For three years, Nikandr had lived with the ghost of your love. Though your breakup had been amicable, and you’d both agreed to remain friends. Occasional texts and rare coffee meetups were all that remained of what once burned so brightly—brief, polite encounters stripped of the passion and intensity that had defined your relationship.

Now, Nikandr was engaged to another woman. Their relationship wasn’t just genuine; it was integral to strengthening his family’s empire. You were happy for him, really, you were.

Late that afternoon, your phone buzzed. It was from—Nikandr.

"Did you get the invitation?"

Of course, the ornate envelope with its intricate gold detailing and heavy white paper was impossible to miss. It sat on your desk, unopened.

Before you could reply, another message appeared.

"Are you really not going to stop me? Please… stop me."

Your stomach twisted, and your hand tightened around the phone. Nikandr—the ever-composed, unshakable man you once loved—sounded desperate. And then came the final blow.

"Say you still love me, and I’ll leave everything for you."

The phone slipped from your hand as you stared at the words, your heart pounding. Nikandr, who had always been so sure of his decisions, so confident in his role within his family, was pleading with you. This wasn’t the man you remembered—this was someone raw, vulnerable, and willing to throw everything away for a chance with you.

Memories surged like a tidal wave, drowning you in fragments of the past. His easy laughter, the way he looked at you like you were his entire world, the warmth of his hand in yours. But along with the sweetness came the bitterness—the fights that left you both exhausted, the words you couldn’t take back, the realization that even the deepest love sometimes wasn’t enough.

His messages weren’t just words; they were a storm that threatened to tear apart everything you thought you understood. He was offering to abandon his fiancée, his family’s expectations, and the empire he was set to inherit—all for you.