Tell Me Now,Are We Real?

It's 8 p.m., the sky has turned dark already. The cold wind blew hard, rushed Andrea to unlock the cottage door with a password she knew too well. She went inside and locked the door behind her. Just as she took off her coat and scarf, her phone dinged. She glanced to the screen, "Sorry, a sudden family meeting. Don't wait up, love you."

Andrea unconciously sighed. That day was their fifth anniversary as a couple. Andrea's boyfriend was the famous Henry Allen, the son of the richest man in the country. He's the sole heir to the gigantic Allen Group. No one knew about their relationship, and it's been a difficult journey to hide it.

Andrea stepped into the room slowly, eyes taking in the scene. Her heart caught somewhere between sorrow and gratitude. The dining room looked nothing like it usually did. On the table, bouquets of fresh flowers spilled across the center: soft pink roses, white ranunculus, delicate sprays of baby's breath.

At one end of the table sat a small, round strawberry cake, the cream blush pink and smooth, with glazed slices of strawberries layered like petals on top. A single silver fork rested beside it, as if waiting for a shared bite. Two wine glasses caught the candlelight, already half filled with a deep red vintage. The bottle sat nearby.

Henry specially prepared this place to celebrate their anniversary. It was one of the Allen's vacation houses, few hours drive from the city, private, secluded, and suitable for their secret getaways. The cottage sat in a clearing, nestled between tall pine trees.

She pulled out a dining chair and sit there, stretched her arms and legs after a two-hour drive. She then grabbed her phone and replied Henry's text, "I just arrived. No worry, take your time."

That night was cold and snowy. Andrea then lazily moved herself to the couch, wrapped herself with a thick blanket that already being prepared there. She grabbed the remote control and turned the TV on. Flipping between channels, until she stopped in an old romance movie. She let a sigh out again, the cottage was perfect and totally romantic. It should've been him and her inside this comfy blanket. But again, she had to wait.

Five years. She patiently waited when Henry had meetings or sudden problems in his company. Sometimes he unexpectedly cancel their dates because he had to fly to other country. She completely understood that Henry had to bear a lot things as the CEO of Allen Group. But tonight she felt tired, hiding and lying to people around her just to be with him. But that was not all. The ache of pretending was the worst. It felt sting to pretend that he was a stranger.

Andrea moved her eyes from the TV, she blanky stared to the window to see that it almost dawn already. She yawned repeatedly and stared back to the TV. She thought maybe Henry could not make it this time, so she planned to drive back to the city once the sun has risen.

The perfect temperature of the room, the dim light, the sound of crackling firewood, slowly sent Andrea to sleep. The TV was still on, the dialogue blurred into static. Words became sound. Sound became nothing. It was just white noise now as Andrea drifted to sleep.

Just before she fell into a deep sleep. She felt the couch shifted, and warm hand touched her cheek, rubbing it several times. "Henry?" she opened her eyes to find a face she's been waiting for. His face looked tired, a faint smile accross his face as if he tried to hide his exhaustion.

His eyes screamed regrets, "Andrea Evans, I don't know what must I do to express how sorry I am." he said very softly.

For a moment Andrea didn't move, her eyelids were heavy adjusting herself from her dream world to reality. Henry still tried to explain himself, "I was on my way here when my father obliged me to attend-". Andrea stopped Henry's words, her lips suddenly crashed Henry's.

She was tired of waiting, but seeing his face she realized that she loved this man very much. Henry didn't hesitate to deepen the kiss, he missed her too much. It had been two weeks since he had seen her in person. Of course they did video call or text everyday, but it felt just different to be able to really meet her and touch her.

"Oh God, I miss you." Henry whispered in between their kiss. Andrea didn't reply, she put her hands on Henry's neck and pulled him closer. They utilized the limited time they had to devour what they've been witheld for weeks. The love, the lust, the longing, the everything.

Andrea laid her head to Henry's bare chest, still catching her breath. "Apology accepted." she said. Henry kissed the top of her head, pulled her body closer to his inside the warm blanket. "I wish we could spend everyday like this", he said knowing in several minutes they have to go back to their own separate life. They stayed like that for good fifteen minutes while talking about things, occasionally laughing when they slip jokes in between.

The sound of Andrea's alarm cut through the stillness like a blade. They both flinched but neither moved right away. She stared at the blinking screen on her phone, glowing harsh in the dim room. 6:45 a.m. The number didn't matter. It only meant one thing: their time was up. Henry hesitantly let her go from his embrace.

"I have an important lunch meeting today so I really need to go." Andrea stretched her body, didn't want to lift her body from the couch. Henry chuckled and pushed her to stand up. She then gathered her clothes from the floor, heading straight to the shower. Henry planned to follow her to the shower, but Andrea spun around "Henry, noooo." she squealed. "It's a very important client." Andrea chuckled and shut the bathroom door. Shower with Henry would definitely take a very long time.

Henry then started to clean himself and get ready too. As the CEO of Allen Group, he had an extremely tight schedule. Meeting here, meeting there, fly here, fly there, that's why he can only met Andrea once every several weeks. Their secret relationship made it harder to just meet, they had to plan the time and the place very thoroughly.

An hour later, both of them were ready to leave the cottage. Henry in his navy suit tailored to perfection, looking sharp and strikingly handsome as always. Andrea dreesed in crisp white blazer, she looked like the perfect balance of capable and captivating.

"Let's go." Andrea said and walked towards the door. "Andrea, wait." Henry's voice stopped Andrea's step. "I'm gonna be late, Henry, I miss you too but let's meet up another time cause-".

"Andrea, listen to me, I need you to stop talking for good two minutes." he cut her words cold. Andrea turned her back to find Henry's jaw clenched and his facial expression seemed serious. She opened her mouth, but then she closed it again. Looking at Henry's face, she knew something has happened. Something bad.

Henry, still avoiding eye contact with her, sighed deeply. Henry felt hesitant, because once he said it, everything would change. "So last night, my family and I had a meeting with the L Corp. And..." he paused and then there was heavy silence between them.

Andrea was still standing in the hallway, just few steps to the front door. She could see it, feel it, the thick invisible tension that wrapped around him.

He slowly moved his eyes to Andrea, this time he did not look away. "And they agree to...that I- that I must marry the daughter of L Corp."

Andrea stood frozen, as if her entire body had turned to stone. She tried to speak, but no words came out. Her mind was racing, filled with desperate scenarios in response to what Henry had just said.

He had to marry the daughter of L Corp.

L Corp, the most powerful corporation in the neighboring country. Of course it made sense. A merger between the Allen Group and L Corp would create an empire, one that could dominate globally. And Andrea? She was just ordinary. Not a billionaire's daughter. Not someone whose name moved empires.

Deep down, Andrea had always feared this moment would come. Their love, though genuine, always felt like something borrowed, something temporary. Maybe that was why Henry had hidden their relationship for five years. Because deep down, he knew it couldn't last. They came from two different worlds.

"Andrea, say something," Henry said softly, rising from his chair. He took a few steps toward her, pulling her from her thoughts.

Her voice trembled, eyes brimming with tears. "I-I don't even know what to say. You're marrying someone else. Do I get a say in this? I mean... how can I even ask that?" Her voice cracked. "And you-do you want to marry her?"

She turned away as the tears spilled over, her heart breaking with every breath. Henry looked equally lost, torn between duty and love. He loved Andrea, he had never questioned that, but his father's expectations loomed large. The alliance with L Corp was monumental. Backing out could spell disaster for the Allen Group. And as the only heir, Henry knew what was at stake.

"I love you, Andrea. But the Allen Group is my responsibility. I need you to understand that," he said, his voice firm-not pleading, not apologetic. It was as if he expected her to simply accept this.

Andrea's heart sank. "Why are you even telling me this, Henry? Are you asking for my blessing? Or are you just... ending things?"

Before he could respond, she stepped back. "Look, I really have to go. I'm late for a meeting."

Without another word, she turned and left. Minutes later, Henry heard the sound of her car disappearing down the gravel road, away from the cottage.

He stood still for a moment, then slammed his fist onto the dining table. Plates clattered to the floor, the once beautiful arrangement of flowers, candles, and cake for their anniversary now ruined, like everything else.

He pulled out his phone and pressed a button. "Tom, cancel my meetings this afternoon. And arrange lunch with Ava Lawrence. Today."

"In Sunfield, sir?" Tom asked, double-checking.

"Yes. I'll meet you at the airport in two hours. Prepare the jet."

Ending the call, Henry stormed out, jumping into his car. He had to fix this, had to find a way. He couldn't lose Andrea. Not like this.

Twelve hours had passed. The bright morning had faded into a bleak night. Andrea stood in front of her apartment building, pressing the elevator button. Her body felt heavy, her thoughts even heavier. Henry hadn't called. Not a single message. After everything, he still hadn't explained what he planned to do. Did he truly love her, or was that just a chapter he was ready to close?

Inside the elevator, her fingers trembled. She had looked up Ava Lawrence. The internet had plenty to say about the heiress of L Corp. Ava was breathtakingly beautiful, and more than that, a philanthropist, a woman with influence and heart. She owned foundations, funded shelters, saved lives. She was the kind of woman people adored.

Andrea couldn't even bring herself to hate her.

The elevator doors opened. She walked slowly to her apartment, unlocked the door with her fingerprint, and let it close behind her with a soft click. Kicking off her heels, she dropped her bag somewhere on the floor. All she wanted was a long, hot bath. The day had taken everything out of her. The fight with Henry. The impossible clients. And a sleepless night before all of that.

She checked her phone before heading to the bathroom. No new messages. Still nothing from Henry.

With a sigh, she stepped into the bathtub, the warm water wrapping around her like a blanket. She leaned back, closing her eyes, her mind drifting again to the man who broke her heart and still hadn't called to explain why.

Could someone like Henry really choose her over a future empress of the corporate world?

Andrea's father, Johnny Evans, owned a furniture factory. She had grown up in comfort, yes, but it was nothing compared to Henry's world. She had chosen not to follow in her father's footsteps. Instead, she studied interior design and built her career from the ground up. She wanted to be more than a rich man's daughter. She wanted to be someone in her own right.

But none of that seemed to matter now.

An hour passed, the bathwater growing cold. Andrea wrapped herself in a white robe, a towel twisted around her wet hair. As she stepped out of the bathroom, her phone buzzed.

It was Henry.

Her heart skipped. Relief surged through her, but so did fear. What did he want? What would he say?

With shaking fingers, she answered.

"Andrea..." His voice was deep, warm, tinged with a husky tenderness that still made her shiver.