The following morning I woke up beaming. I hadn't stopped smiling even for a second thinking about what a beautiful and sharp turn my life took. Everything was okay between Daniel and me. The people who always tried to make my life dull weren't there to bother me anymore but I still had the guilt of telling Daniel about Claire. I have never hidden anything from him because trust and faith is the key factor in our relationship. I felt like I was breaking his faith by not telling him the complete truth.

"May I know the reason behind this secret smile of yours?" Daniel asked, sitting on the bed after coming out of the shower. He was wearing only sweatpants, distracting me from my thoughts whereas I was still lying in the bed wearing his t-shirt.

"You!" I commented, sitting upright on the bed.

"Me? What did I do? Or are you thinking about last night?" He wiggled his eyebrows. A sudden blush surfaced on my face.

"No, I wasn't," I argued as I removed the comforter from my body and tried to slip out of the bed but this naughty man caught me and pinned me back on the bed. My body shuddered when he brought his soft lips to my ear.

"Yes, you were. You can't lie, your blush is speaking for you." He placed a soft kiss below my ear which made me moan in delight. I cursed my body for not being in my control in his presence.

"I told you I wasn't." I again argued back, trying to push him away but he pinned my hands on either side of my face and looked at me. I could see the mischief in his eyes.

"But I want you to think about it. I don't want you to ever forget our intimate and pleasuring moments as those are precious. I don't want you to forget how our skins fit into each other, how we moan in delight when our body moves in sync and I most definitely don't want you to forget how we scream each other's name in ecstasy when we orga—"

"Goodness, Daniel, you're so shameless." I pushed him away and stood up from the bed.

"You don't call me shameless when we actually perform the exercise in our bed instead you shout my name and ask me to increase my pace and—"

I thew a pillow in his face before he could say anything further. "Shut your mouth or I'll hit you again," I warned him as I took another pillow in my hands, blush still not leaving my face. In a swift motion, he was standing on the bed with a pillow in his hands.

"Oh, I'm so ready for the fight." He smirked and threw the pillow at me and that's it, there was no turning back now. We threw pillows at each other and fought for good fifteen minutes, running after each other in the room.

"Okay, okay, stop!" I laughed when he slammed the pillow in my head, turning my hair into a mess. He stopped but not before dumping me on the bed and hovering over me.

"I love being childish with you. I love being carefree." He mumbled while brushing his nose with mine.

"Me too," I whispered back, and pulling him closer I sealed his lips with mine.

He fake gasped. "You took advantage of a half-naked man. Now, who's being shameless?" He grinned, pulling his lips away from mine.

"Don't be a drama queen. Kiss isn't counted in that." I countered back.

"Then tell me what is counted in 'shameless'?"

"You're such a flirt. You'll never change." I hit my palm on his chest.

"I don't intend to. This flirty nature is what keeps the relationship alive forever." He kissed the corner of my lips.

"And I don't want you to change. I like this flirty Daniel." I ruffled his hair.

He was about to say something but I shushed him by putting a finger on his lips.

"Daniel, I have something extremely important to talk to you," I said. I knew I was ruining our happy mood but I couldn't ignore the churning inside my heart and stomach happening because I was hiding something from him. He was thinking I had told him everything and I didn't want to keep him in dark.

"About what?" He frowned.

"Uh... Ab...about Claire."

He instantly let go of me and sat upright, frowning. "What about her?"

I let out a deep breath and after sitting straight on the bed I hesitantly told him everything about Claire, like everything. How she asked me to leave him, how she asserted her right on him and how she helped Micheal.

"What? Why didn't you tell me this before?" He gave me a disapproving look. "I could have set her mind straight. How dare she say that you and how dare she push you in danger!" He fumed.

"Hey, hey, calm down." I tried to reach for him as he was now standing away from the bed. He ran his fingers through his hair and came back to sit beside me.

"How can you forgive her so easily? You should have told this to the police." He asked.

"Well, the old me would have dragged her through her hair for doing all this to me but this new me..." I pointed at me. "...is changed one. You changed me. You taught me how to be forgiving. You taught me how to be calm."

I held his hands and looked into his eyes. "I know she did wrong to me but I'm not cruel that I would play with her career. She was regretting and she apologized, that is what matters."

"What if she is fooling you?" He asked, looking at me intently as if trying to read me through my eyes.

I shrugged casually. "Honestly, I don't care anymore. Though I told her to start anew, I'm more careful now and I'll keep my distance from her. Besides, I've decided to take a break from my modeling career that means I would be away from all the people related to work at least for some time. I don't know and do not care what the future beholds, I just want to live now, in the present, with you. I just want peace."

"But she needs to learn a lesson. I will talk to her." He said firmly.

"If I wanted you to talk to her about it, I would have told you about her in the hospital itself."

Sighing, he looked away but I cupped his face and made him look at me. "Listen, Daniel, if our lives are running normal, and calm by ignoring a single matter then there is no need to make a fuss. Make peace with it and move on."

"I see that you've learned to be patient." He smiled genuinely.

"The best teacher in the world taught me." I ruffled his hair. "Promise me you'll act mature and will leave this matter."

"Alright. Only for you" He sighed. "But if she tries to harm you or interfere in our lives again, I won't leave her." He said sternly.

"It won't be needed as if she dares interfere again she'll go through my wrath," I said determinedly.

"That's like my Eloise." He commented, patting my shoulder.

"But Man! I feel like I should get an award right now. I did my job well!" He puffed his chest.

I rolled my eyes at his self praising. "I shouldn't have said that!" I muttered under my breath.

"I gave you fake wings, don't fly to cloud nine. Come back to the ground, will you?"

"Nope! Why should I when I know that I'm the best and accept that you couldn't have got a teacher like me if I hadn't agreed to teach you."

Here we go!

But yeah, without any doubt, he's the best.

"Yeah, right! Now, put on your clothes. You've to drop me at Evan's place."

Saying that I dashed to the bathroom to take the shower.

:::::::::::::::::

"Oh, Eloise." Evan embraced me in a tight bear hug. "How much I missed doing this." He mumbled.

Evan and I hadn't met after I was discharged from the hospital as he was extremely busy dealing with the media.

"I was so scared when Daniel called me to know about your whereabouts. How could you be so careless." He scolded me, lightly banging my head with his palm.

"Ow... Don't do this, I've already apologized." I scowled, rubbing my head.

"Drama queen." He chuckled.

"So, what brings you here?" It was Trish who spoke.

"Why? Can't I come to meet you?" I frowned.

"Oh god, El. It's not what I mean." She grunted.

I hugged her. "I know, Trish but today I've come to talk to you guys and it's important."

"What is it?" Evan asked as we sat on the couch.

"Uh... Actually, I've decided to take a break from my modeling career. I would only finish my ongoing projects and won't sign any new."

"What?" They both asked in unison.

"I'm so sorry. I know my decision will affect both of you too but I really wanted a break and Evan I'll find other work for you. I don' want you to suffer because of me." I blurted out in on one breath.

"Hey, hey, calm down Eloise." He held my hands. "It's okay. I understand you needed it. And from the last few days, I was thinking the same. I mean... the pressure of media, controversies, lost privacy...all of it forced me to think about my choice of career."

"We totally understand you, El and trust me last night Evan and I were discussing the same," Trish spoke, patting my shoulder.

"Honestly, El," Evan continued. "I too want a break from this."

"But what will you do?" I asked.

"Well, Trish has decided to expand her business, her beauty studio and she needs a manager so..." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll help her for the time being. You very well know that my work didn't let us spend a good amount of time with each other. This will help us remain close and will strengthen our bond, I guess."

"Yes, Eloise, he is right. And where will I get a manager like him? Smart, handsome, and hardworking." Trish added.

"Oh, really? Thank you, girlfriend." Evan teased and Trish's face burned up.

"You both are so cute." I laughed. "Get married already."

"I'm ready!" Evan said in a heartbeat. "But she needs time."

"Evan, you can't blame me. It's a huge decision to make. Rest assured, I'll only marry you. But it's hard to think about marriage when we both are busy in our work, day and night. We spend less time with each other and—"

"Hey!" Evan stood up from my side and sat on the armrest to hug Trish who was sitting on my right. "I'm not forcing you for anything. You're with me, beside me, that's enough for me. I love you." He kissed the side of her head.

My heart and soul beamed while looking at them. They truly love each other, understand each other. They are the most loving couple I've ever seen. I always wish for their happiness. Deep down I knew one day, they'll surely get married.

"Eloise?" Trish spoke up.

"Huh?"

"What about you? Have you thought about marriage?"

Marriage! Did I think about it? Honestly, No. I had no time to think about it.

Was I ready for it? I didn't know. I was cherishing my present with Daniel.

Did I see my future with Daniel? Yes, and the most beautiful one.

Would I agree to marry him if he asks me in the future? Absolutely, yes.

If I dare to reject him I'll never get a man like him. And I had no plan of leaving him. I had fought enough to be with him. In the future, if any disagreement comes, I would work on our relationship but will not break it and will not let him break it.

He's too precious to let go.

"Eloise, hey, where are you lost?" Trish snapped fingers in my face.

"Oh, I'm here only."

"So? What about my question?" She asked.

I sighed. "We haven't discussed it yet. Honestly, like you two, we too didn't get time. Rick, Michael, controversies, and work took our focus."

"I can understand." She mumbled.

"So, I guess we've cleared everything. Now, Evan please accompany me to Leena Antonio's office, I've to give her my answer. She needs to know my decision too."

"Okay, let's go."

We went to her office and I told her about my decision of taking a break, of course, I didn't tell her about my involvement with Rick's case because if by chance the news comes out it would be a scandal and Daniel's hard work to keep me away from the case and the media would go in vain.

"Oh, dear, I understand. This industry gives fame but takes away privacy and peace. I too take a break from time to time, it refreshes our mind and soul." She said politely.

"Thank you for understanding. And I'm again sorry for giving you hope."

"Nonsense," She waved her hand. "These things are not in our control, Eloise. And besides, you need to spend more time with your boyfriend. After all, you two are a new couple who are flaring in love." She giggled and I blushed.

"Well, I'll miss working with you but it's the demand of the time. Not now but maybe in the future, we'll work again." She smiled.

"Of, course," I replied.

"Live your life to the fullest and spend a good time with Daniel. This will strengthen your bond. I wish you all the best for your future."

"Thank you, Leena." I hugged her last time and bid my farewell.

At the end of the day, I felt light like a feather. I felt free; free from toxic people and the workload and now I could peacefully live my life with my love.

________________________________________

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