Whispers of the Heart

**Chapter 17: Sarah**

The next few weeks felt like a balancing act—one that Lily wasn’t sure she was prepared for. The awkward moments with Noah were fewer, but still present. They didn’t rush anything, letting the weight of their past settle between them before taking small steps toward something new. Every time she found herself questioning whether she was doing the right thing, Noah’s gentle persistence reassured her. He was there—patient, present—and that made all the difference.

But while Lily was navigating the delicate waters of rekindling a relationship with Noah, there was a growing tension in the background—something she hadn’t anticipated, something she wasn’t prepared for.

Her phone buzzed on the counter as she worked late in her gallery one evening. Glancing at the screen, she saw an incoming text from Alex. She had been in touch with him occasionally over the past few weeks, keeping things casual, but nothing had progressed further. He’d been respectful of the space Lily had asked for, even if she knew he still cared for her in a way that felt both comforting and confusing.

The text from Alex was simple, but it stopped her in her tracks.

*Sarah wants to meet. She says it’s important.*

Lily frowned. Sarah? The name rang a bell, but it wasn’t until she read the message again that the full weight of the situation hit her.

Sarah was Noah’s fiancée. The woman he had been engaged to when they’d broken up all those years ago. The woman who had appeared in his life after Lily had been left with a broken heart and unanswered questions.

It had been years since she’d heard anything about Sarah, but the mere mention of her name had an immediate, physical effect on Lily. Her stomach churned, her hands suddenly cold as her mind raced to try to piece together the situation. Why did Sarah want to meet with her?

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She hadn’t expected this. She wasn’t sure what Sarah’s intentions were, but her sudden reappearance felt like a storm on the horizon, threatening to complicate everything she had just started to rebuild with Noah.

With trembling fingers, she typed a quick response.

*When?*

Alex replied almost immediately.

*Tomorrow afternoon. She’s insistent.*

Lily stared at the screen for a moment longer, her mind a swirl of confusion and unease. What could Sarah possibly want from her? To apologize? To explain herself? Or perhaps to make it clear once and for all that Noah had chosen her, that Lily was a part of a past that didn’t belong in their future?

Lily’s first instinct was to say no—to avoid whatever confrontation Sarah wanted. But she couldn’t. There was a part of her, that quiet voice she couldn’t ignore, that told her this meeting was inevitable. She needed to face it, face Sarah, and understand once and for all what had happened all those years ago.

With a shaky breath, she typed back.

*I’ll meet her.*

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The next afternoon, Lily arrived at the café Sarah had chosen for their meeting. It was a cozy little spot, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. The kind of place where people went to escape the bustle of the world and just breathe. Lily had arrived early, but as the minutes ticked by, she could feel the knot in her stomach tightening with each passing second.

She was anxious—no, terrified. What was Sarah going to say to her? What could she possibly want after all this time?

Her thoughts were interrupted when a familiar voice broke through the din of the café.