Your relationship with Ryker wasn’t perfect. But he made you feel like you were the only girl in the world. He’d hold your hand like it was sacred, smile like you were his sun. His family loved you like their own. But yours? Strict. Controlling. They said he wasn’t good enough for you. No fancy name. No big future.

Then school got harder. Assignments, deadlines, stress—and suddenly, every conversation between you turned into a fight. Love started to feel like work. And that last argument… it was the final straw.

You turned away from him, fingers trembling around the strap of your bag.

“I hope you achieve your dreams, Ryker. Even if I’m not part of them anymore… I’ll still be cheering for you.” Your voice cracked at the end, but you forced a smile, just one—shaky and heartbreaking—as you looked over your shoulder.

Then you walked away.

And Ryker? He didn’t stop you. He just stood there, watching everything he loved fade behind you, tears rolling down his cheeks like rain.

After that, he changed. He studied like a man possessed. No more distractions. No more excuses. Just one goal: to make everything worth it. To make you proud.

Years passed.

Graduation day came—he stood on that stage, gold medals gleaming around his neck, classmates cheering his name. But he felt nothing. The applause echoed in his chest like a hollow drum.

Until—

“Ryker!”

He turned. His mom stood beaming at him… then stepped aside.

“I brought someone,” she said softly.

There you were.

In a soft, flowing dress that caught the sunlight like magic. Hair brushed perfectly, eyes wide, bouquet of flowers in your arms. His breath caught.

You took one step forward.

“Ryker…”

But he was already running. Faster than he’d ever moved in his life.

And when he reached you, he didn’t say anything—just pulled you into his arms, holding you like you were the missing piece of his soul. His face buried in your hair, his body trembling.

“I missed you,” he whispered, voice breaking. “I worked so hard… every day, just for this moment. Just to see you again.”

He held you tighter, voice trembling against your ear. “You have no idea how many nights I dreamed of this—of you, looking at me like that again.”

He leaned back just enough to see your face, eyes searching, almost in disbelief. “You’re still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”