By admin A Romance In Passing Chapter 21
“Emmy, look over here!”
Upon hearing his voice, Emily lifted her head with a gentle smile, striking a pose in front of Keith’s camera.
“You see? These shots turned out beautifully,” he said as he walked over to her, flipping through the photos one by one on his camera screen.
They had worked together for a while now–she as his model, he as the photographer–and their chemistry had only grown stronger with time.
And somewhere along the way, amidst the countless sessions and companionship, feelings had begun to bloom.
Looking at the version of herself captured through his lens–more radiant, more alive–Emily’s heart skipped a beat.
“Thank you, Keith.”
Caught off guard by the emotion in her eyes, Keith blushed. “It’s nothing, really.”
They strolled along the riverside, the breeze lifting the hem of her skirt in a sudden gust. A group of tourists passing by whistled at her, their tone playful.
Keith turned, catching the scene. A strange, unfamiliar anger surged in his chest. Without thinking, he took off the jacket draped over his shoulder and wrapped it
tightly around her waist.
Startled by the sudden contact, Emily froze for a moment, standing still as he adjusted the makeshift cover.
“If you’re going to wear skirts this short, you’ll have to tie my jacket around your waist next time,” he murmured.
Touched by his gentle concern, Emily nodded, heart fluttering.
Not long after, a renowned Fremoria fashion magazine selected one of their photos for its cover. They were invited for a joint interview.
The public soon began to recognize them as a perfect creative duo–Keith and Emily, rising stars in the art industry.
Back in Aurendia, William was buried in his work. Ever since the “incident” with Aria the previous week, tasks had piled up, and he’d completely lost contact with
Emily.
He rubbed his temples, pushing a signed contract aside. The relentless late nights had triggered his migraines again. He had gone three days without sleep.
“Mr. Silverstein, the latest magazines have been placed on the shelf,” Rosie announced.
Irritated and exhausted, he gave a wordless nod, not even lifting his head. His fingers continued flying across the keyboard, but eventually he set the files down and leaned back, closing his eyes in brief rest.
When he opened them again, his eyes landed on the magazine rack—and his breath caught.
At first, he thought he was hallucinating from exhaustion, that his longing had finally twisted into illusion. But when he blinked, the image didn’t disappear.
It really was her. It was Emily
He shot to his feet, knocking over the steaming cup of coffee. The scalding liquid seared his skin, but he didn’t even flinch.
Rushing to the magazine rack, he snatched up the issue. There she was on the cover–smiling brilliantly, nothing like the tear–streaked face from the last time they’d seen each other.
She wore a gorgeous dress, glowing with confidence under the sun. The sight of her beauty–so real, yet so out of reach–made his chest ache violently.
Flipping the pages, he stumbled upon the interview. A spread featuring the model and photographer duo.
The interviewer asked, “Ms. Caldwell, we heard it was Mr. Jensen who first invited you to model for him. Would you consider him the one who discovered your potential?”
Emily replied, “Yes. I’d say he’s the first guiding light I met in Fremoria. Without him, I might still be trapped in a past relationship that went nowhere.”
Keith chimed in, “If anything, Emily isn’t my discovery–she’s my muse. Without her, none of these photos would exist.”
Further in, a full–page photo of them holding hands appeared. Their pose was intimate, unmistakably close,
The magazine had dubbed them “Fremoria’s New Artistic Couple.”
Suddenly, he remembered his friends mentioning Emily had a new boyfriend. So this was him.
William’s breathing turned erratic. His eyes blazed.
In a burst of anger, he tore the magazine and hurled it toward the window. Pages scattered across the office. The cover–her smiling face–landed silently at his feet.
It was the first time in so long that he had seen her smile. But that smile was no longer for him.
The pain pierced his heart like a blade. He dropped to his knees, tears stinging his eyes as regret drowned him.
“Emmy… I’m so sorry… I realized it all far too late… The only one I’ve ever truly loved is you….”