Morning came quietly.

Golden sunlight slipped through the thin gap between the hotel curtains, spilling across the room in warm, narrow beams. One of them landed directly across Elara's face.

She groaned softly and turned away from the light.

For a few seconds, she remained half-asleep, blissfully unaware of anything beyond the warmth of the sheets beneath her.

Then something felt wrong.

The mattress beneath her wasn't familiar.

Neither was the room.

Elara slowly opened her eyes.

She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, her brows knitting together.

Where was she?

She pushed herself upright, her heart beginning to beat faster as she looked around the room.

This wasn't her hotel room.

It wasn't even the room she'd gone to sleep in.

Her gaze dropped to herself.

Her elegant dress from the reunion was gone.

Instead, she was wearing an oversized T-shirt that definitely wasn't hers.

Elara's breath caught.

Slowly, she pulled the covers down. She was wearing only her underwear. Panic immediately crawled up her spine.

Then she looked beside her.

A man was sleeping peacefully on the other side of the bed.

He wore nothing but a pair of boxers.

Elara's eyes widened. Her entire body went rigid.

What the hell?

She scrambled out of bed so quickly that she nearly tripped over the sheets.

The movement woke the man. He groaned, rubbing his eyes before blinking up at her.

"What the—?"

He slowly sat up.

His confused gaze moved from Elara to the unfamiliar room and then back to her.

"Who are you?"

Elara opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

The man looked just as confused as she was.

"Wait..." He glanced between them. "Did we...?"

Elara stared at him.

"I don't know." Her voice trembled. "I—I don't think so."

The man frowned and rubbed his face again, clearly trying to piece together the events of the previous night.

"Neither do I."

Elara couldn't stand there anymore.

She needed her phone.

She needed her clothes.

She needed to get out.

Her eyes scanned the floor.

Clothes were scattered everywhere—his shirt, her dress, shoes, her purse, and several other things she couldn't even remember dropping.

She hurried toward them, desperately searching for her phone.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

Both of them froze.

The man looked toward the door.

"I'll—" He barely made it two steps before the door opened.

"Hey, Dylan, have you—"

The voice stopped.

Elara froze.

Her blood ran cold.

Standing in the doorway was Sarah.

Her good friend.

Sarah's eyes widened as she took in the scene.

Elara standing there in nothing but her underwear and an oversized shirt.

Dylan standing behind her in nothing but his boxers.

The scattered clothes.

The bed.

The silence.

"Elara?" Sarah stared at her. "What the hell?"

Dylan looked between them. "You know her?"

Sarah slowly turned toward him.

"Well, yeah." She pointed at Elara. "She's my friend."

There was a strange hint of disbelief in her voice, as though she couldn't quite process what she was seeing.

Dylan blinked. "Oh."

Sarah's expression changed. "And Mr. Morello's girl."

Dylan's face drained of color. "What?"

"Mr. Morello's girl."

"Morello?" His eyes widened. "As in..." He swallowed. "Nikolas Morello?"

"Yeah."

Dylan stared at Elara in horror. "Oh, shit."

Elara barely heard him.

She was too busy gathering her belongings with trembling hands.

She couldn't explain this.

She didn't even understand it herself.

All she knew was that Nikolas was going to see exactly what this looked like.

And Nikolas Morello wasn't a man who tolerated betrayal.

Elara grabbed her dress from the floor.

She had just picked up her purse when she turned toward the door.

And stopped.

Someone was standing there.

Tall.

Still.

Furious.

A pair of icy blue eyes stared directly into hers.

Elara's heart dropped.

She couldn't breathe.

She knew those eyes.

She had spent six years looking into them.

"Nik..."

Sarah turned.

Dylan turned too.

Both of them immediately fell silent.

Nikolas didn't say a word. He simply stared at Elara. His expression was unreadable.

But his eyes weren't.

They were filled with something she'd never seen directed at her before.

Rage.

Elara's lips parted. "I can explain..."

Nikolas turned around and walked away. That was somehow worse than if he had screamed.

Sarah looked at Elara. Then at the doorway. Then back at her.

"Well..." She slowly shook her head. "It was nice knowing you."

And with that, she walked out.

Elara stared after her.

"Dylan..."

"I don't think we did anything." His voice was quiet.

Elara turned toward him. "How do you know?" Tears were already gathering in her eyes.

Dylan stood and approached her carefully. "Because I was way too drunk." He gave her a reassuring look.

"I honestly don't remember anything from last night."

Elara stared at him for a moment. Then she gave him the smallest, most broken smile.

"Okay."

She picked up the last of her things.

And walked out.

_____

An hour later, Elara arrived home. Their place was silent.

Too silent.

She noticed Nikolas's car in the driveway, but there was no sign of him.

Her stomach twisted.

She walked inside slowly. "Nikolas?"

No answer.

Elara didn't wait.

She went straight to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Warm water poured over her, but it did nothing to calm her nerves.

She wasn't afraid of Nikolas. At least, she hadn't been before today.

She knew him.

She knew his temper.

She knew how protective he could be.

She knew how deeply he loved her.

But she also knew something else.

Nikolas Morello didn't forgive betrayal. And from what he had seen that morning...

It looked like she had betrayed him.

Elara closed her eyes beneath the water. "I didn't do anything." She whispered the words to herself. "I didn't."

But would he believe her?

She had no idea.

After showering, Elara changed into a pair of comfortable clothes. She dried her hair and slowly walked into the bedroom.

Then she stopped.

Nikolas was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Waiting for her.

Elara froze.

He didn't move.

He didn't speak.

He simply stared at her.

His eyes were so intense that Elara couldn't hold his gaze for more than a few seconds.

Finally, his voice broke the silence.

"Six years."

Elara's heart sank.

"Six years," he repeated, never looking away from her. "I've wasted six years being with you."

A tear slipped down Elara's cheek. She quickly wiped it away. "Nik, please..." She swallowed. "Let me explain."

"EXPLAIN WHAT?!"

Elara flinched.

Nikolas stood and slowly walked toward her.

One step.

Then another.

There was something predatory in the way he moved, something that made Elara instinctively retreat.

"What, Elara?" His voice lowered. "Explain how you ended up in another man's bed?" He took another step. "Wearing his shirt?"

Elara backed away. "I don't know what happened."

"You don't know?"

"I swear—" Elara cried.

"How convenient." He was close now.

Far too close.

Elara took another step backward until her back met the wall.

Nikolas stopped inches away from her. "How convenient that you don't remember."

"I was drinking."

"So was he."

Elara shook her head. "I didn't sleep with him."

Nikolas laughed bitterly. "You don't even sound convincing to yourself."

"Nik, please."

"How am I supposed to believe you?" His voice cracked slightly. "How am I supposed to believe the woman I loved when I found her in another man's bed?"

Elara's tears flowed freely now. "I didn't betray you."

"Then tell me what happened."

"I can't."

Nikolas stared at her.

For a moment, something painful flickered across his face.

Then it disappeared.

"Do you know what I sacrificed to be with you?"

Elara remained silent.

"I walked away from everything." His jaw tightened. "My family. My position. My future." He gestured toward himself. "I gave all of it up because I loved you."

Elara's lips trembled.

"And you..." His voice became quieter. "You do this to me."

"Nik—"

"Six years." He shook his head. "Six years, all for nothing."

Elara reached for him. "Nik, please listen to me."

He caught her wrist. "Don't." His voice was cold.

Elara froze.

He stared at her for several seconds before pushing her back against the wall.

"Just. Shut. Up." His hand moved to her neck.

Not enough to seriously hurt her, but enough to frighten her.

Elara struggled against him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Nik..."

"You know how I handle traitors, don't you?" His voice was terrifyingly calm.

Elara's lower lip trembled.

"Why would you do this to me?" There was pain behind his anger now.

Pain so deep that Elara almost wished he would scream again.

"After everything I've done for you..." His grip tightened slightly. "Everything."

Elara's breathing became shallow.

"This is how you repay me?"

"Nik..." She could barely speak.

Then suddenly, his hand released her.

Elara dropped to the floor, coughing and gasping as she desperately tried to catch her breath.

Before she could recover, Nikolas grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her feet.

His expression had gone completely cold.

"You have until tomorrow."

Elara stared at him.

"To pack all your shit and get out."

Her eyes widened. "Leave?" Her voice broke. "I don't have anywhere to go."

"Not my problem."

"Nik, please." She reached for his hand.

He pulled away.

There was no softness left in his eyes.

No love.

No warmth.

Nothing.

Elara stared at the man she'd loved for six years and realized, for the first time, that she no longer recognized him.

This was the side of Nikolas Morello she'd never thought she'd see.

The side that didn't love her.

The side that hated her.

He stepped closer and caught her jaw, forcing her to look directly at him. "Let me make something very clear."

Elara's entire body trembled.

His eyes were cold. "If I ever see your face again..." He paused. His voice dropped to a whisper. "I will put a bullet in your head."

He released her.

And walked away.

Elara stood there, completely frozen.

She couldn't move.

Couldn't speak.

Couldn't even cry anymore.

Six years.

Six years of love.

Six years of memories.

Six years of believing she knew the man she was going to marry.

And in a single morning...

She had lost him.

Elara immediately reached for her phone and called Sarah, hoping—praying—that her friend would help her.

But Sarah had blocked her number.

Elara stared at the screen in disbelief. She felt completely helpless.

Her parents lived across the country. She had moved with Nikolas after they became engaged, leaving behind almost everything she knew.

She didn't know who to call.

She didn't know where to go.

The one person she knew would always be there for her was away on her honeymoon.

For the first time in six years, Elara was completely alone. She packed an overnight bag and left the loft.

She didn't know what else to do.

She checked into a hotel by herself.

That night, she cried.

She cried until her eyes burned and her chest ached, desperately trying to understand how she had ended up in Dylan's bed.

She didn't even know the man. And she hadn't been drinking that much.

Something had happened.

Something she couldn't remember.

But what?

Elara had no answer.

Eventually, exhaustion took over.

She fell asleep with tear-stained cheeks, her phone clutched loosely in her hand.

***

The next day, she returned home to collect the rest of her belongings.

She opened the door quietly.

The place was still.

There was no sign of Nikolas.

Elara walked through the lounge, looking around cautiously before making her way into the bedroom.

She began packing.

Clothes.

Shoes.

Personal belongings.

Anything that was hers.

She tried not to look at the things that belonged to both of them. Tried not to think about the life they'd built together.

She had almost finished when something caught her attention.

Glass.

It was scattered across the floor beside the dresser.

Elara slowly looked down. A picture frame lay shattered among the pieces.

Her breath caught.

It was a photograph of her and Nikolas.

Their first Valentine's Day.

They were smiling at each other, she was young and happy, completely unaware that one day everything between them would fall apart.

Elara crouched down and carefully picked up the photograph. Her fingers trembled as she brushed away a tiny piece of glass.

For a moment, she simply stared at it.

Then she pressed the photograph against her chest. A painful sob escaped her.

She packed the last of her belongings into her car and drove back to the hotel.

_____

Once inside her room, she placed her bags beside the door and slowly climbed onto the bed.

She lay on her side, facing the window.

Outside, the world continued moving. People walked along the streets.

Cars passed.

The sun rose and fell as if nothing had changed.

But Elara remained still. Silently staring into nothing. Getting lost in her thoughts had always been her escape.

Now, there was nowhere else for her to go. Her mind drifted backward.

Past the pain.

Past the broken engagement.

Past the accusations.

Past the morning that had destroyed everything.

Back to a time when Nikolas still looked at her with love in his eyes.

Back to the beginning.

To the very first time Elara and Nikolas Morello met.