CHAPTER 3 His Fiancée

Eliza's POV**

The moment I stepped away from Cavin in the kitchen, my heart felt like it was being crushed beneath a heavy weight. I rushed down the hallway, my footsteps echoing in the silence of the mansion, and as soon as I reached my room, I slammed the door shut behind me. The walls felt like they were closing in, and I collapsed onto my bed, burying my face in the pillows.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I cried hysterically, my body shaking with every sob. I couldn't believe how painful it was to see him with her. Cavin—my Uncle Cavin, the one I'd admired for so long—was engaged to another woman. It felt as if the ground had shifted beneath my feet, leaving me unsteady and lost. My heart bled for what could never be, and the weight of that reality felt unbearable.

Why was it so hard to let go? I had tried to convince myself that my feelings for him were simply an infatuation, a childish crush that would fade with time. But seeing him with Natalie, holding her arm and sharing those intimate moments, shattered my resolve. I felt foolish, thinking that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something more between us.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me, but it was no use. The tears kept coming, and my heart ached with a deep sense of loss. It was as if a part of me had been ripped away, leaving an empty void in its place. I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, not just for myself but for the bond I thought we shared.

Feeling suffocated, I decided to step out onto the balcony. The cool night air greeted me, wrapping around my skin like a soothing balm. I leaned against the railing, taking deep breaths as I tried to gather my thoughts. I needed clarity, a moment to think away from the chaos of my emotions.

As I stared out into the darkness, my eyes caught movement below. I squinted, and my heart sank as I spotted Cavin and Natalie in the garden, their silhouettes illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. They were laughing, leaning closer together, and then, without warning, Cavin leaned down to kiss her.

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt as if someone had plunged a knife into my heart. It was a tender moment, one filled with the kind of love I had always dreamed of sharing with him. But it was happening with someone else, and the pain of that realization was sharp and unrelenting.

Tears blurred my vision, and I blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. How could he move on so easily? How could he be with her, so effortlessly? It felt wrong, and I couldn't shake the feeling of jealousy clawing at my insides.

Just then, my phone buzzed on the bed, breaking through the haze of my despair. I picked it up, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. It was Nikolai. We had been together for a few months, but my heart had never felt fully invested. I answered, my voice shaky.

"Hey, Eliza! What's up?" Nikolai's cheerful tone was like a ray of sunshine cutting through my gloom.

"Hey," I replied, forcing a smile even though I was miles away from feeling happy. "Just... hanging out at home."

"Cool! I was just thinking about you. Want to meet up tomorrow? We could grab some coffee or something."

I hesitated, my heart still aching from the sight of Cavin and Natalie. "I don't know, Nikolai. I'm not really in the mood."

"Come on, it'll be fun! I miss seeing you. We could go to that café you love, the one with the blueberry muffins?" His enthusiasm was infectious, and I felt a flicker of warmth at the thought.

"Okay," I said, my voice softening. "That sounds nice."

"Great! How about noon?" he suggested.

"Yeah, that works," I replied, trying to match his energy.

"Awesome! I'll pick you up," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "You're gonna love it. I promise to make you laugh!"

"Thanks, Nikolai," I said, feeling slightly better. I appreciated his efforts to cheer me up. It was nice to have someone who cared, even if my heart was still tangled up with thoughts of Cavin.

"Hey, Eliza," he continued, his tone shifting slightly. "Is everything okay? You sound a bit off."

I paused, biting my lip. I didn't want to burden him with my troubles, but a part of me longed to share the pain that was suffocating me. "Just a bit overwhelmed, I guess," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm here for you, you know? If you want to talk about anything, I'm all ears," he offered gently.

His words warmed me, and I felt a sense of comfort in his concern. "Thanks, Nikolai. I really appreciate it. It's just... a lot of changes, I suppose."

"Life can be a rollercoaster sometimes. But you don't have to go through it alone, okay? I'm right here," he reassured me, and I couldn't help but smile at his sincerity.

"Yeah, I know. You're right," I replied, feeling a glimmer of hope in his words.

We talked for a little while longer, sharing lighthearted stories and laughing about the silly things that had happened recently. Slowly, I started to feel a sense of normalcy return, and the weight on my heart lightened, even if just a little.

After we hung up, I sat on the balcony, staring out into the night sky. The stars twinkled above me, a stark contrast to the turmoil I felt inside. I knew I needed to confront my feelings about Cavin, but it was hard. Seeing him with another woman had opened a wound I didn't know I had, and I wasn't sure how to heal it.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the cool night air. I could hear laughter from the garden, and I knew Cavin and Natalie were still there, lost in their own world. It felt like a reminder of everything I was losing, but I had to be strong. I had to find a way to move forward, even if it meant letting go of the dreams I had held onto for so long.

The thought of meeting Nikolai tomorrow gave me a sense of purpose. Maybe he was the fresh start I needed—a way to escape the tangled emotions surrounding Cavin and Natalie. I wanted to give myself a chance to feel something else, to explore the relationship I had with Nikolai without the shadow of my feelings for Cavin looming over me.

But as I returned inside, a part of me still felt hollow. I wanted to believe that I could find happiness again, but the road ahead felt uncertain. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I had to try.

Tomorrow, I would meet Nikolai and focus on the present. I wouldn't let my heart be ruled by the past. And perhaps, in time, I could find a way to heal.