Across Distant Horizons (In Love With An Heiress Book 2)

As Ember stormed out of the dressing room, Allyson immediately followed after her. Her heart raced, and she knew she had to fix this. The backstage area was buzzing with activity, but all Allyson could focus on was Ember's retreating figure as she pushed through the crowd, her back stiff with anger.

"Ember! Wait!" Allyson called out, weaving her way past people and props until she caught up to her fiancée just outside the venue. The night air was cooler, but the tension between them was palpable.

Ember stopped, turning sharply to face Allyson. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of hurt and frustration. "What was that in there, Ally? You've been acting off this whole night! And I couldn't help but notice the way you looked at Marielle. Do you still have feelings for her?"

Allyson took a deep breath, running a hand through her hair as she tried to find the right words. "Ember, it's not what you think. I don't have feelings for her anymore. It's just... seeing her again brings back a lot of unresolved stuff. We never really got closure."

Ember's expression softened slightly, but she wasn't ready to let it go just yet. "Then why didn't you tell me how you felt? You've been so distant ever since the concert started, like you're not even here with me."

Allyson sighed, guilt settling into her chest. "I didn't mean to be distant. I've been trying to sort out my feelings, but it's not because I'm still in love with her. It's more about facing the things I ran away from. I never kept my promise to MJ, and I hurt her in ways I didn't fully understand back then."

Ember crossed her arms, her tone still edged with frustration. "You need to deal with that, Ally. But don't shut me out while you do it. We're supposed to be in this together, and I need to know that you're here with me, not stuck in the past."

Allyson nodded, stepping closer to Ember, her voice quieter now. "I'm sorry, babe. You're right. I should've been more open with you. I don't want the past to get in the way of what we have now. I love you, Ember. Marielle... she's part of my past, and I need to deal with it, but it doesn't change how I feel about you."

Ember's expression softened even more as she let out a small sigh, uncrossing her arms. "I believe you, Ally, but you need to make sure this is all in the past. Because if there's any doubt in your heart, you need to figure that out before it eats away at us."

Allyson stepped closer, her hands gently resting on Ember's arms. "I will. You're my future, Ember. I'll talk to Marielle, get the closure I need, and make sure we're on the same page. But I'm all in with you."

Ember searched her eyes for a moment, then nodded, her guard dropping as she pulled Allyson into a tight hug. "Okay, but don't keep things from me. I need to know where your head's at."

"I promise," Allyson whispered, holding Ember close, the tension between them finally easing.

The next morning, Allyson found herself sitting in the familiar quiet of her sister's apartment. Avery had always been the more level-headed one, and Allyson knew she needed advice. She was still reeling from everything—Ember, Marielle, the unresolved emotions of the past—and there was no one better to help her untangle it all than Avery.

Allyson sat on the couch, her gaze distant as she processed everything Avery had just said. The weight of the years she had spent away, without reaching out, settled uncomfortably on her chest.

"I don't know why she's so mad at me," Allyson said, her voice quieter than usual. "We didn't break up... I didn't mean for it to be this way."

Avery sighed, sitting down across from her, hands resting on her knees. "It wasn't about the breakup. It was about the silence. You promised you'd come back, and you didn't. You left her waiting, Ally."