Breaking Free, Loving Again -The Flash Marriage with Mr. CEO

Ryan's expression fell, but a small smile curled on his lips. A smile that, after a long time, felt unburdened by any guilt or regret. A smile that only came after realizing and accepting the reality —and finally letting go.

"You don't owe me forgiveness, Arwen," he said, turning to finally look at her. She still kept her back his way. "But I do owe you several apologies. Saying it once won't be enough. But still, I would try."

He paused before speaking again, his tone laced with true remorse. "I am sorry, Arwen —for being a jerk for years. I am sorry for treating you the way no woman deserves to be treated. For ignoring you every single time, for embarrassing you, and for leaving you when I should have carried you to the hospital. I truly apologize."

Arwen didn't respond immediately. She heard him, every word of it, but those apologies didn't stir her. Not anymore.

To be honest, she didn't hate Ryan for anything. He never liked her, and he never pretended otherwise. She doesn't blame him. She never expected him to give her the emotions they never shared, but she did expect him to show the little humanity that every single being should have inside them.

But when he walked away with Delyth in his arms, leaving her behind to die —she even lost that small hope she had for him.

But anyway, those were no longer important. She had moved on …

"As you said, I don't owe you any forgiveness. So, don't bother listing your apologies and guilt," she replied, her voice calm, almost indifferent. She didn't turn around fully — just tilted her head slightly, gazing at him over her shoulder. "I just hope —and wish that you never appear in my life again. And that's it. Nothing more."

Ryan smiled and nodded, a weight lifting off his chest even as her words stung. "I won't," he promised. "Our paths will definitely cross. But I assure you, I will never appear and remind you of the history that we ever shared. I am glad that you found your happiness. You deserve every bit of it. Just … always stay happy, Arwen."

She said nothing more. Just gave a subtle nod and walked away.

Not far away, Alfred was waiting with the car. When she came, he opened the door for her, and Arwen slipped inside without another word.

"Drive," she instructed softly, leaning her head back on the seat.

As the car pulled away, she closed her eyes — not to rest, but to breathe. Everything felt so exhaustive now. Fortunately, it finally got over.

Meanwhile, behind, Ryan still stood, watching the car disappear. He didn't move even after it was completely gone. He just waited to settle everything inside.

Taking a deep breath in, he tilted his head up at the sky and closed his eyes to feel the air brush his face.

Letting go was equally painful. But holding something back, even knowing that it would never return to you, was the worst.

He was willing to bear the worst if that could assure him of having a part … a memory of Arwen with him forever. But when today she made him see that they never shared anything to carry forever, he realized even torturing himself with the worst won't lead him anywhere close to her.

Then why bother?

"Ryan!"

The voice caught him off guard, and he turned to look, only to find his friend standing at a distance.

"Daniel!" he muttered.

It's been a long time since he saw him. He had thought of contacting him several times, but every time, the guilt made him feel incompetent. He didn't have the face to show up in front of Daniel again and tell him he regretted it all.

"Good to know that you haven't forgotten me yet?" Daniel said, walking towards him, closing the distance.

Ryan looked around and asked in confusion. "You are here?"

"Of course," he nodded back. "I would have to be somewhere to survive, right? The offer Davies Group offered me wasn't bad, so I accepted."

"Daniel, I —"

"Don't try," Daniel interrupted. "I am not in the mood to forgive today."

Ryan's brows knitted, and he was about to take a step back. But right then, he felt Daniel's arm wrap around his shoulders, tugging him to his side.

"But yes, we can try to forget," he said, making Ryan confused. "Let's go and have a few drinks. I am sure you must have missed my company every time you drank alone."

Ryan stared at him, dumbfounded. And Daniel smiled at him.

"We are brothers, Ryan. And between brothers, there stand no formalities, no guilt, no regret. If there is anything, it's the support regardless of the situation. Let's go." And with that, he tugged him along.

Daniel didn't know what happened between Ryan and Arwen. He came out quite later and only happened to see Arwen leaving. He debated approaching Ryan for a long time, but when he witnessed his friend's lonely figure, he couldn't hold back.

Ryan was his friend. They shared far more challenges together. How could he leave him alone when he could see he needed him the most?

————

In the car, Arwen was resting her eyes when she heard her phone ring. She grabbed her phone and brought it to check only to find Mia's name flashing on the screen.

Accepting the call, she spoke through the line, "Yes, Mia."

"Madam, everything is taken care of," Mia reported, and Arwen hummed back.

"Great," she appreciated. "Thank you, Mia, for taking care of everything. You can wrap up and leave for the day."

With that, she was about to disconnect the call, but Mia spoke again.

"Ma'am," she hesitated, and Arwen asked back.

"What happened? Is there anything wrong?"

"Yes," Mia responded, slightly uncertain how to say it. But anyway, she had to report, so she did, "The private detective that you asked me to hire called me again to report the things you asked him to investigate."