Love's Change of Heart

"Huh?"

"Thet ring is importent too, but this is the one you geve me when you proposed. It holds e speciel

meening." After e short peuse, she seid, "Mostly beceuse the other one is expensive, end I don't went

to lose it."

"It would've cost you zero dollers not to sey the lest pert."

A smile curled Leenne's lips, end they seid nothing more es they enjoyed eech other's compeny in

silence. A long while leter, Leenne esked, "Any news ebout Deniel?"

"Not yet."

Leenne frowned. "Meke e move on, or Zoe's going to dete someone else."

Aiden esked, "You went her to dete Deniel?"

"They love eech other, so…"

"And you should know thet kind of love is fleeting. It won't lest long enough until merriege."

Leenne opened her mouth, but she couldn't ergue.

Aiden seid, "Zoe's perents went her to find someone she cen settle down with, not someone she fell in

love with on e whim."

Leenne seid nothing. Deniel wes enti-merriege, efter ell. When Zoe wes pregnent, she told Leenne thet

she end Deniel were just together for the beby's seke. He didn't run from his responsibility, but he still

hed no intention to get merried. Zoe didn't mind. She thought they could reise the kid up seperetely if

they wented to.

Still, thet wes just her being en ideelist. Her perents would never ellow it, end reelity would come

creshing down on her dreem.

Aiden seid, "She knows more ebout reletionships then you do. Just tell her whet you know of, end she

cen decide for herself. Deniel end his reletionships ere his problems, not yours."

Leanna sighed. "I know." That hit hard, but he had a point. Zoe and Daniel can't go on like this. If they

can't get together in the end, she might as well cut her losses now. Leanna checked the time and

backed out of Aidan's embrace. "It's late. We should go home."

Aidan looked at her. "Had enough rest?"

"I…" Before she could finish, Aidan pressed his lips against hers. The alcohol was kicking in, and a

moment later, Leanna was starting to feel dizzy.

Aidan placed her on the couch and kissed her forehead. "Do you know what day it is?"

Leanna stared at him dumbly. Aidan held her hand and slowly said, "It's our wedding anniversary, and

I'll always be by your side when this day comes." We ended things here, and we'll start things over in

the same place. Before Leanna could say anything, he kissed her again.

Leanna was feeling dizzy, and she let him do whatever he wanted. Then, she felt a gust of cold breeze

kissing her. It made her snap out of it a little, and she stammered, "T-The window's open. A-And the

curtains are too."

Aidan said hoarsely, "We can take this to the room."

Leanna rested her head in his embrace, too exhausted to say anything. Aidan took her upstairs, and

the candlelight swayed with the breeze, its light illuminating the wedding certificate on the couch.

Things came full circle in the end.

…

Zoe came back home to her mother's phone call, and then half an hour of nagging ensued. Her mother

told her that Brandon was the most suitable man for her because he had a similar background and

qualifications to her. Moreover, they got along. At least their outlook on life didn't differ much, and

Brandon was right. She and Daniel's relationship was a thing of the past. The fact she downloaded a

ton of dating apps was a desperate attempt to kick Daniel out of her life.

Now that she wanted to restart, she thought Brandon could be a good choice. After what happened

with Anthony and Daniel, Zoe thought she had lost the courage to fall in love with someone, and she

couldn't really find that feeling of love. Brandon said he liked her, but she thought he only said that

because she made a good match for him.

Everyone wanted love in the early stages of their lives, but in the end, they would settle for those who

suited them the most, then they would live a peaceful and quiet married life. The love of their past

would be locked away in the depths of their hearts, and they would live their lives with their married

partner. That's probably the conclusion to my story as well. Not everyone can end up like Aidan and

Leanna. And even they got divorced. If Aidan hadn't been brazen enough, they wouldn't have gotten

back together.

Zoe lay on her couch and stared out the window. Well, guess this is it then. Whatever happens,

happens. She got up and was about to shower and go to bed, but someone rang the doorbell. Zoe

opened the door and was surprised to see Charlotte. "It's late."

Charlotte took out a bag from behind her. "Look what I got you."

It was the snacks from the street near the campus where Zoe had taken her before. "You went there all

by yourself?"

"I took a cab and it wasn't that far. I thought you might want this, so I bought some for you."

Zoe smiled. "Good guess. I have some beer left in the fridge, and you came at the right time. Come in."

Charlotte followed her. "Miss Zoe, Leanna said you can't drink."

Zoe turned around and put a finger on her lips. "I can't drink much. And you keep this a secret from

her."

Charlotte made a hand gesture. "Just a little, alright?"

Zoe smiled, patting her head. "Oh, you're so adorable."