Chapter 103

Nicholas swallowed hard and closed his eyes, leaning back against the sofa. But closing his eyes only made it worse—memories came flooding back with vivid clarity.

He saw her shy smile when they first met, her tears on the day he had accused her without listening, her quiet resilience in the face of his cold words. The last memory of her—when she had looked back at him one final time before that accident—burned into his mind.

Regret twisted in his chest like a knife. If only he hadn’t doubted her. If only he had spoken to her with kindness, given her the benefit of the doubt. If only he hadn’t let his pride and assumptions cloud his judgment.

But there was no "if." He had been the cause of her pain. He had driven her away.

Nicholas opened his eyes, a hard glint in them now. His regret and guilt turned into resolve. She had returned, and this time, no matter what it took, he would not let her go again.