was protecting him, she claimed Nathan has hers."

Ella groaned dramatically. "Fiona. You are overthinking again."

"I’m not," Fiona said quietly. "What if something really bad happens because of me? What if her warning was real? You don’t have enemies, at least none that we know of but how about Julian?. She made it sound like being with Nathan puts me in danger too."

Ella eyed her for a long moment. Then her voice softened.

"So what? You know, fio, I never take you serious because you always changed your mind... but this is about Nathan. You’ll just break up with him? Just like that? After everything?"

"I don’t know."

"You do know," Ella said, crossing her arms. "You’re just scared. And you’re trying to convince yourself it’s the smart choice."

Fiona dropped her face into her hands. "Ella..."

Ella leaned closer. "Let me ask you something. If you break up with him, will you be able to sleep at night?"

Fiona didn’t answer, because she knew better.

"Will you be able to look at his family anymore?" Ella continued. "Will you be able to ignore how his son lights up when he sees you?"

Fiona swallowed hard.

"And Nathan?" Ella pressed. "Do you really think guys like him show up twice in someone’s life? Someone who treats you like gold? Someone who’s loyal? Someone who actually listens? Someone who puts you first?"

Fiona blinked rapidly, eyes stinging.

Ella’s voice dropped even lower. " That only happens in movies! Gurlll you’ll break his heart, Fiona. And for what? A warning from a stranger who was behind your kidnap?"

"She wasn’t a stranger," Fiona whispered. "She was connected to Nathan. She knew him so well..."

"Okay." Ella shrugged dramatically. "Fine. Let’s say you break up with him and I can’t protect you obviously as Nathan will and your family finds out and come here. What then? You go home? Back to your dad? Back to Valerie and Catherine? Back to scrubbing plates and getting yelled at?"

Fiona’s chest tightened painfully.

"Or maybe," Ella said, softer now, "you realize too late that you threw away the one person who actually loves you."

Fiona pressed her palms together. "I’m scared of staying. I’m scared of leaving. Either way, it hurts."

Ella took her hand. "Then don’t decide now. Not when your head is a mess."

Fiona sighed shakily. "Ella... what if she was right?"

Ella squeezed her fingers. "And what if she wasn’t? What if Nathan is the best thing that’s ever happened to you and you’re about to ruin it because of fear?"

Fiona stared down at her lap, silent.

Ella leaned her head on her shoulder. "You love him. And he loves you. That’s rare, Fiona. Don’t throw it away because someone from a kidnapping told you to."

Fiona’s throat tightened. "I just... I don’t want to be the reason something happens to him."

"And he doesn’t want to be the reason something happens to you," Ella said. "But he still chooses to stay. Every day."

Fiona let out a long breath she’d been holding.

The room was quiet for a moment.

Then Ella added softly, "Think with your heart this time, not your fear."

And Fiona finally closed her eyes.

She knew Ella was right, but that didn’t make the decision any easier. Just then the microwave made a sound.

"Let me get the food" She said standing up and returning with two bowl of noodles. She passed Elena one and began eating.

"You talk about Nathan and I almost everytime, always avoiding yours." Fiona said chewing some food.

"Okay, gurll, first of all... I’m god-damn single and ain’t got no man.

"Well," Fiona folded her arms, "you’re always lecturing me about my relationship. What about yours?"

Ella blinked. "Mine?"

"Yes." Fiona turned to her fully. "You and Caleb. What happened between you two? You never talk about it."

Ella stiffened. Exactly the reaction Fiona expected.

"Oh, now you want to talk about that?" Ella tried to laugh it off, but her cheeks tightened. "There’s nothing to talk about."

"Ella," Fiona said softly. "You two were so good together. You liked him. A lot."

Ella opened her mouth to deny it but Fiona raised a brow.

"You told me yourself," Fiona continued. "You said he made you feel seen. And that he wasn’t like other guys."

Ella covered her face with a pillow. "Ugh, don’t remind me."

"So what changed?" Fiona insisted. "Something did."

"... you still care."

Ella groaned. "I don’t want to. That’s different."

Ella’s expression softened, and for a small moment, she looked vulnerable.

"He really likes you, you know," Fiona said.

"...Maybe."

Fiona nodded slowly. "Then maybe talk to him. Someday."

Ella bit her lip. "One crisis at a time, please. Fix your relationship first so I can live through you."

Fiona shoved her with a laugh. "Ella!"

Ella grinned. "What? It’s true."

They both laughed, the heaviness lifting for a moment. But underneath Ella’s jokes, Fiona could see it—the feelings for Caleb were still there.