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

Zenith might not have known Delyth well, but after yesterday, she could tell that sending her away wouldn't be easy. The woman didn't seem ready to accept the arrangement of peace.

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked, his brows tugging into a frown.

Zenith hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "Nothing, sir. It's just … I feel she doesn't want to leave. And it feels like you are forcing her."

His fingers clenched against the edge of his laptop as he stared at the screen, the cold glow of the monitor highlighting the growing darkness in his expression. "I am forcing her?" he repeated, his voice low and jaw tightening.

After a pause, he spoke again, gritting his teeth. "After what she has done, I am being kind to her. Not because I owe her anything — but because of the promise I made to her brother."

If not for Zeke … after knowing the full extent of Delyth's actions, Ryan would have cast her out long ago without a second thought.

Zenith watched him carefully, her fingers curling into fists as if to gather the courage. But still, she hesitated. Not because she hesitated —not out of fear of offending him, but out of fear of wounding the guilt he was trying to bury deep within.

"U-Until when, sir?" she finally asked.

And at her question, Ryan's brows furrowed in confusion. "Huh?"

She looked at him, more directly this time, "It's already been a decade since that incident. How much longer will you be carrying that burden with you? Don't you think … this entire time, you have been unfair to yourself? You keep compromising yourself to fulfil a promise that should have been settled long ago."

He paused. He didn't fully understand what she meant —but her words stirred something within him. A crack in the certainty he had wrapped around himself.

"Sir," Zenith continued gently, "I understand that promises are sacred —meant to be kept. Always. But not all promises are like that. Some must be let go when they begin to do more harm than good. That doesn't make you dishonourable. It makes you human."

She drew a slow breath, trying to steady her voice. "Even doctors amputate limbs when they know that saving them would endanger the rest of the body. You have already lost so much. Are you still going to lose your peace, your future, just to preserve something that's already become a disease?"

Silence settled between them like a fragile veil.

Ryan leaned back slightly, his eyes no longer fixed on the screen.

"I promised Zeke …" he murmured more to himself than to her.

"And you kept that promise," Zenith said softly. And when he looked at her, she nodded at him with more certainty. "Yes, you did. You have long fulfilled the promise you have given Mr. Ember. It's just that Ms. Ember never let you realize it. She never let you see that you took care of her far better than you were expected to. You stood by her side even when she ruined all your happiness. You no longer owe her or anyone anything."

Ryan's gaze flicked to her. He never knew he needed to hear these words until he heard her tell them all to him.

She unknotted a knot inside him that he didn't even know existed.

Staring at her, he asked, "How did you know?" He never told anyone about Zeke. Not even Daniel or Arwen know the story, then how come she knows so many details?

The suspicion made his brows furrow, but he waited for her to defend herself.

"You told me everything yourself," Zenith replied with a small, awkward smile. "I never wanted to intrude into your personal matters, sir. I am your secretary, and I know my limits, but …" She paused before continuing, "that night you wanted to tell it all, and I was the only one around to hear. So, you told me everything."

Ryan had no memory of the night, except that he knew he was drunk and he had caused her trouble. He felt guilty.

His lips rose at the corners in a self-disdainful sneer as he mocked, "Knowing it all, you must be deriding me. After all —"

"No!"

Her refusal came quickly as if just the thought of it was unacceptable.

Ryan looked at her, a bit caught off guard. Her defensive tone was surprising, especially when it came in his favour.

Zenith shook her head at him and then slowly said, "I didn't deride your actions. I hold no position to do it, not when you have been nothing but good to me."

Then, pausing, she continued, "I know you did some very wrong things —something for which people won't forgive you. And to be honest, you need their forgiveness as well. All you need to do is let go. Things that are done cannot be undone. So, why try and make it suffocating?"

Ryan's eyes didn't leave hers. He stared into her as if seeking the affirmation, she was giving him. It was calming him from inside … finally. And he wanted to hold on to that. For a bit longer.

————

Meanwhile, back at Winslow Residence —

Coming out bathroom, Arwen headed straight to the closet. When she exited, she was all ready for the day.

Dressed in semi-formals, she was about to walk to the dresser when she heard her phone ring again. When she checked, it was Mia's name flashing on the screen.

She picked up the call to answer. "Hello!"

"Good morning, ma'am. Sorry to disturb you, but I just wanted to confirm the meeting you asked me to schedule today."

Arwen hummed." Confirm it, Mia," she said, adding, "I will be coming in the afternoon, and then attending the meeting, I will leave for Aurora. You have to come along with me then."

"Noted, ma'am," Mia responded and then, after sharing a few more details, the call was hung up.

And just as she put the phone aside, a knock at the door paused her. She turned to look to find a maid.

"Yes?"

"Madam, the breakfast is ready."

Arwen nodded. "Go ahead. I will be there soon."