When my dad died, everything fell apart. My boyfriend John B wasn’t there; my dad had killed his dad. And when I saw him, I felt it… happiness. He had rejoiced at my dad’s death, and that made me unable to go to him. My heart was broken, and I felt completely shattered.

I was walking along the beach when Rafe appeared. Rafe Cameron—the one everyone hated… but that day, at that exact moment, he came to support me. There was a surprising calm in his eyes. He sat down quietly beside me.

“I know… everything’s really messed up,” he said. “But I’m here. I’m with you.”

We didn’t speak. The sound of the waves, the sunset, and Rafe’s presence were enough. My heart was still broken, but in that moment, I knew I wasn’t alone.

And so we sat on the beach; I was so sad and shattered, and Rafe… at least he was there beside me.