Every holiday, without fail, Mattheo sends you a gift. And every time, the gift finds its way back to him with a big "Return to Sender" slapped on it. He doesn’t let it bother him—at least, that’s what he tells himself. But when one gift never makes its way back, something inside him shifts. You don’t reach out to acknowledge it, and the thought gnaws at him—has something happened to you?

For weeks, he obsesses over it, his mind jumping to every possible conclusion. It’s only when he spots you one afternoon, walking through town with your head held high and that unmistakable necklace dangling around your neck, that his worries turn into something else—confusion.

It’s the necklace. His necklace.

Mattheo’s heart pounds in his chest as he watches you from a distance, the shock freezing him in place for a moment before he takes a determined step toward you. You don’t notice him at first, but when you finally see him approaching, your face betrays surprise.

“What do you want, Mattheo?” you ask.

“I was worried,” he says, his eyes never leaving yours. “When you didn’t return my latest gift… I thought something had happened to you.”

You frown, tilting your head slightly. “I haven’t gotten any gifts from you lately.”

His confusion deepens. His gaze flickers down to your necklace again.

“Nice necklace,” he says, eyes narrowing slightly as he watches your hand rest protectively on the chain.

“Thanks,” you reply casually. “My boyfriend got it for me.”

Mattheo’s jaw clenches. He knows that’s a lie. He knows exactly where that necklace came from—and it wasn’t from your new boyfriend. Before he can say anything, your boyfriend approaches, slipping an arm around your waist and planting a kiss on your temple.

“Did he now?” Mattheo asks, his voice dropping, a cold edge creeping into his tone. His eyes lock onto your boyfriend.

Mattheo’s gaze never falters, his mind racing with what he knows: the reality that you’re wearing his necklace—claiming it as a gift from someone else.