The Twisted Obsession-Chapter 275: Do you love me?

FEW WEEKS LATER,

Remo woke abruptly, the sound of muffled sobs pulling him from a deep, restful sleep. The room was dark, shadows dancing on the walls as the moonlight filtered through the curtains. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, trying to clear his mind of the lingering haze of dreams. As he became more alert, he realized the sobs were coming from beside him. He turned to find Abby sitting on the edge of the bed, her shoulders shaking with each quiet sob.

"Abby?" Remo’s voice was thick with concern and confusion. "What’s wrong?"

She shook her head, her hair cascading around her face like a dark veil. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, and she seemed to be trying hard to suppress the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks.

"Abby, please," Remo said more firmly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. "Talk to me. What’s going on?"

Abby flinched slightly at his touch but didn’t pull away. She continued to shake her head, her voice barely a whisper. "It’s nothing, Remo. Go back to sleep."

His worry deepened. He had never seen her like this, so utterly broken and vulnerable. He shifted closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to offer comfort. "Please, Abby. You’re scaring me. Tell me what’s wrong."

For a moment, there was only the sound of her quiet sobbing. Then she turned to him, her eyes red and glistening with tears. Her face was a mask of pain and uncertainty, emotions he had rarely seen her express so openly.

"Do you love me, Remo?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Just a little bit?"

Her question hit him like a physical blow. Remo felt his breath catch in his throat, utterly unprepared for the vulnerability in her voice. He stared at her, at a loss for words. "Abby, why are you asking me this now?" he finally managed to say, his voice barely more than a whisper.

She sniffled, trying to compose herself but failing. "I just... I need to know. I need to hear you say it."

Remo’s mind raced, struggling to find the right words. This wasn’t the Abby he knew—the strong, determined woman who seemed unshakeable. This was someone else, someone deeply hurt and desperately in need of reassurance. He tightened his hold on her, trying to offer what little comfort he could.

"Abby," he began, his voice gentle but firm, "I’ve always been honest with you. From the very beginning, I told you that I couldn’t give you love. Our arrangement—"

"I know," she interrupted, her voice breaking. "I know what you said. But things are different now. I... I love you, Remo. I know I can’t replace Izzy. I know she was your first love, and I’m not trying to take her place. But I love you, and I need to know if there’s even a small part of you that loves me too."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. Remo felt a pang of guilt, remembering the promises he had made and the boundaries he had set. He had thought he was protecting her, and himself, by being honest about his feelings—or lack thereof. But now, looking at her, he wondered if he had been wrong.

"Abby," he said softly, "I didn’t want to hurt you. I thought being clear about my feelings would be the best way to protect you. I didn’t want you to have false hopes."

She looked at him, her eyes wide and pleading. "I don’t have false hopes, Remo. I know what this is. But I also know how I feel. I just... I just need to know if there’s a chance that you could ever feel the same way."

Remo felt a knot form in his chest. He had never seen her so vulnerable, so open. He had always admired her strength, her resilience. But now, he realized, she was showing him a different kind of strength—the courage to admit her feelings, even knowing they might not be reciprocated.

"Abby," he began, choosing his words carefully, "I respect you more than I can say. You’re an incredible person, and I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me. But love... love isn’t something I can just turn on. I lost Izzy, and a part of me is still with her. I told you from the start that I couldn’t give you my heart."

She nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I know. I knew that going in. But it doesn’t stop me from feeling what I feel. I love you, Remo. And I needed to know if there’s even a small part of you that loves me too."

Remo felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. He reached out, cupping her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "I don’t want to hurt you, Abby. You mean a lot to me. More than I ever thought possible. But I can’t change what I feel—or don’t feel—overnight."

Abby leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as if savoring the moment. "I’m not asking you to change, Remo. I’m just asking you to be honest with me. Do you think you could ever love me, even just a little?"

Remo’s heart ached at the pain in her voice. He wished he could give her the answer she wanted, but he knew he had to be truthful. "I don’t know, Abby. I really don’t. But I promise you this: I’ll always be here for you. I care about you deeply, and I want you to be happy."

She opened her eyes, looking at him with a mixture of hope and resignation. "That’s all I needed to hear. Thank you, Remo."

He pulled her into his arms, holding her close as she cried softly against his chest. They sat like that for a long time, wrapped in each other’s embrace, each lost in their own thoughts. Remo knew that their relationship had changed in that moment, and he wasn’t sure what the future held. But for now, he was content to hold her and offer what comfort he could.

As the first light of dawn began to creep into the room, Abby’s sobs subsided, and she pulled back slightly, looking up at him. "I’m sorry for waking you," she whispered.

Remo shook his head. "Don’t be. I’m glad you told me how you feel. We’ll figure this out together, okay?"

She nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. "Okay."

Remo felt her body relax against his, her breathing slowing as she drifted toward sleep. He lay awake, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He cared for Abby deeply, more than he had ever expected. But love—love was something he had reserved for Izzy, and he wasn’t sure he could ever give it to anyone else. Not after the tragedy.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on fre(e)webnov(l).com