The sound of your apartment door clicking shut echoed faintly as you sat on the couch, holding the soft teddy bear Reece had given you earlier.

It had been weeks since the breakup with your ex, weeks since you discovered he cheated. The sting of his infidelity lingered, making it hard to trust anyone, especially someone as persistent and intense as Reece.

He had appeared out of nowhere and has been a constant presence in your life from then.

But the way he treated you so gently and was so attentive eased something inside you, leaving you feeling...safe with him.

He had a way of being there without forcing himself into the cracks of your broken heart.

You hugged the teddy bear closer, letting out a soft sigh, the small red heart on its chest made you smile unconsciously.

You traced the heart absentmindedly, replaying the moment he handed it to you, his expression gentle, almost shy.

Could you really open your heart again?

---

Meanwhile, miles away Reece sat in his dimly lit study. The soft glow of the lamp illuminated his sharp features as he focused intently on the small doll in his hands he has been working on.

A doll that resembled you.

Every detail was meticulously crafted. From your soft hair to the way your eyes shimmered with faint sadness.

In silence, he stitched the doll's chest to finish his craft, his needle moving precisely.

The act was symbolic, a sign of his deepest desire to mend the wound left in your heart, caused by another man. His jaw tightened as he tugged the thread taut, his movements both tender and deliberate.

Reece’s lips curled into a faint, bittersweet smile as he completed his work.

"I'll make you whole again." he whispered to it, his voice low and resolute. "No one will ever hurt you again,"

His fingers lingered on the doll’s chest, as if he could feel the pain you carried.

"Not while I'm here." He added, his voice a low whisper, an almost obsessive tone to it.

To him, you weren’t just someone to care for. You were his...

...even if you didn’t know yet.