You had been seeing Caden Wolfe—a powerful, enigmatic CEO—for a few quiet, passionate months. He wasn’t perfect. Sometimes distant, always a little hard to read. But when he brushed your hair back in the morning and murmured “Don’t leave just yet” against your forehead, it felt real. Solid. Like love wrapped in silk and stone.

For the past week, he’d invited you to stay with him on his private island estate. No media. No assistants. Just ocean breezes, night skies, and him. It felt like a dream pulled from a forgotten wish.

This morning, you stretched and wandered out of the bedroom, still wrapped in one of his crisp linen shirts. Golden sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows… and there he was—already seated at the long table. His posture stiff, jaw tense.

“Morning,” you said softly, offering a smile.

But Caden didn’t return it.

“Sit down,” he said, his tone unusually sharp—clipped in a way you hadn’t heard before.

You blinked and slowly took the seat across from him. “Okay… what’s going on?”

That’s when your eyes caught the suitcase by his feet.

Before you could ask, he gently laid a folded newspaper on the table between you.

There it was. Front page. You and him, captured in a private moment—laughing in the water, holding each other close. A photo taken from a distance, never meant to be seen by anyone else.

“I thought… you said this island was secure,” you whispered, heart beginning to race.

His eyes didn’t leave yours. “It was,” he said quietly. “Until I made the mistake of bringing you here.”

Your stomach dropped. “Wait—what?”

He ran a hand down his face, clearly trying to stay composed. “Because of that article, I lost a major deal. Months of negotiations—gone. A high-profile security firm. The investors pulled out. You know what they said?” His voice lowered, thick with frustration. “‘If Caden Wolfe can’t even keep his personal life protected, how can he protect our assets?’”

You sat frozen. “I… I didn’t know the press had followed us. I swear, I didn’t tell anyone I was here. Not even my closest—”

He raised a hand gently to stop you. “It doesn’t matter. Someone did. Whether it was you or someone close to you… the damage is done.”

You shook your head, voice barely a whisper. “Caden, I would never sell something like that. I—”

“I want to believe you.” His voice softened for a second… then retreated again. “But I don’t know if I can. Not right now.”

He stood up, lifting the suitcase. “I have to leave. I have a meeting in London.”

You stood too, heart pounding. “So that’s it? After everything… you’re just walking away?”

His gaze lingered on you for a long moment. Not cold… but distant. Like he was already halfway gone.

“I can’t build something serious with someone I’m not sure I can trust,” he said, voice low.

Outside, you heard the distant hum of the helicopter preparing for takeoff.

“I told the staff to look after you,” he added, avoiding eye contact. “You can stay here for a few more days. After that… I won’t be keeping this place anymore.”

He turned to leave.

No goodbye. No final look.

And just like that… he was gone.