Northbound Overture

Bellamy’s jaw set. “I used you. Just like you used me.”

Andres flinched. “That’s not true.”

Bellamy shrugged. “Believe what you want.”

Andres stepped back. Eyes bright. “I can’t—I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

Bellamy turned away. “It’s done.”

Andres was quiet. Too quiet. “I see.”

Bellamy didn’t look at him. Couldn’t. “You should go.”

Andres didn’t move. “Is that what you want?”

Bellamy closed his eyes. “Yes.”

Andres took a breath. Shuddered. “Fine.”

Bellamy listened. To drawers opening. Closing. To Andres moving. Leaving.

The front door opened. Closed.

Bellamy’s knees gave out. He slid to the floor. Buried his face in his hands.

He’d done it. Pushed Andres away. To protect him. To save him.

It hurt. More than anything ever had.

But Andres was safe. Free. That was what mattered.

Bellamy curled in on himself. Breathed through the pain.

He’d survive this. He had to.

Andres was worth it.

Even if he never knew.

Andres moved out. Took his things. His clothes. His books. His startup.

Bellamy watched him go. Heart breaking. Silent.

The press had a field day. “Billionaire Breaks Fiancé’s Heart!” “Chauffeur Dumps CEO!” “Scandal in the Fast Lane!”

Andres never commented. Never defended himself. Just worked. Built his company. Made it soar.

Bellamy watched. From afar. Proud. Miserable.

He missed him. His laugh. His smile. His warmth.

The world was cold without him. Grey. Empty.

Bellamy threw himself into work. Into deals. Into money. Anything to fill the void Andres left.

It didn’t work.

Andres launched his app. Huge success. Front page news. “Chauffeur Turned Tech Star!”

Bellamy smiled. Small. Sad. He’d known Andres would shine.

He just wished he could have seen it up close.

Andres gave interviews. Smiled. Charmed. Never mentioned Bellamy. Never looked back.

Bellamy watched. Heart sore. Proud.

He’d done the right thing. For Andres. For his future.

Even if it killed him.

The days passed. Weeks. Months.

Bellamy worked. Ate. Slept. Existed.

The merger made him richer. More powerful. More alone.

He missed Andres. Every day. Every night.

But he’d set him free. That was what mattered.

Even if it broke him.

Andres’s startup grew. Thrived. Made him a star.

Bellamy watched. From the shadows. Smiled. Small. Proud.

He’d known Andres would be brilliant. Had seen it from the start.

He just wished he could have been part of it.

Part of his life. His success. His happiness.

But he’d pushed him away. For his own good.

Now, he paid the price.

Alone. Always alone.

The way it had to be.

For Andres.

For love.

For forever.

Andres prepared for his biggest launch yet. A new product. A new chapter.

Bellamy watched the announcements. The hype. The pride in Andres’s eyes.

He ached to be there. To support him. To cheer him on.

But he stayed away. Silent. In the dark.

Where he belonged.

Andres shone. Bright. Brilliant. Beautiful.

Bellamy watched. Heart full. Breaking.

He loved him. More than anything. More than ever.

But he’d let him go. For his own good.

Now, he lived with the choice.

Alone. Always alone.

The way it had to be.

For Andres.

For love.

For forever.

But what if forever wasn’t enough?

“Mr. Moretti! What a surprise!” Andres’s smile was bright. Professional. Distant. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Bellamy’s heart clenched. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

Andres studied him. “You’ve seen the reports?”

Bellamy nodded. “I have.”

Andres raised an eyebrow. “And?”

Bellamy held his gaze. “I’m proud of you.”

Andres stilled. Looked away. “Thank you.”

Bellamy stepped closer. “It’s more than that.”

Andres met his eyes. Guarded. “What do you want, Bellamy?”

Bellamy took a breath. “You.”

Andres blinked. “What?”

Bellamy moved closer. “I was wrong. To push you away. To let you go.”

Andres stared. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy caught his hand. “I love you. I never stopped.”

Andres’s breath caught. “You said—”

Bellamy kissed his knuckles. “I lied.”

Andres’s eyes widened. “Why?”

Bellamy held his gaze. “To protect you. To keep the press from tearing you apart.”

Andres shook his head. “I didn’t need protecting.”

Bellamy smiled. Sad. Soft. “I know that now.”

Andres searched his face. “What changed?”

Bellamy touched his cheek. “Nothing. Everything.”

Andres leaned into his touch. “I don’t understand.”

Bellamy kissed him. Soft. Sure. “I’m done hiding. Done pretending.”

Andres sighed into it. Yielded. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy pulled back. Just enough to speak. “I want you. For real. Forever.”

Andres’s eyes shone. “Are you sure?”

Bellamy smiled. “Yes.”

Andres kissed him. Deep. True. “Then yes.”

Bellamy held him. Close. Safe. Home.

The crowd cheered. Cameras flashed. Andres’s team whooped.

Andres pulled back. Smiled. Bright. Happy. “Looks like we made the news.”

Bellamy kissed his smile. “Let them talk.”

Andres laughed. “We’ll trend for days.”

Bellamy held him. “Good.”

Andres kissed him again. “I love you.”

Bellamy’s heart soared. “I love you too.”

Andres smiled. “Now. About that merger…”

Bellamy raised an eyebrow. “What about it?”

Andres grinned. “Think you can handle another one?”

Bellamy kissed him. “With you? Always.”

Andres laughed. “Good.”

Bellamy held him. Breathed him in. “Let’s go home.”

Andres took his hand. “Yes.”

They left the stage. Hand in hand. Hearts full.

The press swarmed. Shouted questions. Snapped pictures.

Bellamy didn’t care. Andres didn’t either.

They had each other. Real. True. Forever.

The rest was just noise.

Back at Bellamy’s penthouse, Andres pulled him close. Kissed him slow. Deep. “I missed you.”

Bellamy held him. Tight. “I missed you too.”

Andres smiled. “No more running.”

Bellamy kissed his forehead. His nose. His mouth. “Never again.”

Andres sighed into it. “Promise?”

Bellamy poured everything into the kiss. Love. Forever. Truth. “Yes.”

Andres yielded. Gave back everything. Just as much. Just as deep.

Later, tangled together, Bellamy watched him sleep. Peaceful. Perfect.

He brushed a curl from Andres’s forehead. “I love you,” he whispered. “I’ll always love you.”

Andres smiled in his sleep. “Love you too,” he mumbled.

Bellamy held him. Breathed him in. This. This was everything.

The real world would intrude soon. The press. The public. The noise.

But here, now, in the quiet dark, it was just them. Just love. Just truth.

Bellamy closed his eyes. Listened to Andres breathe. Let the world fade away.

This. This was what mattered. This was what he’d fight for.

No matter what.

And that was the beginning.