THE MESSAGE SHE NEVER SENT. Part 3 — THREE YEARS AGO

Three years earlier. The rain fell heavily that night. The sound of water hitting the windows filled the room, but Elora barely noticed. Her eyes were fixed on the door. She had been waiting for Kian. Earlier that evening, his voice had sounded strange on the phone. Not angry. Not sad. Just different. “Elora, I need to talk to you,” he had said. What happened? I will explain when I get there. Those words had stayed in her mind. Now, as she stood there waiting, a feeling she could not explain settled in her heart. Something was wrong. A few minutes later, headlights appeared outside. Kian’s car stopped in front of the house. Elora quickly walked to the door. But when Kian stepped inside, she knew immediately that something had changed. His face was cold. His eyes, which once looked at her with love, were filled with disappointment. Kian… what happened? He did not answer. Instead, he pulled out his phone and placed it in front of her. Elora looked at the screen. And her heart dropped. A photograph. A picture of her sitting beside another man. For a moment, she could not speak. Then she looked at Kian. That is not what you think. His jaw tightened. Then tell me what I am supposed to think. He is my cousin. Kian laughed softly, but there was no happiness in it. Your cousin? Yes. Then why did someone send me this? Elora froze. Someone sent it to you? He looked away. Does it matter? Yes, it matters! Her voice shook. Because you are looking at a picture and believing a story someone created. I trusted you. And I am telling you the truth. The silence between them felt heavier than the storm outside. Elora stepped closer. Kian, please. Look at me. He did. And for a second, she saw the pain in his eyes. Not anger. Pain. That hurt her even more. I wanted to believe you, he whispered. You can believe me. I don’t know what to believe anymore. A tear rolled down Elora’s cheek. So after everything we have been through, you believe a stranger more than me? Kian had no answer. His phone suddenly rang. He looked at the screen. Something changed in his expression. Fear. Elora, I have to go. She stared at him. What? I need to leave. No. You cannot come here, accuse me, and then walk away. He moved toward the door. She followed him. Kian, please listen to me. He stopped. For a moment, she thought he would turn around and stay. But he didn't. He opened the door. The rain poured outside. “Elora…” His voice was quiet. Almost broken. I hope one day I find out the truth. Then he walked away. She stood there, watching the person she loved disappear into the rain. She waited. Hoping he would turn back. Hoping he would realize he was making a mistake. But he never did. The door closed. And that was the moment Elora’s life changed forever. She did not know who had sent the photograph. She did not know why Kian believed it. And she did not know that the person behind everything... Was someone she trusted. TO BE CONTINUED…

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