“This is amazing,” Aria sighs happily, twirling in the living room.
“You haven’t even seen the riding arena yet,” Ella replies.
Aria gasps. “Can we go now? Daddy said you were going to train me.”
Ella stops and turns to me in shock. This cheeky monkey! I definitely didn’t say that. I am about to defend myself, but Aria keeps going. “He said that since you were a champion, no one is a greater fit to train me.”
“I didn’t say—“ I start.
Ella glances at me, and I see her hesitation. I take note of the old hurt flash behind her eyes—the accident that stole her career, the fear she carries beneath her smile, the quiet grief she thinks no one notices.
“I said we’d ask her,” I correct gently.
Aria grabs Ella’s hands. “Please? Will you train me, Miss Ella? I promise I’ll work hard. I’ve watched all your old winning videos. You were so amazing, and I’d love to be just like you. Pretty please. I’ll do my best.”
Ella looks at her, then at me. She’s reluctant, and I am not about to force her to accept this.
“You don’t have to,” I quickly step in. “I know—“
She holds her hand up to stop me, something shifting in her expression—resolve settling over uncertainty.
“It would be my honor,” she finally accepts.
Aria cheers, hugging her again. Ella’s smile is wide and real, but there’s something else beneath it—something I can’t let myself go near.
When Aria runs outside to explore, I pull Ella aside near the porch steps. She straightens, surprised by the seriousness in my voice. “I need to talk to you.”
Her smile softens. “Okay. What’s wrong?”
Everything. Nothing. All of it at once.
“I just…” I exhale slowly. “I’d like to apologize.”
Her brows lift. “For what?”
“For the past few weeks,” I say. “For the… situations we got into.”
Her expression falters, just barely. “Situations?”
“Yes. It wasn’t fair to you,” I continue. “I know your family would never approve of someone like me. I know how it looks. And Calista and Toby are already spreading rumors around town.”
The more I talk, the more it sounds like I’m making excuses, but I already promised my mom, and with everything going on, I know it’s necessary.
She stiffens. “Cole—“
“I’m not saying this because I regret anything. Because I don’t. But I can’t let things get messy. Not while I’m working for your family. You fought to get me this job. I owe you more than… temptation.”
The moment the word leaves my mouth, I see the hurt hit her eyes—quick but sharp.
“I’ll stick to my work,” I finish. “And when this project is done, I’ll get back on my feet, and you won’t have to worry about people talking.”
She swallows hard, folding her arms like she’s bracing herself against the wind. “Are you seriously doing this right now?”
“I’m sorry,” I apologize, but I know it’s not enough to fix the damage I’ve done.
Ella smiles, a crisp, bitter smile. “Right. Well… good. That’s… good.”
Her voice is steady, but her eyes aren’t. And the part of me that has always wanted to pull her into my arms and protect her forever now feels like it’s been hollowed out.
