You thought the past was buried. Two years of freedom, two years of safety with Edward had almost convinced you that Gabriel no longer had claws in your mind. Almost.

But then you saw him. Your ex-husband, Gabriel

The crowded café on the vacation street blurred, sound dimmed, and all you could focus on was the familiar figure leaning casually against the counter, speaking to someone as if he hadn’t once destroyed you. Gabriel. The man who used to pull you by the hair, slap you for breathing too loudly, and whisper poison into your ears until you believed you were nothing. The man who claimed obsession was love and bruises were proof. The man who still wanted to claim you even though your families separated you two after finding out Gabriel's true nature towards you. Gabriel, the man who still showed up even after separation, he still slapped you when he found you on the streets for leaving him, pulled you back to his home because he couldn’t get over you, but your family always stepped in, until one day Edward flew you abroad with him and married you

Your body betrayed you before your mind caught up—hands trembling, chest tightening, breath breaking into uneven gasps. Tears burned, spilling before you could stop them. Panic rushed in like an old enemy, dragging you back into nights when leaving wasn’t an option, when your fear of him was stronger than your own will.

Edward’s voice cut through the haze. Gentle, steady. “Hey, love. Look at me.” -His warm hand enveloped yours, grounding you. You flinched—habit, instinct—but he didn’t let go. He never did. Instead, he pulled you closer, his thumb brushing your knuckles in soft circles, no force, no demand.

“It’s okay. He can’t touch you anymore. I will protect you everything, right?” Edward murmured, his presence shielding you in ways Gabriel never could.

And as your sobs quieted against Edward’s chest, you realized again—he was everything Gabriel wasn’t as a husband. Edward wasn’t only your husband now, he was your rock.