Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 132

A boho hideaway with perfect waves and small sandy coves perfect for swimming at low tide. Sophia found herself fascinated with the stunning turquoise blue waters, the private white sand bay he’d reserved just for the two of them.

It was a paradisal spot, where he brought her.

“The perfect place to have our date,” Sophia said, admiring the view from where she stood.

It was breathtakingly beautiful – the beach he’d brought her to. The fact it was just the both of them there helped a lot as well.

“How’d you find this place?” She asked him.

Nicholas pursed his lips, “I searched for Sanguis’ best beaches and chose one.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist, “And also…”

“And also…?” Sophia wrinkled her forehead.

What had he meant to say to her?

“I’ve made sure absolutely no one will disturb us,” Nicholas said lovingly.

Sophia grinned, “Even better.”

It wasn’t better, it was perfect.

“A whole beach just to ourselves,” she said, looking out onto the endless blue ocean.

“For us to do anything we please,” Sophia said, smirking.

She brought out a cooler of drinks and desserts out of the trunk of the car.

“Now for one of the best parts of the date,” Sophia said, carrying the cooler without any effort.

Man, she was strong.

“The refreshments,” she said, placing it on the ground.

Nicholas helped her with the cooler.

They opened it to find their favourite refreshments and neatly packaged deserts.

“Food,” Sophia said excitedly.

Nicholas chuckled.

“Are you sure we should eat before we head into the water?” Nicholas asked her.

Sophia blinked.

She stared at the food longingly.

“I suppose you’re right.”

“What’s the point of going to the beach unless we head into the waters,” Sophia said.

Nicholas nodded, “Mhm.”

Sophia came up with a brilliant idea on the spot.

“First one to make it to the water gets to pick what the other drinks,” she said before she took off, getting a head start.

Nicholas frowned, chasing after her, “HEY!”

Meanwhile, in Beldovia…

“Remember the time we stole the golf cart at that golfing place?” Marcus asked Louis, laying beside him on the hospital bed.

Louis laughed softly.

“Of course I do, I remember it in vivid detail,” Louis scoffed.

Marcus looked longingly at his now-boyfriend.

“A pizza party.”

“You and me in my quarters, eating pizza till the night ends,” Marcus suggested.

Louis smirked, liking the idea, “Done.”

“So, what else did I miss during this coma?” Marcus asked.

Louis thought about it.

“Not much, actually,” Louis answered.

“It turns out there’s this guy that’s in love with Clarisse.”

“And he’s my sister’s boyfriend’s brother.”

Marcus creased his brows, “Your sister’s boyfriend’s brother?”

Louis answered, “Oliver.”

“Ah.”

Marcus knew Oliver as the man Clarisse was in an arrangement with. Nothing more.

And now, he was hearing that he was in love with Clarisse.

How time flew over these weeks.

“Seriously?” Marcus asked him.

He furrowed his brows, “How did you discover he’s in love with her?”

Louis shrugged, “Sophia told me.”

“She wasn’t allowed to tell Clarisse so she told me instead.”

Marcus scoffed, “So she found a loophole after all, that cunning girl.”

Louis nodded, “She did.”

“Speaking of Sophia, how’s she doing?” Marcus asked Louis.

Louis answered, “She’s doing fine.”

“She says I’ve stayed here long enough,” Louis chuckled.

“How long have you stayed here anyway?”

Louis fidgeted with his hands.

“Not too long,” Louis lied.

“You’re a horrible liar,” Marcus said.

“Maybe a tad bit long,” Louis said, still lying to his boyfriend.

“Seriously, how long?” Marcus asked seriously.

“How long did you stay here?” He asked once more.

“About a couple weeks,” Louis answered truthfully.

Marcus blinked.

“And you didn’t return to the palace for proper rest or anything?” Marcus asked.

Louis shook his head.

“Nope,” he answered.

“Oh god,” Marcus said, realizing the gravity of the situation.

He hadn’t thought Louis had stayed that long.

At the very least someone had convinced him to get some sleep or eat a proper meal.

He couldn’t imagine going weeks like that.

“Are you kidding me?” Marcus asked, infuriated.

“You could’ve gone back to the palace and came early but staying here without returning?”

“Sophia convinced me to stay at the palace for the first night, but afterwards…”

Marcus finished his sentence, “You stayed here because you felt inclined to stay beside me.

Marcus began, “Louis…”

“Seriously?”

Louis shrugged, “The important thing is, you’re alright.”

He kissed the back of Marcus’ hand.

__

Clarisse praised, “You know, if being the CEO of an empire doesn’t work out you could always become a masseuse.”

Blaine laughed, “Haha, very funny.”

Clarisse furrowed her brows, “I wasn’t joking.”

She yawned, “I slept through the entire thing.”

Blaine placed a tentative kiss on her forehead.

“Well, you got some rest,” he said, looking at the bright side.

“At the very least,” he added.

Clarisse chuckled, even though something told her this wasn’t right.

She blinked, staring at the floor.

What the–

What was wrong with her?

She blinked, was she really thinking what she was thinking?

Guilt filled her.

Why would she ever think that?

How cruel was she to ever consider it?

He was perfect.

He was her prince charming.

He was her knight in shining armour.

He was the yin to her yang.

Her other half.

There was no one else.

No one else that could be him.

Why would she…

Why would she ever…

She racked her brain.

She was a horrible person for thinking this.

She was a horrible person for even considering this and doing this to such a wonderful person like this.

The pit in her stomach never went away.

She inhaled.

Had she felt this all this time?

Did she just realize this now?

Had she buried herself in all the perfect to ever notice?

She said to him, “Could you leave me for a second?”

“I don’t feel so well,” she said.

Blaine looked at her worriedly, “Alright.”

“If you want me to come in just tell me,” Blaine said.

Clarisse nodded, shooting him a reassuring smile.

“I will, don’t worry,” she said convincingly.

“You can go now,” she said, shooing him away.

“I’ll be fine,” Clarisse promised.

“I’ll be fine,” she repeated, reassuring him.

He nodded sceptically before leaving.

Something wasn’t right.

Something was up with her.

She was never usually like this.

What was wrong?

What had happened?

Was she actually alright?

Was she okay?

Would she be okay?

He paced outside the room nervously.

He had work to get to, yet all he could think about was her.

Clarisse.

The love of his life.

His one and only.

When she wasn’t okay, how could he be any different?

How could he leave without making sure she wasn’t okay?

Clarisse supported her neck with both her arms.

“I’m crazy.”

“I’ve finally gone insane,” Clarisse told herself.

Oh, if only Sophia could see her now.

But she was too far away.

She clutched her head.

She felt as though perfect was getting boring.

She felt as though… she…

She wanted someone else.

And the guilt swallowed her whole.

She rushed out the room.

“Honey?” Blaine asked confusedly as he rushed after her.

Clarisse whirled around.

“I have to go see Sophia,” Clarisse entered Blaine’s private elevator.

Blaine blinked, entering the elevator with her, “But she’s in Sanguis with Nicholas–”

Clarisse didn’t seem to be fazed. She remained completely unbothered.

“I have to go,” Clarisse said.

“You’re using a helicopter to get there?” Blaine asked worriedly.

Clarisse wondered, “Could I?”

She gave Blaine her puppy eyes.

How could he resist her when she was like this?

He sighed, “Oh alright.”

“Just make it back in one piece,” he said.

Clarisse nodded before sprinting away.

__

In front of the couple laid a flower of flame that opened heavenward, generous in golden sparks even in the strong winds.

The bonfire crackled.

She and him felt as though they were being cooked, although their behinds felt chilly. They huddled together, a blanket wrapping the both of them thoroughly.

“We should do this more often,” Nicholas said.

Sophia shivered, “What, jump in the water fully-clothed or huddling up near a bonfire?”

Nicholas chuckled, “Good point.”

“Think we should head back?” Sophia asked.

They’d been out there for hours.

The sun had begun to set.

Nicholas decided, “Why not we see the sunrise together?”

A smile made its way on Sophia’s face.

“Sunrise, hmm.”

“Not such a bad idea after all,” she mused.

She rested her head on his shoulder.

She didn’t feel too steamy.

They watched the sunset silently, watching as the sky turned yolk-orange and painted the world with a golden-yellow sort of colour.

It was bold, brilliant, and rich in colour.

She and him watched the sky spread in front of her eyes together, savouring the moment; their very first sunset.

Then, she was surrounded in darkness.

“SOPHIA!” Someone called from the other side of the beach.

“SOPHIA!”