Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Sarah

Lorenzo's eyes lit up when he saw me, making me feel even worse than I already did.

"I think Rachel has already reached out to you..."

"Yes, she called me yesterday," I confirmed with a humorless smile. "Lorenzo, I..."

"Sarah, I can't hide my feelings for you," he interrupted, approaching me and gently holding my hands. "Since the moment we met, something changed in me. Rachel is not the person I want. The woman I want in my life is you. I broke up with her because I can't deny what I feel anymore."

"Lorenzo, I... I don't know what to say. It's true that when we kissed, something stirred in me, but after a lot of reflection, I realized I'm not in love with you."

"I know you must be upset with me," Lorenzo seemed determined to speak. "I was torn, and that's why I apologize for continuing this relationship. But you need to know that even when I was with Rachel, my heart and mind were with you."

"I don't understand, Lorenzo," I confessed, feeling guilty. "I don't want to be the cause of someone's unhappiness, especially when that someone is my sister."

"Rachel told me about the auction app where you lost your virginity. She said I should give up on you, and that made me insecure. I was manipulated, Sarah, and now I see how blind I was. I shouldn't have let that affect what I feel for you."

I was shocked by the unexpected revelation. Rachel had no right to disclose that to Lorenzo! I had no words to express the pain I felt from Rachel's betrayal. I felt intensely shaken.

"I don't know what to say," I couldn't deny it either.

"That's no longer important. I don't want it to affect what we feel for each other. I know I made mistakes, but now I want to get to know you better, to be with you, even knowing about this history. It doesn't change who you are."

"I want to apologize, Lorenzo," that's all I could manage to say. "I was confused and ended up believing in the possibility that we could be together. I was wrong. My heart belongs to another man."

"I'm willing to fight for you, Sarah, if you give me a chance."

At that moment, we heard Kael's voice echoing down the hallway, and I noticed he seemed quite upset. Incredulous, I decided it would be better to go there and try to convince him to come back at another time. But then, Lorenzo didn't wait for me in the room as I had requested.

"Kael, I need to finish my conversation with Lorenzo," I said, determined to deal with one thing at a time. "Can we talk later?"

Kael looked at me in disbelief, clearly annoyed.

"There won't be 'another time,'" he said, making air quotes with his fingers. "You've just made your choice."

Kael left the apartment with an expression of anger and disappointment on his face, leaving me with a heavy heart as I watched him go. But I knew I had to sort things out with Lorenzo before anything else.

"Sarah..." Lorenzo called my attention. "I've understood everything. The man you're in love with is Kael Graham, am I right?"

It was embarrassing to admit the truth at that moment, but there was no other possible answer.

"Yes. I'm completely in love with Kael."

"Then, there's nothing more to talk about," his expression conveyed a mix of irritation and resignation. "You'd better try to fix things between you two before it's too late."

I wished I could say I would do that later and be confident that it would be possible. But I had no certainty about my uncertain relationship with Kael, and for that reason, when Lorenzo said those words, I simply thanked him very sincerely and hurriedly left, trying to find Kael still in front of our building.

I ran down the stairs, searching for Kael. My heart was racing, and I felt guilty and confused, but I knew Lorenzo was right, and I needed to sort things out with Kael before it was too late.

I saw him opening the door of a car parked a few meters away from where I was and called his name, making him wait for me, despite the evident resentment on his face.

"Kael, please, listen to me," I said, trying to hold back tears.

He looked at me expectantly but didn't say anything, just let out a heavy sigh.

"I'm so sorry, Kael. I didn't want things to end like this. I didn't expect this to happen."

"What's going on with you and Rachel?" He asked with evident anger. "Bianchi? Fiori? Who else?"

I felt hurt by the implied accusation in that question, but I took a deep breath and tried to explain what had happened. We needed to clarify everything between us, and this also applied to everything I had been through since leaving Seattle.

Before I could say anything, the car door was opened, and Ryan appeared by our side, greeting me with a tight hug, which I promptly returned. I felt even lighter after that as if he were a gentle breeze in the midst of all that confusion.

"I didn't know you were here!" I said to Ryan with a grateful smile.

Kael

I was already opening the car door when I heard my name being called and turned towards the voice, which I recognized as Sarah's. I closed the door again, seeking a modicum of privacy, and waited for her to come to where I was.

Given the situation, where emotions were running high within me and the tension between us, following the situation involving the Formula One driver - or maybe I should say the two drivers - I considered Ryan's interruption very welcome. I wasn't sure if I could control my temper at this moment.

"We were just coming out of a meeting when my boss decided he needed to make an important visit," Ryan explained, taking the opportunity to tease me.

"So you can go on your way, and your boss will stay here," Sarah said decisively. "We have a lot to talk about!"

I looked at her in surprise at her attitude, but it was Ryan who commented on it.

"I like girls who are so determined!" he congratulated her.

Sarah smiled upon hearing what he said and hooked her hand onto my arm, which was slightly bent as my hand was in my pocket.

"So, Kael, can I go?" Another provocation from my assistant.

"Yes," I agreed. "I need to have a very important conversation with Sarah, and when necessary, I'll call a taxi to get back to the hotel."

I sincerely hoped it wouldn't be necessary later that night because I needed to return to the United States the following day, right after lunch, and this was my last chance to clarify things between Sarah and me.

"Alright, boss!" Ryan agreed, making a salute-like gesture as if responding to some higher authority.

"Off you go!" I dismissed him once again, somewhat exasperated by his childish behavior.