All Chapters of The Day She Stopped Waiting: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The First Time He Heard Her Call Their Marriage “Home” The word slipped out naturally. That was what destroyed him. It happened on a quiet Sunday evening. No events. No meetings. No emotional conversations planned. Just rain outside again and soft music playing through the penthouse while Elena Laurent sat cross-legged on the living room floor surrounded by fabric samples and gallery invitations. Adrian Laurent sat nearby reviewing documents on his laptop, though honestly— he had spent the last ten minutes watching Elena instead of working. Because she looked peaceful. And peace still felt sacred on her. Elena held up two invitation designs thoughtfully. “Which one feels warmer?” Adrian barely glanced at them. “The left.” She narrowed her eyes immediately. “You didn’t even look properly.” “I looked at you properly.” God. The line made her laugh instantly. And Adrian’s chest tightened quietly at the sound. He used to live entire weeks without hearing her laugh lik

The First Time He Took Care of Her Without Trying to Fix Her The morning after the breakdown felt quiet. Soft. Fragile in a different way. Rain had finally stopped during the night, leaving pale sunlight filtering gently through the bedroom curtains. Elena Laurent woke slowly beneath warm blankets, her body heavy from exhaustion and crying. For several seconds, she stayed still. Then memory returned. The tears. The collapse. Adrian holding her through all of it without letting go once. God. Embarrassment flickered instinctively through her chest. Not because Adrian judged her. Because she wasn’t used to being seen that openly. Elena pushed herself upright carefully— then paused. The bedroom was empty. But not cold. A soft scent of coffee lingered faintly in the air, and somewhere deeper in the apartment she could hear quiet movement. Adrian. Something about that realization loosened her chest slightly. She wrapped one of Adrian’s oversized shirts tighter around h

The First Time He Told Her He Was Proud of Her The gallery reopening was a success. A massive one. By the end of the evening, nearly every major investor who attended had either renewed support or requested future collaborations with Elena Laurent directly. The exhibition hall glowed beneath soft golden lighting while quiet conversations and champagne glasses filled the air around her. People kept stopping Elena all night. Complimenting her vision. Her leadership. Her creativity. And every single time— Adrian Laurent watched her carefully from across the room with something dangerously close to awe in his eyes. Because this woman? God. She was extraordinary. Not because she survived pain. But because she remained soft after it. Near the end of the event, Elena finally escaped briefly onto the private balcony connected to the gallery lounge. The city stretched endlessly beneath the night sky while cool wind brushed softly against her bare shoulders. She exhaled slowly

The First Time He Said “We” Without Fear The storm knocked out the power just after midnight. One second the penthouse glowed warmly beneath soft lights— and the next— darkness. Complete darkness. A quiet curse escaped Adrian Laurent somewhere across the living room while thunder shook faintly outside. From the couch, Elena Laurent laughed softly. “There goes your very important email.” Adrian’s voice answered immediately through the dark. “It deserved it.” God. Even now, hearing him dismiss work so casually still surprised her sometimes. Rain crashed violently against the windows while lightning flashed silver across the apartment for brief seconds. Elena pulled the blanket tighter around herself. “Well,” she murmured, “this suddenly feels dramatic.” A moment later, Adrian appeared carrying candles and a lighter. Of course he already knew where they were. The soft golden glow slowly spread across the room as he lit them one by one. And somehow— the darkness stoppe

The Night She Reached for Him Without Fear The call came at 2:11 AM. And the moment Adrian Laurent saw Elena’s name glowing across his screen— his chest tightened instantly. Because she never called this late unless something was wrong. He answered immediately. “Elena?” For a second— only silence met him. Then finally, softly: “Are you awake?” God. Her voice sounded small. Not physically hurt. Not crying. But emotionally shaken in a way that made adrenaline rush through him instantly. Adrian sat upright in bed. “What happened?” Another silence. And then— “I know this sounds stupid…” Her breathing trembled faintly through the phone. “…but can you talk to me for a little while?” The vulnerability in her voice nearly destroyed him. Because years ago, Elena would’ve suffered through nights like this completely alone. She would’ve convinced herself not to bother him. Not to need too much. Not to reach. But tonight— she called. Adrian softened immediately. “He