He squeezed tighter, her face contorted in pain as she let out a sharp cry, tears streaming.

Lucas let go, stepped back, and sized her up again, his gaze turning frosty.

It was clear—she looked nothing like Emma when crying.

He made his way toward the hotel, his companion limping after him, gritting her teeth.

"Leave," Lucas murmured, his voice a cold whisper.

Petrified, the woman clammed up and froze, not daring to step closer.

I had just met my boyfriend, Michael Andrews's parents.

They were the sweetest couple and really clicked with my family and career.

Mrs. Andrews gifted me a bracelet.

They planned to visit my home next month.

I was tying the knot.

Michael dropped me off, wrapping me in his usual embrace, planting a kiss on my cheek.

For the first time, I tiptoed and reciprocated.

Michael looked taken aback but quickly pulled me in for a deeper kiss.

"Emma..." Michael murmured, hugging me even tighter.

"You've got work tomorrow. It's getting late. Better head home."

He reluctantly released my hand， "Catch you tomorrow."

"Sure."

I watched him drive off, a gleam of joy in my eyes.

My smile stiffened as I turned and headed upstairs.

Suddenly, I was blinded by harsh headlights.

Instinctively, I threw up my hand to block the glare.

But then the car door swung open, and there was Lucas.

Despite the eight years, I recognized him instantly.

In that instant, a chill ran through me.

I felt choked, unable to breathe, as if a hand were wrapped around my throat.

My eyes ached, swollen with unshed tears.

I was rooted to the spot for two solid minutes before snapping back to reality.

"Emma."

As I walked past, I avoided looking at him.

But Lucas just leaned casually against the car, calling out as if no time had passed.

"I'm back."

He extended his hand, his demeanor easy, smile barely there.

Like he'd only been gone a couple of days, not years.

I eyed his clean, long, and ringless fingers.

Maybe he took them off for this.

But why should I care?

Slowly, I looked up, meeting his eyes with a steady gaze, "Was there something you wanted?"

"Emma, who was that guy just now?"

"My boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?"

Lucas cracked a smile, stepping in to gently cup my chin.

"And what does that make me, Emma?"

"Lucas, cut the crap."

I coolly brushed his hand aside, "I'm heading home."

Lucas chuckled, eyeing me like I was easy prey.

Nearly a decade ago, a few sweet words from Lucas were all it took to sweep me off my feet.

Now, he acted like he owned the world, manipulating my fate as if it was nothing.

"I'll walk you home then."

He closed the distance, slipping his arm around me, and rested his chin on my shoulder, "Is Emma the Sweetie upset?"

It felt just like those high school days.

Lucas loved to hold me like this, sweet-talking me into listening.

He was a big man on campus, always the center of attention.

Plenty of pretty girls threw themselves at him.

He'd politely turn them down, but shaking them off was another story.

Lucas treated every girl with a gentleman's charm.

At school, though, we were like ships passing in the night—barely a word exchanged.

In private, when we dated, I'd often give him the cold shoulder, stewing in silence.

But I'm a soft touch. A few pet names and sweet nothings from him, and I'd melt, forgiving him every time.

Then he'd pile on the demands, and they were always a tall order.

Our dates? Mostly just hookups, with little else on the agenda.

Eventually, I snapped out of it.

Back then, I was just a convenient outlet for the fiery, young Lucas to blow off steam.

A compliant tool, easy to fool. Lucas didn't realize how much that thrilled him.

His fingers crept around my waist, tightening bit by bit.

"Emma, I'm back, aren't I?"

He whispered in my ear, "But what's this I hear? You've been seeing another guy, letting him kiss you, talking marriage?"

I chuckled and forcefully loosened his grip.

"Lucas."

I spun around, my gaze cold and detached, "It's been eight years."

The night was pitch-black, but his features were strikingly clear and handsome.

I averted my eyes, "Don't come around here anymore. I'm about to get married. Wouldn't be good if my boyfriend got wind of this."

Lucas stayed silent but lifted his hand.

I watched him rip open his shirt, revealing a nasty scar over his heart, like a close call with a bullet.

He grabbed my hand, his face blank, and pressed it to the scar.

"Emma, tell me you don't love me anymore with your hand on my heart."

I brushed against the coarse scar and instinctively pulled back.

Lucas rolled up his sleeves once more.

The scars on his wrists were a shocking sight.

"Emma, you've been on my mind every single day for the past eight years."

"I nearly died trying to make it back to you."

Speaking, he offered a wry smile, then rolled his sleeves back down.

"Just say you don't love Lucas anymore, and I'll disappear forever, never to haunt you again."

"Couldn't you have sent a letter, made a call, or shot a text if you couldn't bring youself back?"

My voice trembled, and tears were already streaming down my face.

"I sent you a letter."

Lucas looked me straight in the eye, "But Emma, you never got back to me."

"Impossible. I didn't get anything."

Lucas frowned, then sneered, "Right, that letter must've been intercepted."

"Your parents?"

"Yeah, they've been dead set on marrying me off to some high-society gal, went to great lengths to cut me off."

"And those scars?"

"Got them trying to fight my way back to you, playing a dangerous game with my life as the stake."

Lucas mocked himself, his eyes tinted red, "Sounds pretty juvenile and ridiculous, huh?"

"Have you seriously thought about coming back for me, Lucas?"

"Over and over."

Suddenly, I covered my face, dropped to my knees, and cried out loud.

Emma, burdened and alone for so long, feeling like she might finally let go.

"Don't cry, I'm right here now, Emma."

"Nobody's tearing us apart anymore..."

Lucas wrapped me in his arms, patting my back with a soothing rhythm.

I cried my eyes out, and when the tears finally dried, my eyes were swollen shut.

Lucas dabbed at my tears, "Why are you still a crybaby, just like back in the day?"

"Lucas."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for letting me know."

I brushed his fingers off again, "It showed me I wasn't totally off my rocker."

"Seeing you thriving, I'm genuinely glad for you, Lucas."

"So what's that supposed to mean?"

"We're worlds apart now, and I'm not the dreamer I once was."

My eyes lingered on his face, taking it all in.

"I'm about to get married and settle down."

"I loved you deeply, but Lucas, I've truly let you go."

Lucas's expression turned stormy.

I gave him one last look, then dropped my head and walked away, "Lucas, don't come looking for me anymore."

"Think your fiancé would still walk down the aisle if he knew about your puppy love?"

My feet felt like they were stuck in cement.

Lucas's voice was soft but hit me like a ton of bricks.

The tension I'd bottled up for eight years just shattered.

I spun around, tears flooding, and my bag smacked him hard across his body and face.

Lucas took it on the chin, letting me vent my rage.

"Lucas, how could you even go there?"

"Who was it that promised the moon only to pull a fast one?"

"I was just a kid, Lucas! All I cared about was acing tests, how could you play me like that?"

"I'd been on pills for two years, did everything you wanted—what did I get for it?"

"Lucas, you dropped me first. You're the one who let me down."

I slowly caught my breath, clutching my bag, glaring at the mark the chain had left on Lucas's face.

"Go ahead, tell him. If he's gonna dump me over being conned and pushed around when I was young and dumb, then he ain't the man I thought he was."

Lucas touched the red mark on his face.

His eyes were red, blood surging.

And it added a wild charm to his striking looks.

"Emma, that's just how I roll. You pushed me to it."

He propped himself against the car and whipped out his phone.

"Find Emma Bennett's boyfriend for me."

Lucas flicked a cigarette into his mouth and bit down, "Dig up his info and hit me up, stat."

He finished, "And ring up my old school pals. I'm throwing a reunion and I've got news to share."

"Lucas, cut it out!"

At my wit's end, I whirled around, tears streaming, "What's your endgame?!"

"I'm not up to anything, just gonna spill some tea with the old gang about you and me."

Lucas hung up nonchalantly. He eyed me like I was prey in his trap.

"Lucas, what do I gotta do for you to cut me loose?"

I murmured, "I'll quit my job tomorrow. Better yet, I'll leave town and you'll never see me again, deal?"