The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Eleanor POV

I felt the atmosphere suddenly tense, my hand stilling on the table. This was an obvious hint, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to

face it. My heart began to race, not from excitement but from a nervous uncertainty.

“James…” I lowered my gaze to the cake, unsure how to respond. “I just went through a divorce. I’m still emotionally vulnerable, and

I’m worried I might hurt you. I don’t think that would be fair to you.”

James set down his tea and gently took my hand. “I understand, and I won’t push. I won’t hurt you, Eleanor, and I’m not afraid of

being hurt by you either. I just want a chance to prove that I can make you happy.”

The earnestness in his voice was something I rarely heard, making it impossible to dismiss or reject him lightly.

I gently withdrew my hand, my expression complicated. “I need time, I hope you understand.”

James smiled. “I have plenty of patience to wait.” His understanding and respect brought me a sense of relief, a stark contrast to

Derek’s intensity and controlling nature.

His gaze fell to my lips as he slowly leaned closer. I didn’t back away, wrestling internally: maybe this could help me forget Derek. Maybe this was what I needed-a fresh start, a relationship without painful memories. I closed my eyes, allowing the moment to

happen.

He drew me softly into his arms and kissed me. I tried to lose myself in the kiss, hoping to banish Derek’s shadow. James’s technique was skilled, gentle, and considerate, like a warm cup of tea, comfortable and safe.

Yet when our lips touched, I didn’t feel the expected electricity or quickened heartbeat. There was none of that breathless sensation I experienced when Derek kissed me, none of that tremor that started at the base of my spine. My heart maintained its steady rhythm, as if I were simply having dinner with a friend. This contrast filled me with guilt and confusion-why couldn’t I feel the same way about this kind, considerate man?

James made a low, satisfied moan that involuntarily reminded me of Derek’s sounds when he kissed me. For days, Derek had been making me restless, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t erase him from my mind. His persistence in waiting outside my home each morning, following me to work, standing guard outside the flower shop… it both annoyed and secretly pleased me.

I wasn’t fickle; I never had been. I was just lost and conflicted when it came to emotions, like a traveler in a maze, unsure which

path led to the exit.

James ended the kiss, his forehead against mine, his eyes full of tenderness. I could feel how genuine his emotions were, which only

made me feel more guilty about my response.

He whispered softly in my ear, “Thank you for giving me this chance, Eleanor. This is the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received.”

Igently pushed him back a little, being honest: “James, I understand your feelings, really. But I haven’t fully emerged from the

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Chapter 132

shadow of my marriage.” I didn’t mention Derek’s recent persistence or my complex emotional reactions-that would complicate this moment and hurt James.

James caressed my cheek. “I understand, and I won’t rush. We can take it slow. His understanding touched me but also increased my guilt. I wasn’t sure if I could give him the kind of feelings he hoped for.

He glanced at the heavy snow outside. “It’s late now, and the snow’s getting worse. Let me drive you home?”

I nodded gratefully and began closing the shop. After turning off the lights and ensuring all windows and doors were locked, I left with James for his car. The night’s cold made me pull my coat tighter, but the chill inside seemed greater than the one outside.

When James stopped his car in front of my Victorian home in Newton, snow was still falling, and the street was almost deserted The house held my childhood memories and had become my sanctuary after my marriage to Derek collapsed. The light shining

through the snow looked particularly warm, but I knew only emptiness and silence awaited me inside.

“Thank you for driving me home, and for the cake,” I said, unbuckling my seatbelt and turning to James.

I smiled. “Merry Christmas in advance, James.”

As I prepared to get out, James gently caught my wrist and leaned closer, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. The gesture was

respectful and warm, leaving me with a feeling of gentle affection rather than passion.

“Good night, Eleanor, James said with a smile, his eyes-sparkling with hope and expectation.

I nodded, got out of the car, and stood in the snow waving goodbye to James. His car slowly drove away, the lights gradually disappearing into the snowy night. I turned toward my door, my footsteps leaving clear tracks in the fresh snow.

Opening the door, Sunny greeted me by nuzzling my leg, giving me the warmest welcome. I closed the door, leaned against it,

sighed deeply, and touched my lips.

James’s kiss had been gentle and considerate, but Derek’s shadow still hovered in my heart, persistent and unyielding. I never imagined I’d be caught in such an emotional whirlwind-torn between a stable, secure promise and an uncertain feeling that made

my heart race. What should I choose? Did I even have the right to choose?

Just then, I heard another knock at the door, heavy and determined. I frowned, thinking James had returned. A sense of unease rose within me as I slowly approached the door and peered through the peephole. A familiar figure stood in the snow, making my heart

constrict.

Derek stood at my doorstep, snowflakes settling on his dark hair. Instead of his usual confident posture, there was something different about him tonight-a vulnerability I rarely saw, his shoulders slightly hunched against the cold, his eyes holding an emotion I couldn’t quite name. Sunny paced anxiously at my feet, seeming to sense my tension.

I took a deep breath, preparing to face this uninvited visitor and whatever emotional storm he might bring.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love