Chapter 228 Wesley Wynn’s Confession

Chapter 228: Chapter 228 Wesley Wynn’s Confession

?The restaurant was bathed in an atmosphere of quiet elegance.

?Small wax candles flickered softly on every single table, casting a warm, dancing glow across the white tablecloths. Overhead, crystal chandeliers sparkled brilliantly against the ceiling, while a live pianist in the corner played a melody that was soft and slow.

?Veyra sat directly across the table from Wesley Wynn. She had been genuinely surprised when he called her earlier that week to set up a meeting. He had told her he wanted to discuss a new business proposition, hinting at something related to the Ravenwood Society and a potential partnership for her new venture.

?She had agreed to meet him because she desperately needed a distraction from everything else going on in her life. The stress of the shop, the mounting renovation costs, and the sudden financial walls were wearing her down.

?She had not expected anything more than a standard professional chat.

?Wesley reached over and poured a modest amount of red wine into her glass.

?"Just a small glass for now," he said with a warm smile. "I know you are not usually much of a drinker."

?She accepted it with a polite nod and took a small sip. The vintage was smooth, rich, and velvety on her tongue.

?For the first hour, they kept the conversation entirely focused on business. They talked about the retail shop, the progress the construction crew was making, the unexpected structural hurdles, and the tight budget they were trying to balance.

?Wesley proved to be a good listener. He asked smart questions and even offered a few helpful suggestions from his own experience in the city.

?As they talked, the wine flowed, and he poured her another glass. Then, before she realized how much time had passed, he poured another.

?Veyra was so wrapped up in the conversation that she did not even notice how much she had consumed.

?Gradually, the flow of the conversation began to drift away from business.

?They started talking about the inner circles of the Ravenwood Society, the fast-paced nature of Etland City, and various acquaintances they both knew through mutual circles.

?Wesley was genuinely funny, incredibly charming, and remarkably easy to talk to.

?Before long, Veyra found herself laughing out loud at one of his quick jokes. It hit her then that she had not laughed like that in days, and the lightness felt good against her tired shoulders.

?Then, without any warning, Wesley set his wineglass down onto the table with a soft click. The relaxed expression vanished from his face, replaced by something much more serious.

?"Veyra," he said, his voice dropping an octave.

?She paused, looking up to meet his gaze. "Yes, Wesley? What is it?"

?"I need to tell you something very important, and I need you to just listen to me."

?She waited patiently, a sudden knot of uncertainty forming in her stomach.

?He took a slow, deep breath to steady himself.

?"I have feelings for you."

?Veyra blinked in complete surprise, her mind freezing for a second. "What did you just say?"

?"I said I have feelings for you," he repeated, holding her eyes with a steady look. "And I do not mean as a casual friend, and I certainly do not mean as a business partner. I care about you romantically."

?She stared back at him across the table, utterly speechless.

?"I know this comes completely out of nowhere, and I know you are currently married," he continued, rushing his words a little. "I also know that Dorian is supposed to be my friend." He paused, his expression softening with regret. "Believe me, I tried to ignore it. But I just cannot keep pretending anymore."

?Veyra felt her heart begin to pound wildly against her ribs.

?Her mind flashed back over the past few weeks, remembering all the little things. The way he had always looked at her with such patience, the way he had stepped in to help her when she was cornered, and the steady way he had always been there for her when things got rough.

?Up until this exact second, she had simply assumed it was all standard friendship and polite kindness. Nothing more.

?But looking at him now, everything made sense.

?"Wesley," she started to say, her voice shaking slightly.

?He held up a single hand gently, stopping her. "Please, just let me finish everything I need to say."

?She pressed her lips together and nodded.

?"I am not telling you this because I expect you to drop everything or change your life," he explained quietly. "I am telling you the truth because I know Dorian has his own complicated feelings for you, too. And I wanted you to hear the honest truth straight from me before anything else gets messy between us."

?Veyra stared across the candlelight, her chest tightening with emotional overload.

?Her head was spinning from the wine, the long day, and the sheer weight of his confession.

?Dorian had feelings for her. And now Wesley had feelings for her, too.

?It was all happening too fast, becoming far too overwhelming for her to process all at once.

?"I honestly do not even know what to say to you right now," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant piano music.

?"You do not have to give me an answer because I already know that I cannot betray my friend," he replied gently.

?"No, I need to say something," she insisted, taking in a shaky breath. "I am simply not in any place in my life for romance, Wesley. Not right now, and honestly, maybe not ever again."

?For a brief second, a flash of pure pain and deep disappointment crossed Wesley’s face before he managed to mask it away with a calm facade.

?"I completely understand," he murmured.

?"I am so sorry, Wesley."

?"Please, do not apologize for how you feel." He offered a small, sad smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "To be entirely honest, I already knew what your answer would be before I even worked up the courage to ask."

?She reached across the table and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

?"You are a truly good man, Wesley. A kind and generous person. You deserve someone who can give you their whole heart and everything you need in return."

?He nodded slowly, accepting her words with grace.

?"Maybe someday things will be different," he said softly.

?"Maybe so."

?The two of them sat in quiet companionship for a long moment while the pianist continued to play in the background.

?The candles flickered down lower, casting long shadows, while the rest of the busy restaurant moved on around their little corner of the room.

?Wesley reached out, picked up his wineglass from the table, and lifted it slightly toward her.

?"To true friendship," he proposed, his voice steady.

?Veyra picked up her own glass, feeling a profound sense of gratitude for his maturity and understanding.

?"To friendship," she echoed softly.

?They clinked their glasses together in the dim light and drank.