Angel Of Desire

Nina had always liked Bryan—everyone knew that. Their engagement was the talk of their social circle, a match that seemed perfect on the surface. But what no one knew was that in their five years together, Bryan had always been distant. He was successful, admired, and dependable, but there was a coldness between them that Nina could never quite understand. Tonight, on their five-year engagement anniversary, she had hoped things would be different.

"Bryan, today marks five years since our engagement. When will you come over?" Nina asked softly, standing in the middle of the suite she had meticulously prepared. It was located on the top floor of one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, with a breathtaking view of the skyline. The room was beautifully decorated with rose petals, soft lighting, and romantic decorations that reflected her hopes for the evening. She had been waiting since seven, but it was already past nine when she finally got through to him.

"I'm busy," came his curt reply.

"Busy with what?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. She was tired of being patient. Before she could finish her question, a soft, delicate voice came through on Bryan's end of the line. "Bryan, it hurts..."

Nina felt her heart sink. She recognized the voice immediately—Cynthia. A colleague of Bryan's who always seemed to be in the picture. "Are you with Cynthia?" Nina asked, her throat tightening.

"Something happened to her," Bryan replied, his tone neutral, as if he were simply stating a fact.

"And why is it your job to deal with it?" Nina's voice wavered, the hurt spilling over. "Do you think she's more important than me?"

"Do you have to start this now?" Bryan shot back, his irritation clear.

In that instant, something inside Nina snapped. She had always been understanding, always supportive, but this was too much. She had put her life on hold for this relationship, waiting for Bryan to finally prioritize her. Instead, here she was—alone in a hotel suite she had prepared for them, while he was off with another woman.

"If that's the case, let's call off the engagement," she said, her voice surprisingly steady, though her heart felt like it was breaking into pieces.

She waited for him to say something—anything—to comfort her, to reassure her that she mattered. But instead, she heard the click of the line disconnecting. Bryan had hung up without hesitation. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she stared at the phone. What had she been expecting? That he would suddenly change, suddenly care? It was foolish to think so.

Grabbing the open bottle of wine on the table, she took a long drink straight from it, trying to drown the ache in her chest. Tears blurred her vision as she thought about all the years she had spent waiting for Bryan to love her the way she loved him. But now it was clear—it had all been for nothing.

When she finally left the suite, it was past eleven. The hotel corridors were quiet, the kind of stillness that only comes late at night. She stepped into the elevator, her mind swirling with confusion, anger, and a deep sense of betrayal. As the elevator doors began to close, she noticed a man standing just outside. He was tall, dressed in a sharp black suit, his posture composed and confident. His features were striking—chiseled, with an intensity in his eyes that made her pause.

Their eyes met for a moment, and something in his gaze made her take a step forward. Without thinking, she reached out and lightly touched his tie, gently pulling him into the elevator with her. Her heart was pounding, not from attraction, but from a desire to feel something other than the numbness Bryan had left her with.

The man didn’t resist, but he didn’t respond either. He stood still, watching her with a calm, unreadable expression. As the elevator doors closed behind them, there was a moment of silence that felt heavier than anything she had experienced all night.

Nina leaned against the elevator wall, her emotions a chaotic mess. She hadn’t planned for any of this to happen. The evening had been supposed to be a celebration of her engagement, but instead, it had turned into a bitter reminder of how little she meant to the man she had loved for so long.

"Take me with you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The man studied her for a moment, his gaze softening. He seemed to understand, without words, that she was seeking solace—not from him, but from the pain she was feeling. After a pause, he responded quietly, "Are you sure?"

Nina nodded, though she wasn’t entirely sure of anything at that moment. All she knew was that she didn’t want to be alone, not tonight. She had been alone in her relationship for far too long, and the thought of spending another night isolated in her thoughts was unbearable.

When the elevator reached the lobby, the man led her to a quiet lounge area. He didn’t say much, but his presence was calming, a steady contrast to the emotional whirlwind inside her. They sat down, and he ordered tea for her, his actions gentle and considerate.

"You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for," he said, his voice soft but firm. "Sometimes it helps just to talk."

Nina was taken aback by his kindness. She had expected indifference, or perhaps even opportunism, but instead, she found herself sitting with a stranger who seemed genuinely concerned for her well-being. For the first time in hours, she felt a little more grounded.

They talked for what felt like hours, about everything and nothing at all. She told him about Bryan, about the years she had spent waiting for him to love her the way she had always hoped. The man listened, never interrupting, offering only quiet understanding.

By the time dawn began to break, Nina felt lighter, as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She knew that her engagement was over, but for the first time, that thought didn’t fill her with dread. Instead, she felt a strange sense of freedom—freedom from the expectations that had been suffocating her for so long.

When she woke the next morning, she found herself alone in the lounge. The man had left a note on the table: Take care of yourself.

Nina smiled as she read the words. It was a small gesture, but it meant everything. For the first time in years, she felt like she was ready to take care of herself.

Nina took a quick shower, slipped into a fresh outfit, and swallowed the contraceptive pill without hesitation. Her gaze fell on the check left on the bedside table. Without a hint of sentimentality, she folded it neatly and slid it into her pocket.

On her way home, she called her department head to request a day off. She wasn’t in the mood to return to work.

As she unlocked her apartment door, barely stepping inside, a sharp smack landed on her left cheek before she could react.

“Victor, why are you hitting her?!” Susan rushed forward to intervene.

Victor’s face was twisted with anger as he sneered. “We’ve taken care of her for over twenty years. She agreed to the engagement with Bryan, and now, without my permission, she wants to break it off? Does she think she’s grown wings?”

“Uncle, I don’t want to marry him,” Nina said firmly, meeting his furious gaze.

“When your parents died, who took you in? Without us, where would