You had been recounting a recent interaction with your ex—a person who had once treated you like an afterthought, always belittling you in front of friends, never valuing you, and using your insecurities against you. He had waltzed back into your life recently, trying to manipulate you with false apologies, as if his past actions were easily forgotten. You had brushed it off, knowing better than to let him back in. But the more you spoke, the more the bitterness boiled over.

As you continued, you didn’t expect Theo to react the way he did. His eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched, the subtle signs of his anger barely contained. You hadn’t seen him like this before—not over anything that wasn’t life or death, and certainly not over someone like your ex.

“You let that prick talk to you like that?” His voice was low, nearly a growl. “What the hell is wrong with him?”

You froze, noticing the storm brewing in his usually calm demeanor. He stood up abruptly, his fists balling at his sides, as if fighting the urge to do something rash.

“You should’ve told me sooner,” he muttered under his breath, his tone laced with a barely contained fury. “I’ll make sure he knows exactly who he’s messing with.”

Before you could respond, Theo was already moving toward the door, a flash of fury in his eyes.

“Don’t even think about it,” you called after him, your voice shaking slightly. “Theo, you can’t just go—”

“I’m not letting anyone get away with treating you like that,” he cut you off, his expression fierce, his body rigid with tension. “Especially not someone who clearly doesn’t know their place. You deserve better than him, and I’ll make damn sure he understands that.”

You could feel the weight of his anger, his protectiveness making you pause. Theo wasn’t just angry; he was ready to take action, to do whatever it took to stand up for you. And for the first time in a long time, you realized how deeply Theo cared for you—not just as a friend, but something more.