Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Chapter 25 “So this is what elite ballet training really looks like,” Leo said, leaning in the doorway of the rehearsal room as he watched Ariana finish her warm–up. “Makes hockey practice look like a walk in the park.

Ariana laughed, wiping sweat from her forehead with a towel. “Yeah right. I bet your training sessions are just as brutal.”

Leo walked in and sat on a nearby bench, offering her a bottle of water. “To be honest, I always thought ballet was all about grace and floating around. But watching you train... it’s. like seeing a serious athlete at work.”

Ariana took a sip and nodded. “Most people get it wrong. Every ‘effortless‘ move you see on stage comes from thousands of hours of practice and too many injuries to count.”

Leo’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “Just like hockey. People only see us gliding around. scoring goals, but never the 5 AM practices or the bruises.”

They exchanged knowing smiles, understanding each other without needing words.

“Any chance you’re free after my show tonight?” she asked as she adjusted her pointe shoes. “There’s this great place around the corner...”

“I’m free,” Leo answered without hesitation, his smile warm. “Always free for you.”

That dinner became their first real date, then came a second, third... With each meeting. their connection grew deeper.

Leo attended every one of her performances, while Ariana caught his games whenever possible. In their professional worlds, they discovered shared values – the relentless. pursuit of excellence, passion for their crafts, and total dedication to their chosen paths.

But as her tour approached its end, the reality of their separation loomed over them.

“My dad’s really sick,” Leo told her one evening as they sat on a bench in Central Park. “Doctors don’t think he has much time left.”

Chapter 25 Ariana squeezed his hand, feeling his pain. “I’m so sorry, Leo. Is there anything I can do?”

Leo shook his head, his expression grave. “The family business is falling apart. Dad’s always been the one running everything, and as the only son, I need to step up. But that means...”

“You’d have to retire from hockey,” Ariana said softly, understanding his dilemma.

Leo nodded, his eyes glistening. “Hockey’s my life, you know? But so is my family. I can’t just let everything my dad built come crashing down.”

–

Watching this strong man’s vulnerability, Ariana felt a surge of love wash over her. During these past months, she’d truly gotten to know Leo Reed his kindness, his integrity, his unwavering loyalty to family.

She made her decision.

“I’ll come with you,” she said firmly. “I can find dance opportunities in America. Maybe not as principal dancer, but...”

“Ariana, no,” Leo shook his head. “Your career is at its peak right now. Principal dancer at the National Ballet – that’s what dancers dream about their whole lives. I can’t let you give that up.”

“It’s my choice,” she squeezed his hand tighter. “I love you, Leo Reed. And I believe once. you get the business back on track, you can return to hockey.”

Leo stared at her, surprise and gratitude filling his eyes. “You’d really do all that for me?”

Ariana smiled, gently kissing him. “Not for you. For us.”

Returning to Leo’s hometown and taking over the family business proved far more complicated than they’d imagined. Reed Enterprises was on the brink of collapse, requiring a complete overhaul.

Leo threw himself into the work, spending exhausting days and nights trying to salvage his father’s legacy. Ariana decided to start from the ground up, applying to become Leo’s executive assistant, hoping to understand the business from the inside and support him.

“Are you sure about this?” Leo asked, looking at her application. “You’re a world–class ballet dancer, not a secretary:

Chapter 25 “I need to learn how this world operates,” Ariana insisted. “Besides, no one will be more loyal to the CEO than me.”

Leo smiled and shook his head. “I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you making such sacrifices.”

Ariana smiled, taking his hand. “It’s not a sacrifice. It’s an investment–in our future.”

Over the next two years, Ariana grew from Leo’s assistant to his right–hand partner. She mastered business strategy, financial analysis, and even the ins and outs of the hockey industry. Through her innovative ideas and Legs determined leadership, Reed Enterprises gradually regained its strength.

In their personal lives, their love grew stronger through these shared challenges. From dating to living together to getting engaged, each step came naturally.

Ariana had once thought she’d never trust love again, but Leo’s sincerity and steadfastness broke down her walls. He was nothing like Luigi–he respected her, listened to her, and treated her as an equal partner. Between them there was no manipulation, no games, only genuine feelings and mutual support.

But even in the most perfect love stories, unexpected storms can arise.

solli Garrn Was Mine All Along