Rebirth: Love me Again

[WARNING! MATURE Content ahead!]

=== 🖤 ===

[EVE]

"I love you . . . ," I whispered.

Cole's lips curved into the faintest of smiles, and he reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from my face.

"Hmm?" His voice was low, a rumble that resonated through me like a soothing melody.

I wanted to tell him everything—how much he meant to me, how long I'd waited for this, how my heart had been a battlefield of hope and despair for so long. But the words tangled in my throat, too heavy and too fragile all at once.

Instead, I let the silence speak, the way his hand lingered on my cheek, the way I leaned into his touch as if it was the only anchor I had in a drifting sea.

In this moment, there was no engagement born of obligation, no calculating stares from the outside world. There was only us. And for the first time, I didn't feel like I was trying to fit into his world or chase after a dream that felt just out of reach. For the first time, I felt like I belonged, right here, in his embrace.

"I've never . . ." The words slipped out before I could stop them, my voice trembling under the weight of their truth. "I've never felt like this before. "I thought I had loved you with everything I had before, but I never imagined my love for you could grow even deeper . . . yet here I am, loving you more than I ever thought possible."

Cole's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze searching mine. He didn't speak, but his hand slid down to rest over my heart, his palm warm against my skin. The silence stretched, but it wasn't empty—it was full, brimming with unspoken emotions that hung heavy in the air.

"You mean that?" he asked at last, his voice softer now, almost hesitant.

I nodded, my throat tightening as I struggled to keep my composure. "I do," I whispered. "It's . . . overwhelming. Like every part of me is finally at peace, but also . . . on fire." I laughed softly, a self-conscious sound that broke the weight of my words. "Does that make sense?"

To my surprise, his lips twitched into a genuine smile, one that reached his eyes. "Yeah," he said, his thumb tracing slow circles over my skin. "It makes sense. I feel that way too."

He leaned closer, his forehead resting against mine, and for a moment, the world disappeared entirely. There was no past, no future, just the steady rhythm of his breathing and the warmth of his presence.

In his arms, I felt whole. And as I closed my eyes, letting the gentle rise and fall of his chest lull me into a blissful haze, I realized that this wasn't just contentment—it was everything I had ever dared to dream of.

=== ===

[COLE]

As Eve slept peacefully in his arms, her warmth pressed against him, a flood of emotions swept over Cole like a tide he couldn't resist.

He gazed down at her serene face, the soft rise and fall of her breathing, and it hit him—just how deeply he loved her.

It wasn't a simple love, the kind people toss around carelessly. No, this was raw, consuming, and boundless. She wasn't just in his arms; she was etched into every corner of his soul.

He never knew he could love someone this much. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. She stirred slightly, and his arms instinctively tightened around her.

This woman was his, and he was irrevocably hers, even in ways he hadn't fully understood until this moment.

Cole held her close, her head nestled against his chest, her body a perfect fit against him. The faint sound of her breathing filled the quiet room, a melody more beautiful to him than any song.

He couldn't look away from her—how her lashes brushed against her cheeks, how her lips curved slightly even in sleep. She was his calm, his storm, his everything.

He thought he had loved her, but now, watching her like this, the depth of his feelings overwhelmed him. He loved her more than he ever thought himself capable of, more than words could ever capture.

She was the center of his world, and he couldn't imagine a life without her in it. His heart ached with the intensity of it, and as he placed a gentle kiss on her temple, he silently promised to love her fiercely, always.

The moonlight poured through the window, casting a soft glow over the room as Cole sat silently, his gaze fixed on the woman peacefully sleeping in his arms.

Tonight, he had made up his mind. He was going to propose to her. The thought of Eve wearing the most beautiful ring he could find—a ring that would forever grace her delicate hand—filled his chest with a warmth unlike anything he had ever known.

He closed his eyes and let himself imagine their future. Little versions of Eve running around the house, their laughter filling the air, their family complete. It wasn't just a dream anymore; it was something he wanted—something he needed.

The mere thought brought a rare smile to his face, one filled with unguarded tenderness.

Cole couldn't wait to start making phone calls and planning their future. A twenty-bedroom house—that was the dream. Not because they needed that many rooms, but because he was determined to have so many kids that they'd need a map just to find each other. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

He grinned at the thought of tiny versions of himself and Eve running around, causing chaos. One kid climbing the curtains, another turning the pantry into their secret lair, and a third drawing on the walls with permanent markers—his future was looking hectic, and he loved it.

"We need to start early," he muttered to himself, pacing the room. "If we aim for ten, we can space them out. Maybe even have a basketball team."

Cole had never thought much about having kids before. It had just been him and Lina growing up, and that felt like enough.

But now? Now he wanted a house so full of children that family dinners would feel like feeding time at the zoo.

He chuckled, already imagining Eve rolling her eyes at him as he suggested names like "Cole Jr." or "Cole the Second." "We'll need a schedule just to keep track of birthdays," he mused. "And maybe a bus. Definitely a bus."

The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it sounded. But to Cole, it sounded like perfection.

But as his resolve hardened and he reached for his phone to make arrangements, an unfamiliar chill coursed through his body. His heart thudded painfully in his chest, and his vision blurred.

Panic seized him as a strange, icy sensation crept into his veins. His hands trembled, and the world around him seemed to shift, growing distant and distorted.

"What's happening?" he muttered, his voice weak, his mind struggling to grasp the sudden change.

The whites of his eyes darkened into an unnatural black as if some unseen force had taken hold of him. For a moment, he was frozen, suspended in a haze of confusion.

He felt as though his thoughts were no longer his own, as though an invisible hand had reached into his mind and started twisting it, pulling at threads he didn't even know existed.

Then, out of nowhere, an image flickered in his mind—Elena. Her face, her voice, her presence. It was as if she had suddenly taken over every corner of his consciousness.

Cole didn't understand it. He didn't want to think about her, and yet, she consumed him in that instant. A deep, inexplicable need to see her clawed at him.

Why her? Why now? His thoughts spun in confusion, but the pull was undeniable. It was as though his will was no longer his own.

Before he knew what he was doing, he had unlocked his phone and dialed her number. The sound of the ringing on the other end of the line echoed in the early hours of the morning, shattering the silence that had once felt comforting.

Even as the call connected and her voice greeted him, a part of him screamed in protest, demanding answers.

Why am I doing this? What's wrong with me? But the words wouldn't come. His mind was a battlefield, torn between the rational love he had for Eve and the sudden, unnatural obsession pulling him toward Elena.

Cole gripped the phone tightly, his knuckles whitening as he fought against whatever was controlling him. But no matter how hard he tried, the compulsion wouldn't release him. His body, his voice, his very thoughts were no longer his own.

And as he hung up the call, agreeing to meet Elena, dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Something wasn't right. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.

And yet, he couldn't stop himself from walking toward what he instinctively knew was a disaster waiting to happen.