14.Official

                                    

                                          
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I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I approached Ryle's house. The familiar scent of freshly mowed grass mixed with the faint aroma of blooming roses from the garden. I clutched Ryle's hand a little tighter, feeling the comforting warmth of his grip.
"Ready?" Ryle asked, his voice a soft murmur. His eyes held a hint of uncertainty, a rare vulnerability that I had come to cherish.
"Ready," I replied, giving him a reassuring smile.
We walked up to the front door, and Ryle pushed it open, revealing the cozy living room inside. The soft hum of conversation reached our ears, and my heart quickened. This was it—the moment we would announce our relationship to his family.
As we stepped inside, my eyes swept over the familiar faces. Ryle's sister, Alyssa, was seated on the couch, her husband Marshall beside her, bouncing their baby on his knee. Across from them, on an armchair, sat Lily, Ryle's ex-wife with her husband and lovely little Emmy smiling on Lily's arms. My stomach tightened at the sight of her, buti forced herself to stay calm.
"Lavender, Ryle, there you are!" Alyssa exclaimed, rising to greet us with a warm hug. "We were wondering when you two would get here."
"We're here now," Ryle said, his voice steady. He glanced at me, I gave him a slight nod. It was time.
"Everyone," Ryle began, drawing the attention of the room. "Lavender and I have something we want to share with you."
I could feel all eyes on us, I took a deep breath. "Ryle and I are in a relationship," I said, my voice clear and confident. "We wanted to make it official and share the news with all of you."
Alyssa's face lit up with a smile. "That's wonderful news! Congratulations!" She pulled me into another hug, as Marshall gave Ryle a thumbs-up.
The room buzzed with congratulatory remarks, but I couldn't help but notice Lily's silence. She stood up from her chair, her expression unreadable, and approached me.
"Lavender," Lily said, her voice calm but firm. "Can we talk? Alone."
Ryle stiffened beside me, his grip on my hand tightening. "Lily, is this really necessary?"
Lily's eyes flicked to Ryle before returning to mine. "Yes, it is. Just a few minutes."
I nodded, sensing the tension but also the importance of this conversation. "It's okay, Ryle. I'll be fine."
Ryle hesitated but eventually released my hand. "I'll be right here," he said softly.
I followed Lily out to the backyard, the evening air cool against my skin. We walked to the edge of the garden, away from the house, where we could talk without being overheard.
"Lily, what is it?" I asked, trying to keep my  voice steady.
Lily turned to face me, her expression a mix of emotions. "I just... I needed to make sure you know what you're getting into with Ryle. He can be... intense. And I don't want you to get hurt."
I met Lily's gaze, my own resolve hardening. "I know Ryle isn't perfect. But I love him, and I believe in us. We're committed to making this work."
Lily sighed, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I just wanted to give you a heads-up,like what did you find in Ryle?"
"How do you know Ryle?" Lily asked, her tone inquisitive but serious. "What do you like about him?"
I took a deep breath, my mind drifting back to the past. "Ryle and I were schoolmates," I began, a small smile tugging at my lips. "We had a crush on each other back then, but nothing ever came of it. We reconnected a few months ago, and it felt like fate had given us a second chance. He's kind, intelligent, and incredibly passionate about his work. I love how he makes me feel safe and understood."
Lily listened quietly, her expression unreadable. When I finished, Lily nodded slowly. "He used to make me feel comfortable too," she said, her voice softer now. "In the beginning, he was everything I wanted. Charming, attentive, and caring."
I felt a knot form in her stomach as I sensed the shift in Lily's tone.
"But things changed," Lily continued, her eyes locking onto mine. "Ryle started to control me. He was possessive and jealous. It escalated until he became physically abusive."
My breath caught in my throat. "What?" I whispered, my mind reeling. This couldn't be true. Ryle was nothing like that with her eventhough I knew he had something but weren't those accidents?
"He would apologize after every incident," Lily said, her voice trembling slightly. "He would promise to change, to be better. But it never lasted. He made me believe that I was the problem, that I was the one who needed to change. It took me a long time to realize that I was being manipulated and abused."
I shook my head, trying to process Lily's words. "But Ryle isn't like that with me. He's never been anything but loving and supportive."
"That's how it starts," Lily said gently. "I know this is hard to hear, but you need to be aware. Abusers can be very good at hiding their true nature, especially at the beginning of a relationship. I'm not saying Ryle hasn't changed, but I want you to be cautious."
I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I wanted to reject everything Lily was saying, to believe that Ryle was different with me. But a small voice in the back of my mind urged me to listen, to consider the possibility.
"Lily, I... I don't know what to say," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I love him. I really do."
"I know," Lily said softly. "And maybe he has changed. But please, just be careful. Watch for the signs. Don't let yourself be blinded by love like I was."
I nodded slowly, feeling a heavy weight settle on her chest. "Thank you for telling me, Lily. I promise I'll be careful."
Lily gave her a sad smile. "That's all I can ask. Take care of yourself, Lavender."
As we walked back to the house, I felt a storm of emotions swirling inside me. Doubt, fear, love, and confusion all battled for dominance. When I stepped back into the living room and saw Ryle's concerned face, I forced a smile, but the doubts Lily had planted in my mind wouldn't easily be dismissed.
"Everything okay?" Ryle asked, his eyes searching mine.
I nodded, squeezing his hand. "Everything's fine," she lied. "We're fine."
But as I stood there, surrounded by Ryle's family, I couldn't shake the feeling that my world had shifted in ways I couldn't yet fully understand.