Two updates back to back? Yup. Happy reading. You guys will enjoy this chapter.

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Stunned, Thea staggered backward, her body betraying her as it went limp, leaving her unable to do anything else.

Almost as if they had both sensed her, Elio and Catherine, locked in their intimate moment, finally noticed Thea standing in the doorway. Their expressions both changed, mirroring her own shock. The silence in the room was thick, and Thea, caught in a moment of revelation, could only stare in disbelief.

Despite her vision blurring, she was still able to make out the change in Elio's demeanor. He seemed horrified. Grasping onto what little strength she had left, she turned away, unable to witness any more.

Desperately trying to regain control of her legs, she stumbled down the hall and down the stairs back to the main event. She could hear him beginning to chase after her.

"Thea," He called out after her as she stormed off in a frenzy. She wasn't sure what direction she was going but she knew it just had to be as far away from him as possible.

She wasn't upset, was she? Why would she be? She had no reason to be upset; after all, they weren't dating or anything. Despite his numerous advances, she had always turned him down. Thus, she had no claim over him. He was free to do whatever he wanted, and she had no say in the matter.

Yet for some inexplicable reason, it seemed to drive her crazy. Why did it irk her so much to see him with someone else?

She veered through the crowd, trying to get as far away as she could. Despite her efforts, she heard him call out her name once more, indicating that he was getting closer. She lowered her head, hoping to avoid causing a scene, but his repeated shouts didn't help.

Why did she feel this way? Why did it bother her to see him with another woman, much less his ex-wife? And she was undeniably beautiful. Stunning, even. Face of a model, body of porn star, and the voice of an angel. Thea found herself scowling in envy. Who would willingly leave that?

"Thea, stop," he called out, his voice drawing closer, causing her heart to race even faster. Where was the damn exit? And could he stop fucking shouting?

Her head was a turmoil of emotions she wasn't ready to express, and the last thing she wanted to do was say something to him she didn't mean.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, murmuring small apologies to the people she occasionally bumped into. Suddenly, she was stopped and pulled back by a large hand gripping her shoulder. Yelping in response, she attempted to resist Elio's strength, but it was futile. Once again, she felt that familiar tug at her chest as she inhaled his scent.

She spun around to face him, taking a large step back. Being so close to him was unbearable. It was too... intoxicating. In his proximity, she found herself unable to think straight, and the effect he had on her was infuriating.

"What?" she snapped, the word emerging harsher than she intended. She couldn't hide her agitation. If she hadn't been paying such close attention to him, she might have missed it, but she noticed the wince at her tone.

"Look, that wasn't what you thought it was," he began to explain, his voice sincere, his body language apologetic. Thea stared up into his eyes with a blank expression, doing her best to ignore the attention they were attracting.

"I don't care," she muttered firmly. "Do what you want; it's none of my business."

He narrowed his eyes. As people began to lose interest, diverting their attention to each other and becoming engrossed in their conversations, she pressed her lips together, trying not to cause any further scene.

"Thea, she forced herself on top of me. I would never do that," he uttered, his tone like a child caught red-handed stealing candy.

She frowned. Was he lying? And why did she find comfort in his words, knowing he hadn't willingly participated? Why did he feel the need to explain himself? He didn't owe her anything.

"I. Don't. Care. Fuck her for all I care. I'm just sorry I interrupted," she let out a dry, humorless laugh, attempting to appear indifferent, but it only came off as sarcastic.

"Fuck," he gritted out in annoyance, taking a step closer. She dropped her gaze, unable to meet his eyes anymore as he towered over her. She hated that. She hated having to look up to talk to him. She hated how he was so much taller than her. She felt so... beneath him, as if he were somehow superior to her. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"I don't want her. I want you."

His last words were so low she had almost missed them. Heat rose to her cheeks, and she dipped her head lower to prevent anyone from noticing. Why was he reassuring her?

"Why do you keep trying?" she let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you trying to win me over to prove something?"

She tilted her head up to look at him. His eyes were soft as he bore into hers, and she could feel her skin tingle under his gaze. There was a depth in his dark eyes that offered her comfort. He looked at her with a kind of admiration that she found both reassuring yet so unsettling. The look was unfamiliar, and fear began to creep up her neck.

"Thea, I—," Before he had even begun, she was gone.

She hastily walked as far away from him as she could without attracting much attention. All she knew was that she needed to get the hell out of this place. She heard a woman call out her name, but she ignored it, desperately searching for the exit. That was definitely his mom.

Elio wasn't far behind her, trying to stop her but frankly, the last thing she needed was to hear what he had to say.

With a sigh of relief, she stumbled upon the colossal double doors. Hastily, she pushed them open and hurried down the hallway as fast as her legs would carry her without breaking into a full sprint. Despite muttering a string of curses under her breath, she could still hear Elio's voice echoing in the distance as his footsteps approached, and she knew he wouldn't leave her alone.

"Leave me alone!" she shouted, but deep down she knew that it would only make him chase her more. She couldn't help but feel comforted by his persistence, knowing that he cared about her to some extent.

She picked up her pace, heading straight for the building's exit with Elio close behind. Despite the lingering effects of alcohol clouding her head, she disregarded it and focused solely on her escape.

With no idea where she was going, she stumbled into the garden. The cool night air was refreshing from the stifling atmosphere inside. Before she could make it any further, a strong grip seized her arm, bringing her to an abrupt stop. She desperately struggled to yank her arm out of his grasp but to no avail.

"Thea, stop," he spoke with a firm tone.

"What do you want?" she hissed, the realization of her overreaction dawning upon her. She had caused a commotion over a man who wasn't even hers.

As she gazed up at him, she sensed heat creeping up her neck, realizing that her outburst had revealed more about her feelings towards him than she wanted.

"That wasn't what it looked like. You believe me, don't you?" he voiced, hoping she would trust him. "She's been trying to get back together with me, but I don't want her."

"Why not?" Her voice was skeptical.

"Because," he began, his gaze momentarily darting away as he cleared his throat. He appeared almost nervous. "I want you, not her."

"Bullshit," Thea immediately retorted, her voice laced with disbelief. "You've been toying with me for the past few months."

"I haven't," he declared, his expression solemn. "I want you, Thea. I made that apparent from the start."

"Don't you treat every girl like you treat me?"

"There is no other girl," he responded without hesitation. "There's only you. I don't desire anyone else besides you."

She felt a sense of unease at his confession. Did she trust him? Why did she feel comforted by his confession? Did she genuinely have feelings for him? Why else would it have upset her so much to see him with another woman?

Thea met his gaze, searching for any hint of deception, but found only sincerity. A wave of emotion washed over her, a whirlwind of uncertainty and longing. His intense gaze held her captive, drawing her in.

She watched the flicker of passion in his eyes, a flame that she knew was ignited by her. She felt the warmth of his breath as he leaned in closer, and she could almost hear the rhythm of his heart as it echoed through his chest.

Their eyes held a silent conversation, the tension thickening the air as they searched for answers within each other. The weight of his unspoken words hung between them, casting a shadow of unease over Thea's thoughts.

Suddenly, as if a lightbulb had gone off in her head, she understood the source of her unease. The reason behind why she had been so unsettled by the way he had been looking at her.Panic surged within her, urging her to retreat, to flee before he could voice what she feared to hear.

But before she could escape, it was already too late.

"I love you." he murmured, his words lingering like a fragile promise in the charged atmosphere.

Thea could feel her heart plummet to the pit of her stomach, as dread began to overfill her emotions. Why did he love her? How could he love her?

Emotions swirled within her and her cheeks flushed red. She was at a loss for how to react. This was precisely the scenario she had wanted to evade, yet here she was, confronting it head-on.

Looking up at him, Thea felt the truth behind his words. Time seemed to stand still as they stood locked in that moment, and Thea was torn between uncertainty and possibility. Her thoughts swirled in a chaotic whirlwind as she tried to grapple with the magnitude of his confession.

Without thinking, she did the only thing she could think to do. She instinctively reached out and grabbed the nape of his neck, drawing him nearer. As an attempt to escape the weight of what he had just said, she pressed her lips to his with an intensity that could've almost been desperation. In that passionate kiss, she shut her eyes, also trying to shut out the overwhelming emotions threatening to engulf her.

She felt him respond back, his lips moving in sync with hers, matching her passion with his own. In that moment, enveloped by the heat of their mutual desire, Thea lost herself entirely, surrendering to the intoxicating sensation of his touch.

As the kiss deepened, igniting a fiery passion within her, Thea realized that she had never felt such passion before. All thoughts of uncertainty and hesitation evaporated, replaced by a singular focus on the raw intensity of their connection.

His hands roamed over her body, caressing every curve and eliciting shivers of pleasure. She moaned softly into his mouth, unable to control the desire that coursed through her. Thea was lost in the moment, lost in the sensation of his body against hers.

She could sense the unmistakable growing arousal pressing against her abdomen. A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of her lips as she trailed her hand down his chest, her fingers grazing over the fabric of his pants until she reached the bulge beneath. With a playful squeeze, she elicited a low, guttural sound from him and she felt a rush of excitement.

"Thea, stop." he suddenly interrupted, softly but firmly pulling away. She looked at him with a puzzled look. Did he not want her?

"What's wrong?" she asked, pressing her hand firmer against the bulge in his pants. He grunted in response before pulling her hand away, bringing it up to his face level. Pouting momentarily, she watched as he released her hand, her gaze drifting to admire his features.

Almost unconciously, she began tracing a finger across his eyebrow before trailing to his jawline, admiring his features. He was so undeniably perfect.

He opened his mouth to speak, but for a moment, he seemed at a loss for words, completely captivated by her presence. Finally, he managed to articulate his thoughts, "I want to talk about this, Thea. I just told you that I love you, not that I want to fuck."

"I really don't want to talk about this right now," she insisted, impatient as she started to fumble with the button of his pants. His large hands wrapped around her wrists attempting to stop her but not before she had already unbuttoned his pants and began to pull at the zipper.

"Thea, come on. Also, someone could walk out any second," he pleaded with her, trying to button his pants back up. She dropped her hands, meeting his gaze. It was clear that it took every bit of willpower from him to stop her and not just let her have her way with him.

"I don't know what you want me to say," she uttered, trying her best not to stare at the imprint of his erection, which was clearly visible in the well-lit garden despite the darkness of the night.

She could feel herself soak through her panties. Please just fuck me, she wanted to say. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she held back, unsure of how he would respond.

"Can you just tell me how you feel?" He asked, his tone filled with desperation.

She averted her eyes, feeling uncertain about how to respond. It was a difficult question to answer as she wasn't entirely certain about her own feelings towards him. She did harbor some sort of affection for him but she couldn't quite determine the extent of it.

She started to speak, but the words caught in her throat. He loved her? It was hard for her to fathom that it could be true. She struggled to form her thoughts into coherent words, her mind reeling with disbelief.

"I-" she trailed off, struggling to find the right words. "You can't love me."

"But I do," he insisted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You barely even know me, Elio. How could you love me?" She shook her head, refusing to believe his words. She had never been the object of someone's affection before, and the thought of it left her feeling vulnerable and exposed.

Growing up, love wasn't a term she heard often, especially not directed towards her. Her family was never one to openly express their emotions, and the idea that Elio loved her made her uncomfortable. It was a feeling that sent shivers down her spine—the thought that someone could feel such a deep emotion for her was both foreign and overwhelming.

"I may not know every little detail about you, but I know enough to know that I love you. Your kindness, your quick wit—I love you, Thea. I love how smart you are, I love your clever comebacks, I love everything about you."

Thea stared at him, speechless, her mind racing as she absorbed his heartfelt words. She had never been the recipient of such affection before, and it left her feeling both flattered and overwhelmed. Despite the warmth that spread through her at his words, a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that it was all too good to be true

Understanding her own emotions had never been one of Thea's strong suits, and now, confronted with the need to untangle her feelings, everything seemed muddled and confusing. In the swirling sea of emotions within her, it was increasingly difficult for her to distinguish what she truly felt towards him.

"I can't do this right now," she finally said, taking a step back and attempting to leave. However, he grabbed her arm, pulling her back, his desperation clear.

"Thea, please," he pleaded. "Talk to me."

She met his gaze, unable to articulate her thoughts. His eyes were hopeful, hoping for a desirable answer.

"Elio," she muttered, almost choking on her next words. "I don't love you."

...

The end.