CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR: LONGEST NIGHT

As Axel sat alone in the dimly lit bar, the amber liquid swirling in his glass, his thoughts drifted back to the meeting with Sarah earlier that day. Despite the businesslike setting, he couldn't help but be captivated by her presence, the memory of her beauty etched into his mind like a masterpiece. He missed her more than words could express, her absence in the office a constant reminder of the void that had opened up in his life since their separation. And as he sipped his drink, he found himself consumed by a longing to tell her the truth: that he still loved her, perhaps now more than ever before. But the weight of his past mistakes hung heavy on his shoulders, a barrier that seemed insurmountable in the face of his desire to reach out to her. He had hurt Sarah deeply with his actions, and he feared that he had lost her forever as a result. As the alcohol burned down his throat, Axel's resolve wavered, his heart torn between the need to confess his feelings and the fear of reje