JOURNEY OF LOVE - CHAPTER 25: OLD FEELINGS, NEW WOUNDS

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Chapter 25

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Old Feelings, New Wounds

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The cool night air grew heavier after Claire's confession.

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Daniel stared at her in disbelief.

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"You worked for Victor?"

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Claire lowered her eyes.

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"Yes."

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Amara instinctively stepped closer to Daniel.

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"Can we trust her?" she whispered.

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Daniel didn't answer.

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He wasn't sure.

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The woman standing before him was someone he had once trusted with his dreams.

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Now she was connected to the man trying to destroy his life.

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---

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Claire slowly removed her hood.

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"I know how this looks."

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Daniel folded his arms.

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"Then explain."

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She took a deep breath.

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"After university, I couldn't find work."

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"My father became seriously ill."

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"I was desperate."

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"Victor offered me a job."

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"What kind of job?"

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"His personal assistant."

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Daniel's expression hardened.

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"And you accepted?"

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"I thought he was an honest businessman."

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She smiled bitterly.

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"I discovered the truth too late."

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---

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Amara watched quietly.

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She noticed the sadness in Claire's eyes.

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It wasn't the sadness of someone lying.

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It was the sadness of someone carrying regret.

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"What happened?" Amara asked gently.

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Claire sighed.

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"I tried to leave."

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"But Victor threatened my family."

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"So I stayed."

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"For years."

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---

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Daniel remained silent.

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The memories came rushing back.

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University lectures.

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Late-night study sessions.

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Volunteer work.

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Claire encouraging him whenever life became difficult.

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She had always believed in him.

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There had even been rumors that they were in love.

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But neither of them had admitted it.

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Life had simply pulled them in different directions.

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---

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Claire looked directly at Daniel.

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"I never stopped praying you'd never cross Victor's path."

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Daniel frowned.

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"Then why didn't you warn me?"

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"I tried."

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"What?"

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"I sent anonymous messages."

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Daniel's eyes widened.

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"The messages telling me to stay away from Amara..."

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Claire nodded.

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"They weren't threats."

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"They were warnings."

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"I couldn't reveal myself."

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"If Victor found out..."

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"He would have killed my family."

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---

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Amara slowly looked at Daniel.

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Everything suddenly made sense.

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The strange messages.

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The hidden clues.

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Someone had been trying to protect them from the beginning.

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---

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Just then, Claire reached into her handbag.

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Daniel immediately became alert.

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She slowly removed a small flash drive.

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"This contains copies of Victor's financial records."

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Daniel carefully accepted it.

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"Why give it to me now?"

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Claire looked toward the moon.

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"Because he's planning something much bigger."

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"What?"

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"He isn't trying to destroy your family anymore."

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She looked at both of them.

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"He's planning to disappear."

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"And leave all the evidence pointing to you."

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---

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Silence filled the hill.

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Daniel clenched the flash drive tightly.

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"If that's true..."

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"My family could lose everything."

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Claire nodded.

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"And innocent people could go to prison."

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---

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As they walked back toward their cars, Amara noticed Claire watching Daniel.

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There was warmth in her eyes.

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Not love.

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Not anymore.

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But affection.

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The kind that never completely disappears.

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Amara felt something unfamiliar tightening inside her chest.

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Jealousy.

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She hated the feeling.

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She trusted Daniel.

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Yet seeing another woman who had once been so important to him stirred old insecurities.

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---

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Later that night, Daniel drove Amara home.

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The silence inside the car felt different.

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Finally, Daniel spoke.

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"You're quiet."

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Amara forced a smile.

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"I'm fine."

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"You've never been good at pretending."

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She looked out the window.

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"Were you in love with Claire?"

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Daniel hesitated.

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"We cared about each other."

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"But..."

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He smiled softly.

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"Life had other plans."

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"And now?"

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He reached across and held her hand.

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"Now my heart belongs to you."

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She nodded.

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"I know."

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But a small part of her heart still wondered what might have been if Claire had remained in Daniel's life.

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---

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At her apartment, Daniel kissed her forehead before leaving.

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"Get some rest."

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"You too."

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After he drove away, Amara remained standing outside for several minutes.

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She watched the taillights disappear into the darkness.

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Then she whispered to herself,

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"Why am I afraid?"

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---

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Across the city, Claire entered a modest apartment.

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She sat on the edge of her bed and quietly cried.

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She wasn't crying because she wanted Daniel back.

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She was crying because she had finally seen the life he deserved.

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A peaceful life.

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A happy life.

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And she feared Victor would destroy it before it truly began.

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She wiped away her tears and looked at an old university photograph.

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She smiled sadly.

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"I'm glad you found someone who loves you the way I never had the courage to."

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She placed the photograph back into a drawer and closed it.

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The past belonged in the past.

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---

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Meanwhile, Victor sat inside Ashwood Mansion, staring at a wall covered with photographs.

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Daniel.

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Amara.

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Ethan.

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Claire.

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Inspector Harris.

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Every person connected by strings and notes.

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One of his men entered the room.

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"Sir..."

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"We found Claire."

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Victor smiled.

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"So..."

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"Our missing piece has finally returned."

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"What are your orders?"

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Victor's expression became ice cold.

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"Bring her to me."

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"Alive."

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"And if Daniel gets in the way..."

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He looked at the burning fireplace.

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"Make sure he understands that old feelings can create new wounds."

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Outside, thunder rumbled across the night sky.

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Another storm was coming.

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And this time...

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No one would escape unchanged.

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Quote:

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"The past may no longer own your heart, but it can still leave scars that test the love you've chosen today."

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End of Chapter 2516Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UrgixePVN

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