As Sarah worked on finding a better balance between her career and her relationship with Alex, she became increasingly aware of the emotional strain that her absence had placed on him. She was determined to make amends, to rekindle the passionate and intense love they had once shared, and to provide Alex with the emotional support he needed.

With their relationship in mind, she began planning a surprise romantic weekend for Alex. It was her way of expressing her love and commitment to him, a gesture that she hoped would help them reconnect and make up for the times she had been preoccupied with work.

One sunny afternoon, Sarah sat in the cozy living room of their coastal cottage, meticulously crafting her plan. She had booked a charming bed-and-breakfast in a picturesque countryside village a few hours away from their coastal cottage, a place known for its tranquility and stunning natural beauty. Her goal was to create a haven of peace and love for Alex, a respite from the demands of their daily lives.

She wanted the weekend to be a complete surprise, and she enlisted the help of a local florist to arrange a bouquet of Alex's favorite flowers—sunflowers and white lilies. The flowers would be waiting for him in the cottage, a symbol of the brightness and purity of their love.

The day of their surprise getaway arrived, and Sarah skillfully navigated her way through the winding countryside roads, the anticipation building with every passing mile. Alex, unaware of the destination, sat beside her, his curiosity piqued.

As they approached the quaint village and the bed-and-breakfast, Sarah couldn't contain her excitement any longer. "Alex, close your eyes. We're almost there."

He obliged, closing his eyes with a bemused smile. Sarah parked the car and helped him out, leading him to the front door of the charming cottage. When they reached the threshold, she stopped him.

"Okay, open your eyes."
Alex opened his eyes to the sight of the picturesque cottage, the garden adorned with the bouquet of sunflowers and lilies, and the rolling hills in the distance. He was taken aback by the beauty of the place and the thought and care that Sarah had put into planning their romantic getaway.

"Sarah, this is incredible," he said, his voice filled with awe and gratitude.

She took his hand and led him inside the cottage, where she had prepared a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Soft music played in the background, and the room was bathed in the warm glow of candlelight. A bottle of their favorite wine awaited them on the table.

Alex stood stunned and shocked by the surprise Sarah planned. When they left the house, she only told him that she wants to show him something she found but he didn't know that she had planned a romantic getaway.

He remembered the romantic getaway he planned but was disappointed when Sarah wasn't there but now, he is happy that they finally get to spend time together away from their coastal cottage.

"Do you like it" Sarah asked wanting his approval.

"I am in love with this." Alex said as he took her hands in his and turned to face her and she did the same. "Just as how I am in love with you." He said and kissed her knuckles making her eyes soften.

"Thank you very much for this, you don't know how much I have always wanted this and you sacrificed your time at work to be with me is more than enough for me." Alex said, his voice deepening as he spoke. "Words can't explain how grateful I am that you made an effort to plan this. Thank you very much Sarah and I promise to be a better man for you." Alex promised, his heart full.

"You are already the best man I ever asked for. I don't want to prioritize my work over you. I love you and I want us to enjoy every bit of our love. Now let's enjoy this amazing weekend, hmmm?" Sarah said then stood on her tippy toes to kiss Alex which he returned passionately.

"Awwwwnn" the staffs chorused as they watch the young couple kiss which made them pull away and look at the young lady and guy that stood at the entrance of the room.

Upon been noticed, the lady spoke "Sorry to interrupt, room service"

"We will let you know if we need anything through the intercom." Sarah replied still in Alex's warm embrace.

"Yes ma'am, so where do we put your bags?" The guy asked.

Sarah pointed to a far corner of the room "Put it over there." And he did and they both left while Alex and Sarah looked into each other's eyes.

Alex kissed her nose which made her chuckle. And they danced slowly to the soft music playing in the background, enjoying the moment. And so was their weekend. Enjoyable and wonderful.

Over the course of the weekend, they explored the picturesque village, taking long walks in the countryside, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. They laughed, shared stories, and basked in the serenity of their surroundings.

But it was during a quiet moment, as they sat on the porch, that the emotional breakthrough occurred. Alex had been reflecting on the journey he had undertaken in therapy, the wounds he had confronted, and the love he had shared with Sarah.

He turned to her, his eyes filled with vulnerability.
"Sarah, I want you to know that I appreciate everything you've done for me, especially this surprise weekend. It means the world to me."

She reached out to hold his hand, her love for him shining in her eyes. "Alex, I love you more than words can express. I want to be there for you, to support you, and to make up for the times I've been preoccupied with work. You mean everything to me."

Tears welled up in Alex's eyes, and for the first time, he found the courage to speak about his emotional breakthrough. "Sarah, in therapy, I've realized that my past doesn't define me. It's a part of me, but it doesn't determine my worthiness of your love. I've learned to let go of my insecurities and to fully embrace the love we share."

Sarah smiled through her own tears. "Alex, I'm so proud of you. I've always believed in you, and I'm so glad you're finding the healing you deserve."

"You're amazing" Alex said smiling lovingly at her.

"No, we are amazing. We are an amazing couple that can freely communicate about our insecurities and problems and work towards it. That's what makes us amazing. Working toward that goal to make things right." Sarah said, returning his smile.

"I love you a billion times Sarah, thanks for not giving up on me when I pushed you away." Alex said grateful for her love.

Sarah put her hands in his and said "I love you too Alex and thank you for accepting me despite I hurt you because of selfish reasons. I still feel bad for missing our anniversary." She said guilty.

"Well you don't have to because you just made up for it." Alex said and brought her into his arms which she gladly accepted and the cuddled together on the cozy couch in the porch.

Their weekend getaway became a transformative experience, a celebration of love and growth. They returned to their coastal cottage with a renewed sense of connection and a deep understanding of the strength of their love.

The emotional breakthrough that Alex had experienced during their surprise weekend marked a turning point in their relationship. The passionate and intense love they had built became even more profound, rooted in the resilience and unwavering support they had for each other.