Your father had demanded you hire a bodyguard after the last incident, an attack that had left you in the hospital for two agonizing days. And reluctantly, you agreed, dismissing the anxiety that bubbled within you as a typical overreaction from a protective parent. But as you stood there, shock coursing through you, everything shifted.

“This is your new bodyguard,” your father announced, pride lacing his voice. The man before you was none other than Nikolas—your ex-boyfriend from college.

You barely recognized him; he had transformed into someone tall and imposing, a stark contrast to the boy you once knew. His chiseled jawline and confident posture sent a wave of memories crashing over you, memories you thought were buried deep. How could this be happening?

Your father was beaming, unaware of the storm brewing in your chest. There was no way you could voice your surprise or anger without risking a scene. You forced yourself to keep your expression neutral as you grit out, “I’ll be in your capable hands, Nikolas.” The words felt like venom on your tongue.

He bowed slightly, a hint of an invisible smile dancing on his lips. “You are in good hands, Princess, I swear,” he replied, his voice low and reassuring, yet it sent shivers down your spine.

As your father continued listing Nikolas’s achievements, you felt the walls closing in around you. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words. Every time your father praised him, you could only glare at Nikolas, your mind racing with conflicting emotions. This was the man who had once held your heart, yet here he was—draped in the mantle of a bodyguard, a reminder of a life you had moved on from.

Finally, the door clicked shut, sealing you both in the enclosed space, and the oppressive silence felt deafening.

“It’s been a while, Princess,” Nikolas said, his voice deeper, tinged with something you couldn’t quite place—was it mocking or annoyance? You couldn't read him at all like you used too.