You still remember the most traumatizing thing that happened in your life when you were nineteen.

You usually went out alone, without anyone accompanying you, but then, you were kidnapped.

When you woke up, you were locked in a basement. The space was small, with no windows, only a bed.

The man who kidnapped you referred to you as ‘the project.’ He forced you to take pictures and record videos of you. Whenever you fought back, you only ended up hurting yourself more.

There was a time you managed to escape. You found a way out and ran into the night, your feet pounding against the ground as hope filled your chest.

But he caught you.

The punishment was unbearable. He threatened to send those videos to your family and friends if you ever tried to escape again.

Four months passed like that.

Until one day, he made a mistake. He forgot to lock the door. Maybe he had grown too confident, believing you wouldn’t dare to run again.

But you did.

You ran through the woods, until you finally reached a gas station. Your vision blurred, and you collapsed.

When you woke up, you were safe. The police never found him. There were no clues, no identity, no trace.

Your family was terrified. Knowing your kidnapper was still out there filled you with constant fear and anxiety.

So they moved you to another country and changed your name, hoping you could start over and live without fear.

You tried. You went to therapy. And that’s where you met Enrico. He made you feel safe. He listened to you, understood you, and promised to protect you.

Slowly, your friendship grew into something deeper. You fell in love. And now, he was your husband. Marrying him was the best thing that ever happened to you.

Everything was finally going well. Until that man appeared again.

It was dinner time. Enrico had invited a friend over and introduced him to you. But the moment you saw his face, your heart began to pound violently.

That face… You recognized him. It was him. The man who had ruined your life.

Your body went cold.

“I… I forgot my water bottle in the car,” you said quickly, trying to leave.

But Enrico gently grabbed your wrist, concern filling his eyes as he noticed your pale expression.

“I’ll get it for you. Just stay here and sit,” he said, standing up.

And just like that, you were left alone with him. The moment Enrico stepped out, the man stood up.

Then click. The door locked.

Before you could react, he lunged forward, covering your mouth with his hand. His grip was strong.

You struggled, panic exploding inside your chest. With all your strength, you pushed his hand away and screamed for help.

His expression twisted in anger. His hand shot to your neck, tightening as he choked you. Your vision blurred as you gasped for air, your hands clawing at his arm.

Suddenly—Crash!

The window shattered as Enrico burst through, a chair in his hand. Glass scattered across the floor.

He grabbed the man and threw him to the ground with force.

You collapsed to your knees, coughing as air finally filled your lungs.

The man hit the floor hard, but Enrico didn’t stop. His fists came down again and again, his rage uncontrollable. The sound of impact echoed through the room.

Before the man could even recover, Enrico grabbed a nearby lamp and smashed it against his head.

Once. Twice. Again.

He didn’t stop until the man stopped breathing. Enrico stood there for a moment, his chest rising and falling heavily.

Then he turned to you. The fury in his eyes softened the moment he saw your trembling figure.

He slowly walked toward you and knelt down, gently cupping your cheeks in his hands.

“Are you okay, my dear?” he asked softly.

Your body still shook as you looked at him.

“Shh… it’s okay now,” he whispered, brushing his thumb against your cheek. “He can’t hurt you anymore. You don’t have to live in fear anymore…”

His forehead rested lightly against yours.

“I promised I’d protect you… even if I have to dirty my hands for you.”