Chapter 5

Karina:

I stood frozen, unable to move as the car door opened. And then, there he was. Michael. His golden hair looking darker in the night, his blue eyes locking on me instantly. He smiled, the kind of smile that used to make my heart flutter when we were kids. It still had the same effect now, though I hated to admit it.

"Karina," he said, stepping toward me. His voice was as steady and warm as I remembered. "It’s been a while."

I clutched the traveling bag tighter in my hand, the plastic biting into my skin. "Michael," I said, barely able to get the words out. "What are you doing here?"

“Something came up, so your mother sent me to pick you up instead.” He gave me another one of his charming smiles that made my heart skip a beat. “I hope you don’t mind.”

Mind? Michael was asking me if I’d mind…after everything I’d done to him?

“N-no…of course not.” I swallowed the lump in my throat as I saw his smile widen and he went ahead to open the trunk.

I still couldn’t believe it… Michael Hudson…my childhood best friend…and my ex-fiancé…was here to pick me up.

I still remembered the time when we were kids, playing house and making silly promises to each other like any silly five year olds…but who would’ve thought that our parents would one day take those promises seriously?

We were engaged even before we understood the meaning of the term and our families couldn’t wait till we were of age so they could finally get us married.

But as I grew up, the thought of a childhood promise binding me, holding me down, felt too much. So when I entered college and met Ethan…everything changed.

Ethan was like a breath of fresh air. He was from a poor family but he had big dreams, and he worked hard to try and achieve them. that’s what drew me to him the most…like a moth to the flame, not knowing that it was ultimately going to get burned.

I had lost everything because of Ethan. Rebelled against my family, rebelled against the notion of this arranged marriage and ultimately…I had left my luxurious lifestyle as a daughter of a billionaire, to move in with Ethan in his one bedroom apartment at that time.

But little had I known…that Ethan’s drive to become successful wasn’t for ‘us’ as he had claimed. It was all because of Katherine. The same woman he had loved for the last five years, waiting for her return every day as he dived head-first into success, hoping to be worthy of her when he returned.

And all that time…I stayed behind, watching him climb the ladder until he became so out of my reach, that I didn’t even recognize the man I had fallen for.

“I—I’m so…sorry,” I told Michael, a single tear sliding down my cheek before I hastily wiped it off. “You must think I’m so pitiful right now.” I sniffled.

Michael stepped closer, his expression softening. "Karina," he said quietly. "I’m not here to judge you. I’m here because I care. I always have."

The lump in my throat grew, and I looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "You shouldn’t," I whispered.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because I don’t deserve it," I said, my voice cracking. "I left you, Michael. I left everything. I don’t deserve your care, or your help, or..."

"Stop," he said, cutting me off. His voice was gentle, but there was an edge to it. "Don’t do that. Don’t punish yourself for the choices you make. You thought you were doing the right thing. And maybe it didn’t turn out the way you hoped, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve kindness."

Michael lifted my luggage effortlessly, his movements calm and assured as he placed the bags in the trunk of his sleek black Porsche. I stood on the front steps of Ethan’s mansion, the place I had called home for the past four years, and tried to steady my breathing. My heart felt heavy, burdened by the weight of my own foolishness.

"You don’t have to rush," Michael said, his voice gentle as he closed the trunk. He walked toward me, his blue eyes scanning my face like he was trying to read my thoughts. “Take your time.”

"I’m fine," I replied, though my voice wavered slightly.

His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he nodded. "Let’s go then," he said, holding the car door open for me.

I hesitated, glancing back at the mansion one last time. It loomed over me, a cold, lifeless structure that had once felt like a dream come true. Now, it was nothing but a painful reminder of how blind I’d been. Ethan had made me believe that this was our future, that he loved me, that we were building a life together. But it had all been a lie.

Michael cleared his throat softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Karina," he said, his tone steady but not impatient.

I nodded and stepped forward, letting him help me into the car. As I settled into the seat, the overwhelming emotions I’d been holding back surged forward, threatening to spill over.

Michael climbed into the driver’s seat, starting the engine with a quiet hum. He didn’t say anything right away, and I was grateful for the silence. It gave me a moment to gather myself, to push back the tears that threatened to fall.