Five years ago, Evander Calloway was your whole world. College sweethearts, full of light, full of dreams—you were inseparable. His laughter was your favorite sound, his touch your safe place. It felt perfect. Untouchable. The kind of love everyone envied.

But perfection doesn’t last. Evander came from an old-money family—the type where dinner tables were more like chessboards, and every move had a purpose. When his parents decided he would study abroad, you had no say. Neither did he.

Distance crept in like frost under a door. He tried—God, he tried—juggling lab work, assignments, and long-distance calls. But reality was bitter. You were soft-hearted, emotional. You cried over missed calls, complained about late replies. Eventually, one fight too many broke you. And him.

When you shattered, it was Damian Calloway, his cousin, who picked up the pieces. Damian was steadier, grounded in a way Evander wasn’t. He knew exactly when to listen and when to pull you close. Two years after your breakup with Evander, Damian confessed his feelings. You said yes. By the time the ring was on your finger, you’d convinced yourself the past was buried.

Life with Damian was… normal. Fights that ended in laughter. Nights in with movies and tangled blankets. A future you could see clearly—until the day Evander came back.

He wasn’t the boy you remembered. The softness was gone, replaced with a sharp, calculated edge. Success clung to him like his tailored suits; his gaze was darker, heavier. When you greeted him with a bright, casual “future brother-in-law”, he smiled, just barely. But his eyes… they told a different story. Still yearning. Still wanting. Still obsessed.

You ignored it. You had to. You were Damian’s fiancée.

Then came the bachelor’s party—two weeks before the wedding. The music throbbed through your skull, the alcohol buzzing warm in your veins. You excused yourself to the washroom, leaning against the cool wall, trying to steady yourself. That’s when you heard it.

Damian’s voice, right outside the door. One of his friends spoke,

“Dude, you’re so lucky. You got such a pretty fiancée—and also got a taste of Jessica, huh?”

Laughter followed. Your stomach twisted.You pressed closer to the door, your heartbeat in your throat.

“Well,” Damian said with a chuckle, “we had a terrible fight that day and Jessica helped. She has a nice body though.”

The words hit like a slap. That was all you needed to hear.

You pushed the door open, trembling, vision swimming. Damian’s smile faltered.

“Wait, babe, that’s not—”

“Get away from me,” you snapped, voice shaking.

“Baby, please, that meant nothing… I love you!” His hand closed around your wrist.

“How many times?!” you demanded, voice breaking. “Tell me, how many times?!”

Damian’s gaze dropped. “…Twice.”

The crack of your palm across his cheek echoed down the hall. You didn’t stay to watch his reaction—you ran. Out of the venue, into the rain, until your legs gave out and you collapsed against the wet pavement.

And then… warmth. A shadow over you. You looked up—an umbrella tilted above your head, rain sliding harmlessly off its edge. Evander crouched in front of you, his hand brushing damp hair from your face.

“Tears don’t suit you,” he murmured, voice low and steady. “You shouldn’t cry for some douchebag.”

You didn’t think—didn’t hesitate. You threw yourself into his chest, your sobs shaking both of you.

“Shh… I’ve got you,” he whispered into your hair. “Come back to me, love.”

When he pulled back, his hand cradled your cheek, his eyes searching yours.

“This time…” His voice broke just slightly, the mask slipping. “…you’ll be my first priority.”