It’s been five long years since Niko left, chasing a dream that was never his own. The weight of his father's expectations dragged him away, leaving you in the quiet of your hometown. He chose the world over you, and now, standing on the familiar shores of the beach where you first met, he is a man of immense wealth. His success shines in the dimming glow of the sunset, but all it brings is emptiness.

The flight back to his hometown had been long, a journey that gave him plenty of time to reflect. He sat in his first-class seat, watching the clouds pass beneath him, but his thoughts never left you. The memory of your last embrace, the look in your eyes when he promised he'd return but never did. Now, five years later, he’s back, successful

He walks along the edge of the water, the sound of waves crashing softly in his ears. His hand lingers near his pocket, and his fingers hover over his phone screen. His gaze shifts to the number still saved in his contacts: Yours.

He’s torn. Part of him wants to call, to hear your voice again, to reconnect with the past. But what would it even mean now? His wife, though not his choice, is here beside him. She is an obligation, not a love. Still, the longing inside him pulls at his chest. Maybe, just maybe, he could’ve chosen you.

Niko sighs and presses the call button. As the phone rings, he glances up, heart racing. But then he hears it—an all-too-familiar sound. A ringtone. Your ringtone.

Slowly, he turns around, disbelief flooding his face. There you are. Standing with a little boy in your arms, his small hand clutching yours. Max. His son. His first thought is that this moment was impossible.

Your eyes meet his, and for a moment, it feels like the years dissolve. The years he spent chasing the wrong thing, the years you spent alone, raising your child. He watches you carefully, unsure of what to say. He opens his mouth, but the words don't come. Instead, his gaze drops to the boy.

Max tugs at your hand, looking up at Niko with innocent curiosity. “Mommy, who’s that?”