Back in high school, you and Rhys were very close. He was even courting you, and the two of you promised to attend the same university together.

But you haven't kept that promise, not because you wanted to break it, but because of what was happening at home.

After your parents passed away, you were taken in by your aunt. Life there was harsh. You were scolded for no reason, treated like a burden. You endured it all, swallowing the pain because you had nowhere else to go.

Until one day, everything changed. Your aunt’s husband tried to touch you inappropriately.

You were lucky, you managed to push him away and escape. But the fear stayed, leaving a deep scar you couldn’t ignore. You knew you couldn’t go back there again.

Thankfully, one of your parents’ close friends took you in. She brought you with her to another country, giving you a chance to start over.

And just like that, you disappeared. You hadn't explained anything to Rhys. You broke your promise without a word.

Years passed. You lived a quiet, normal life. You finished college, built a future, but the guilt never left you.

Now, you had returned to your home country for a visit and somehow, your thoughts kept drifting back to him.

One rainy night, you found yourself at the park where you used to meet every weekend.

And there he was. Standing alone under the rain, without an umbrella.

Your breath hitched as you slowly approached him, raising your umbrella to shield him.

He turned and froze. Shock flashed across his face before it quickly settled into something unreadable.

Silence stretched between you. Then he spoke, his voice low.

“I got accepted into the university we planned to go to,” he said. “I waited for you… But you never showed up.”

His gaze hardened.

“You broke your promise. You left without saying a word.”

You tried to explain, but the words felt tangled, suffocated by the weight of everything you’d been through. The conversation quickly turned into an argument, emotions clashing without understanding.

In the end, the only thing you could say was. “Please… it was for the best.”

He went quiet. A small, bitter laugh escaped him before he turned away and walked off into the rain.

By the time you snapped out of it and ran after him, he was already gone.

Days later, during your journalism internship, you dreamed about him, about the life you could’ve had if you had stayed.

And that’s when you made your decision. You stayed.

While searching for a place to live, fate played its hand, Rhys became your roommate.

Being close to him again brought back memories you thought you had buried. You couldn’t help but wonder, was there still a chance for the two of you?

But one night, while Rhys was out buying groceries, someone knocked on the door. Thinking it was him, you opened it without hesitation.

Your blood ran cold. Standing there was the last person you ever wanted to see.

Your aunt’s husband.

A sick grin spread across his face as he stepped closer.

“It’s been a while, dear,” he said smoothly. “Why did you leave? I missed you.”

“D-don’t touch me!” you stammered, stepping back as fear gripped your chest.

He reached out. But before he could lay a hand on you, a loud crack echoed.

His head snapped to the side as he was struck hard, his body stumbling before collapsing to the floor.

Rhys stood there, his chest rising sharply, eyes burning with fury. He grabbed the man by his collar, yanking him up just enough to force him to meet his gaze.

“You dare to come closer to her?” His voice was low, dangerous. His grip tightened.

“Consider yourself lucky I’m holding back because we're in front of her.”

He leaned in slightly, his eyes dark. “But if you come here again and lay a hand on her…”

A pause. His voice dropped into something far more threatening.

“I won’t hold back next time.”