Lara stood outside Ethan's photography studio, the city lights reflecting off the glass door, her heart pounding. It was late, the pre-wedding party still echoing in her mind—Ethan's storming off after their fight about his hidden debt had left her shaken (Chapter 5). She needed answers, but more than that, she needed him. Her curly brown hair was a mess from the night's chaos, her navy blue dress wrinkled, but she didn't care. She knocked, her hazel eyes bright with determination.
Ethan opened the door, his green eyes tired, his black hair tousled, a camera in his hand. Behind him, the studio was a cozy mess—photos pinned to the walls, cityscapes and candid smiles glowing under soft lights. "Lara," he said, his voice rough, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't leave things like that," she said, stepping inside, her voice soft but firm. "You walked away, Ethan. We're supposed to be a team."
He sighed, setting the camera down, his shoulders slumping. "I messed up. I should've told you about the debt. I owe ten grand—old loans from when I started this place. I didn't want to drag you into my mess."
Lara's heart sank, but she saw the fear in his eyes, the weight he carried. She stepped closer, her voice gentle. "I get why you hid it. But I'm scared too, Ethan. Jake broke my heart—cheated on me, made me feel like I wasn't enough. I'm terrified of getting hurt again."
Ethan's gaze softened, and he reached for her, his hand brushing her cheek, warm and steady. "You're more than enough, Lara. I've never met anyone like you—someone who fights for her dreams, who makes the best cupcakes in the world." He smiled, a small, real smile, and Lara's heart fluttered, her fears melting under his touch.
She stepped into his arms, a tentative hug that felt like coming home, his leather jacket rough against her cheek, his heartbeat steady against hers. "We can figure this out together," she whispered, her hazel eyes meeting his green ones, the air between them charged with something new—something real.
But the moment broke as her phone buzzed—Maya's name on the screen, her voice sharp when Lara answered. "Lara, I saw you and Ethan tonight. You're hiding something. I want the truth—now." Maya's demand hung in the air, a ticking clock as the wedding loomed closer, threatening to unravel everything.
To be continued…