The bookstore’s warm glow enveloped Lila like a comforting embrace, its quiet corners and soft whispers offering solace from the storm raging in her heart. She was perched in her usual spot, a steaming cappuccino in hand, when Rhys’s familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

“ ‘Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,’ ” he quoted playfully, his grin brightening the dim corner where she sat.

Lila looked up, startled, before a smile spread across her face. “Rhys,” she said, her tone a mix of surprise and relief. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Neither did I,” Rhys replied, sliding into the seat across from her. “It’s been a while. I figured you might’ve forgotten about me.”

“Hardly,” Lila said, her smile softening. “Work has just been... overwhelming.”

“And your phone’s been no help, I take it?” Rhys teased lightly.

Lila chuckled, but her voice carried a weary edge. “Not exactly. But it seems like you’ve been busy too. Filming, I assume?”

Rhys nodded, leaning back. “Brutal schedule. Early mornings, late nights—turns out action sequences take a toll. But enough about me. You look like you could use a break.”

Lila exhaled, the weight of the past weeks pressing down on her shoulders. “You’re not wrong,” she admitted. “Work has been... relentless. And lonely, in ways I didn’t think it could be.”

Rhys’s smile faded into a look of quiet concern. “Tell me,” he said simply.

She hesitated, then spoke, her voice trembling with the effort of keeping her emotions in check. She didn’t dive into the details of her clashes with Tessa or the tangled web of feelings surrounding Evan and Kieran, but she shared the loneliness she’d been grappling with, the sense of isolation that had grown despite being surrounded by people every day.

“You carry so much,” Rhys said after a pause, his voice low and steady. “Do you ever stop to let someone else help?”

Lila’s lips twitched into a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s easier said than done,” she replied.

“It doesn’t have to be,” Rhys said gently.

For a while, they sat in silence, the quiet hum of the bookstore wrapping around them. When Lila finally left, her heart felt a little lighter, as though sharing her burden with Rhys had made it easier to bear.

---

But that night, the solace she’d found with Rhys was replaced by a gnawing restlessness. She lay in bed, the room dark except for the soft glow of the streetlight filtering through her curtains. Her mind replayed his words.

“Do you ever stop to let someone else help?”

The question lingered, stirring memories she had long buried. Memories of a time when she had let someone in, trusted them, loved them—only to have that trust shattered.

Her thoughts drifted back to a gala years ago, the glittering chandeliers casting golden light over the crowd. She had been so young then, so full of hope, clinging to Julian’s arm like he was her anchor in the world. Julian had been her first love—charismatic, ambitious, everything she thought she wanted.

But that night had changed everything.

---

The scene replayed in her mind like a cruel film.

She had stepped away for a moment, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she made her way toward the refreshment table. She had paused when she overheard hushed voices near the grand staircase.

“She doesn’t even know,” one woman whispered, her tone dripping with pity.
“It’s shameless,” another replied. “But that’s Julian for you. Always charming, always playing the field.”

Lila’s stomach had dropped. She hadn’t wanted to believe it. She had confronted Julian later that night, and he had denied it at first—until the weight of her accusations broke him.

“Yes, alright?” he had snapped, his perfect mask slipping. “I made a mistake. But don’t act like this changes everything. You still have me, don’t you?”

But she didn’t. Not after that. And the betrayal didn’t end there. She soon discovered he had used her family’s connections to climb the corporate ladder, every grand gesture and romantic promise nothing more than a calculated move to secure his own future.

Lila bolted upright in bed, her chest heaving, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The memory of Julian’s betrayal was as raw as if it had happened yesterday. She pressed her hands to her temples, trying to push the image of his smug face out of her mind.

Her chest tightened with the familiar ache of distrust and loneliness. She needed to talk to someone, needed to escape the suffocating confines of her thoughts. Without thinking, she grabbed her phone and dialed Rhys’s number, her fingers trembling.

---

“Lila?” Rhys’s voice was thick with sleep, but his concern was immediate. “Are you okay?”

“I...” Her voice cracked. She swallowed hard, willing herself to speak. “I couldn’t sleep.”

Rhys’s tone softened. “What’s going on? Do you want to talk about it?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “I didn’t know who else to call.”

There was a pause, then Rhys said firmly, “Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

“No,” Lila said quickly, shaking her head even though he couldn’t see her. “I don’t want you to see me like this.”

“Lila, it’s okay,” he replied gently. “I don’t care what you look like. I care about how you’re feeling.”

She hesitated, then said, “Could we meet somewhere?”

“Of course. Where?”

“The park,” Lila said after a moment. “By the lake.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Rhys promised.

---

The lake was quiet under the glow of the moonlight, its surface reflecting the stars scattered across the sky. Lila sat on their usual bench, her arms wrapped around herself against the cool night air.

She heard Rhys’s footsteps before she saw him, his pace quick and purposeful.

“Lila,” he said softly as he approached, his concern etched into every line of his face. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t even know where to start,” she admitted. “Everything just feels... wrong.”

Rhys sat beside her, his presence solid and grounding. “Take your time,” he said. “I’m here.”

The floodgates opened. Lila didn’t delve into the specifics of her memories or the tangled mess of her feelings, but she spoke of the pressure, the loneliness, the exhaustion that had been gnawing at her for weeks. Rhys listened without interrupting, his quiet understanding like a balm to her frayed nerves.

When she finally fell silent, he reached out and took her hand, his touch warm and steady.

“You’re not alone, Lila,” he said softly. “You don’t have to face this by yourself.”

Lila’s heart ached at his words, her tears falling freely now. For the first time in a long time, she felt seen, supported, understood.

And though she didn’t know what lay ahead—whether she could truly open herself up again, whether she could trust her heart to someone new—she knew she didn’t have to face it alone.

In the stillness of the night, with Rhys beside her and the stars above, Lila allowed herself a small, fragile hope.

Hey, readers! 💕

Chapter 17 brought all the feels, didn’t it? Rhys’s comforting side and Lila’s struggles are adding layers to the story, and we’re just getting started! Things are about to get even messier, more romantic, and packed with twists you won’t see coming.

Exciting news—"Love in Progress" will now update every Wednesday and Sunday! 🎉 Twice a week, double the drama.

So, who’s winning your heart so far? Rhys with his charm or Evan with his quiet intensity? Or do you sense bigger surprises ahead? Let me know in the comments!

Thank you for all your love and support. You’re the best part of this journey.

xoxo,
Elara Everhart ✨