The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 194: Meet again

Chapter 194: Meet again

Beatrix stood near the large window in the elegant drawing room of her mansion, her eyes fixed on Rhys standing by the gate. Her heart ached as she watched him, his figure filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability. The sight of him stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her.

Unbeknownst to Rhys, Beatrix had been observing his every move since he arrived. She had instructed the guards to bring him to her attention, wanting to catch a glimpse of the man who had once held her heart so tightly.

As she watched him, her eyes filled with tears. Rhys’s presence reminded her of the love they had shared, the beautiful moments they had experienced together. But it also brought back the pain and hurt that had torn them apart.

She knew that she had shut him out, refused to see him despite his plea. It wasn’t an easy decision for her, but the wounds were still fresh, the scars too deep. The fear of being hurt again had outweighed her longing to see him.

As Rhys conversed with the guards, Beatrix’s gaze met his, their eyes locking for a brief moment. In that instant, she saw the sincerity and remorse in his eyes. She saw the love that had once been there, the love that she still held in her own heart.

But just as quickly as their eyes connected, the guards, following their duty, gently closed the heavy curtains, obscuring Beatrix’s view. The room grew dimmer, mirroring the anguish that filled her soul.

With the curtains closed, Beatrix leaned against the window, feeling a surge of emotions overwhelm her. She slid down to the floor, her back against the wall, and buried her face in her hands, sobbing.

The weight of her decision pressed heavily upon her. Regret pierced her heart, as did the realization that she had turned away the one person who meant everything to her. The floodgates of her emotions opened, and tears streamed down her face.

In that moment of vulnerability, Beatrix allowed herself to feel the pain fully. She mourned the loss of their love, the missed opportunities, and the shattered dreams. It was a cathartic release, a breaking down of the walls she had built around her heart.

As her sobs echoed through the empty room, Beatrix wished with all her being that she had found the strength to let Rhys in, to hear his words, and to give him a chance to prove himself.

She longed for the day when she would find the courage to mend the pieces of their broken relationship, to rebuild the trust that had been shattered.

But for now, she wept, knowing that the road to healing would be long and uncertain. In her tears, Beatrix hoped that Rhys could feel her love and her pain, even if they were separated by walls and distance.

In the solitude of the room, Beatrix allowed herself to break.

*******

Rhys had lost count over the number of times he has come over to Beatrix’s place and she had refused to see him but he hadn’t given up.

Today was another day of him trying to get her to talk to him. How many days has it been since they last saw each other? A week? A month? He didn’t know anymore; he just felt like it was forever.

He misses her so much and each day it felt like he was slowly dying inside. Heaven only knows what he would do to just catch a glimpse of her.

As Rhys stood near the gate, a surge of hope flickered within him. He noticed a sleek black car approaching the mansion. It came to a stop, and a man stepped out, opening the door for someone inside.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw Beatrix emerging from the vehicle. She looked stunning, wearing an elegant dress that accentuated her graceful figure. Her smile, however, seemed forced and distant.

Rhys watched as the man exchanged a few words with Beatrix before getting back into the car and driving away. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what might come next.

Slowly, Beatrix made her way towards the entrance of the mansion. Her gaze drifted past Rhys, but then she stopped, her eyes widening as she realized who was standing there.

"Rhys?" she uttered softly, a mix of surprise and uncertainty in her voice.

It took only a brief moment before his eyes landed on the girl who had infected every thought and moment he had since he met her. His heart stopped in his chest as he saw her standing in front of her gate.

He felt the strong urge to run, to turn around and escape, not wanting to face her reaction upon seeing him. Yet, at the same time, he swore he wanted to run over, drop to his knees, and beg her to let him kiss her again. It felt as if he was staring at a ghost, the girl who had existed only in his mind for weeks.

Standing there dishelved, he couldn’t help but feel pathetic, experiencing an overwhelming sense of stomach-churning insecurity he had never felt before. Inhaling sharply, he walked toward the gate before he could talk himself out of it, coming to a stop in front of it. His pounding heart was evident, causing his chest to visibly jump.

"Hey little mouse," he greeted her once he reached her.

That nickname he had given her genuinely broke his heart more than ever in that moment. In his thoughts, he pleaded, ’I missed you so much, please forgive me. Please don’t hate me. I’m sorry.’

That’s what he truly meant with that lame greeting.

Suppressing the urge to cover his mouth due to the nausea brought on by his nerves, he maintained outward composure as he observed Beatrix’s entire body freezing and becoming rigid.

Beatrix cleared her throat as she paused before her eyes finally lifted to meet his.

When their eyes met, his heart sank, partly due to the exhaustion evident in her appearance and partly because of the coldness in her gaze.