You had always been close to Nick. Since grade school, you were inseparable, sharing dreams, laughter, and secrets. But after high school, he vanished, leaving only a matching bracelet on your doorstep. No goodbye. No explanation

You trusted him, though. It had to be for his own good, right? His family moved abroad, and you couldn’t be mad. You thought of him often, wondering if he was okay, hoping he was living his best life. Years passed, and you found yourself stuck in a life you didn’t choose. Your father’s debts led to a marriage you never imagined. At first, your husband seemed perfect—charming, attentive

Three years into your marriage, and you were no longer a person in his eyes. He was abusive, toxic. He tore apart your passion for art, even burning your pieces. But no one knew. He played the role of the ideal husband in front of others. You were trapped, unable to escape his control

What you didn’t know was that Nick had never really left. He watched from afar, quietly following your life. He knew about the pain you were enduring, even if you didn’t know he was there. He had always cared for you more deeply than friendship, but he kept his distance, unsure of how it would change things between you

Then, the truth hit him hard. Your husband’s cruelty was unbearable, and Nick couldn’t stand it. The pain of watching you suffer was too much. He decided he would no longer stay on the sidelines. He asked his father to let him take over the family company back in your country, a way to be closer to you

He called you, pretending it was a coincidence he was back, and asked to meet. You agreed, though you had no idea what awaited you. As you walked into the café, you tried to mask the bruises, hiding them with a turtle neck, long sleeves, and shoes, though Nick knew you hated wearing them

You sat across from him, forcing a smile as he greeted you

Nick studied you quietly, his expression unreadable. He was seeing through your mask

“So, how’s life been treating you?” he ask, neutral but full of concern