The Phone Call

Arthur's heart raced with anticipation, and his palms were slick with sweat as he finally mustered the courage to dial Helana's number. He longed to hear her soothing voice once more, to try and explain that the photo was nothing more than a misunderstanding. As the phone rang, he allowed himself a moment of hope that she would pick up.

Meanwhile, in San Antonio, Helena hesitated, her finger hovering over the green 'answer' button on her phone screen. Her heart pounded in her chest, and fear and excitement washed over her. She hadn't expected to hear from Arthur again after he left her at the camping site.

What if he has indeed moved on? Could I ever take that? I am not ready.

"Ellen," Gabby said gently, reassuringly touching her shoulder. "You should take the call. It could allow you both to talk about what happened and answer the questions in your head. It's for your peace of mind."

Helena took a deep breath, her eyes filling with tears as she glanced at her best friend. Gabby had always been there for her, especially when Israel's parents had come after her. She trusted her implicitly. Now, it's Authur, and she is still here with me.

What did I do to deserve all other kindness? "Alright," Helena whispered, her voice barely audible. She braced herself and answered the call, driven by her desire to let go of the past and find closure.

"Helena, baby," came Arthur's gentle voice, sending shivers down her spine. "Thank you for answering."

"Arthur," Helena replied, struggling to control her emotions. "It's been a while." She took a deep breath, feeling her chest tighten as she tried to rein in her emotions.

"Too long," he agreed, his voice tinged with sadness. "I've missed you, Helena."

At that moment, Helena felt as if she were standing on the edge of an abyss, the weight of their shared history threatening to pull her into its depths. Yet, she knew she had to remain strong, for both their sakes.

"Thank you, Arthur," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "I've... I've missed you too."

NO. Arthur and I are from different worlds, and he should stay where he belongs. I shouldn't have said that.

A silence fell between them, punctuated only by the distant sounds of city life below and the steady rhythm of their breathing. It was a fragile thing, this newfound connection, a delicate thread binding them together across the miles.

"So," Arthur began, breaking the silence. "How have you been? How is your new novel coming along?"

Helena hesitated, smoothing her hand over her lap as if to draw strength from it. "It's been slow going," she admitted. "But I'm getting there, one word at a time."

"That's good to hear," he replied with genuine warmth. "You always did have a way with words."

"Thanks," she said softly, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "And what about you, Arthur? What have you been up to since we last spoke?"

Gabby watched Helena with so much emotion, seeing her best friend trying her best not to cry. She could only hope the talk with Arthur would answer all the doubts and questions in Helena's mind.

"Business mostly," he answered with a hint of wistfulness in his voice. "That's the reason I came here. Fix things after my father died. I must save our corporation, my siblings, and you. I am here to keep you safe."

"Arthur, I'm sorry about your father. I haven't even said my condolences and just dwell on my own selfish thoughts. You always think of saving me, but I was selfish…"

"Hush… Don't say that, baby, please. I was wrong for leaving you the way I did. I'm sorry I hurt you, but it was the only way I could save you. I need the power of being the chairman of our corporation to save the people I love, especially you. One day I'd like to explain everything clearly to you."

"But you're too busy to do that. You should focus on your siblings for now, not on me. They also need your help. Don't overthink about me; I'll be fine," she assured.

"You know I can't do that. I can help them without abandoning you. I already did that in the past but not anymore. Just let me be," Arthur said desperately. "You know what I do to not forget about our memories together in San Antonio? I take photos every night from my penthouse. You know I love taking photos, right?"

"I do," she said, remembering the countless times they had wandered through picturesque landscapes, Arthur's camera always in hand. "I'm glad you're still pursuing your passion."

"Speaking of passions, Helena," he said, his voice suddenly serious. "I've been thinking about you every day. And I wanted to tell you that."

Helena's heart skipped a beat, her pulse racing as she processed his words. She knew she should be cautious and remind herself of why they had parted ways in the first place. But the truth was, she had never stopped loving him either.

"Arthur," she whispered, her breath catching in her throat. "I... I've been thinking about you, too, since you left."

For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped, suspended between them like the lingering notes of a song. And though they both knew that there were still many obstacles ahead, in that instant, their love for one another shone brighter than even the sun itself.

"Thanks for letting me know, baby. That means so much to me. You are my motivation to go on with my life every day," Arthur said, his voice calm and firm. "Helena, there's something important I need to discuss with you," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency. He could feel the weight of the unspoken words pressing against his chest, and he knew that this was the moment to set the record straight.

"What is it?" Helena asked cautiously, her fingers tightening around the phone as she braced herself for whatever revelation awaited her. But she had a hint it would be about the circulating rumor of his romantic relationship with Pamela.

"I need to explain something to you," Arthur began, his words carefully chosen as he navigated the delicate subject matter. "There's a photo of me and Pamela that's been circulating in the press, but it's not what it looks like."

"Arthur, you don't have to—" Helena started to say, but Arthur cut her off, determined to make his point.

"Please, just let me finish," he pleaded, his heart pounding in his ears as he took a deep breath. "I think someone might be behind this, trying to make it look like I'm dating Pamela."

As the words spilled from his lips, Arthur could feel the tension in his body dissipating, replaced by a sense of relief at having finally shared his thoughts with Helena. He needed her to know the truth and understand that he hadn't betrayed her trust.

"Arthur..." Helena trailed off, the surprise evident in her voice as she processed his explanation. Even from thousands of miles away, Arthur could imagine the myriad of emotions coursing through her – confusion, doubt, perhaps even a glimmer of hope.

The silence that followed was heavy, laden with the unspoken words that lingered between them. As seconds stretched into minutes, Arthur held his breath, anxiously awaiting Helena's response.

"Thank you for telling me," she finally said, her voice soft and measured. "I appreciate your honesty, Arthur."

"Of course," Arthur replied, feeling a rush of warmth at her words.

"But you had no obligation to explain anything to me."

"I just want you to know the truth, Helena."

The silence on the line became tangible, and Arthur knew he couldn't allow it to continue. Their distance stretched for miles, even though they were connected through the phone.

"Helena," he said, his voice soft but resolute. "I know we're not together, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you." He paused for a moment, gathering his courage before continuing. "I want you to know the truth; I still love you. I didn't break up with you."

Helena's breath caught in her throat, and her pulse quickened as her mind raced. She couldn't deny that hearing those words stirred something deep within her, but she couldn't ignore the uncertainty surrounding them.