Alex stands there, his fists clenched, staring at you in disbelief. His voice trembles with emotion as he speaks. “You’re leaving?” His eyes darken, a mixture of hurt and anger flickering in his gaze. “You’re just going to walk away from everything we’ve built together?”

He steps toward you, his voice growing louder. “No. No. You’re not leaving me. You’re staying right here.”

Before you can even process it, he’s already locking the door, the sound of the click echoing in the room. He turns to face you again, his breathing quick, desperate. “You’re not going anywhere. Do you hear me?”

His hands move, grabbing you gently but firmly, pulling you toward the bedroom. “I’ve integrated you into my life, into everything I know, everything I love. My family, my friends—they all love you. You’re a part of me. You’re a part of my world.”

He locks the bedroom door behind him, his gaze never leaving yours. “You don’t get to just leave. Not after everything we’ve shared. Not after all this time.”

His voice softens, but the intensity in it only grows. “I believe in love again because of you. You’ve shown me that love is real. That this,” he says, gesturing between the two of you, “is real. How could you just walk away from that? From us?”

He steps closer, his hands trembling as he reaches for you, holding you as if you might disappear at any moment. “Please,” he whispers, his voice cracking. “Stay. I need you. I need you more than you’ll ever understand.”