The rain didn't stop.
It felt like the world was holding its breath.
Andrea stood frozen between them.
Marco.
Daniel.
Past.
Future.
And somehow—
She felt like she was losing both.
Daniel's gaze shifted from Marco… to the jacket wrapped around Andrea's shoulders.
His jaw tightened.
"Take it off."
Andrea blinked.
"Daniel—"
"I said take it off."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it didn't need to be.
This is bad…
Andrea slowly removed the jacket, her hands trembling slightly.
For a second—
She hesitated.
Why does this feel like I'm letting go of something… again…
Then she handed it back to Marco.
Their fingers brushed.
And just like that—
Everything came rushing back.
Stop… please stop…
Marco didn't move right away.
He looked at her.
Like he was memorizing her.
Like he was already losing her.
Again.
"So," Daniel said, breaking the silence. "You're the ex."
Marco's expression hardened.
"And you're the fiancé."
The tension between them was sharp enough to cut.
Andrea stepped in quickly.
"Enough. This isn't necessary."
"It is," Daniel replied calmly. "I don't like not knowing who my fiancée is with at midnight."
That word hit hard.
Fiancée.
Andrea felt it sink in deeper this time.
This is real… this is my life now…
Marco glanced at her.
"…You didn't tell me his name."
Andrea swallowed.
"It didn't matter."
"It matters to me."
Why does everything still matter to you…
Daniel stepped closer to Andrea, placing a hand lightly on her shoulder.
A simple gesture.
But it said everything.
Possession.
Claim.
Choice.
"She doesn't owe you anything," Daniel said, his tone calm but firm.
Marco's eyes darkened.
"You're right."
Andrea's heart skipped.
Then why does it feel like you're about to say something else…
"But she deserves the truth."
Silence.
Andrea's breath caught.
"What truth?" she asked softly.
Marco looked at her.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Just… tired.
"I didn't leave because I stopped loving you."
Andrea's heart shattered all over again.
Don't say that… not now…
"Then why?" she demanded, her voice breaking. "Why didn't you come back?!"
Marco hesitated.
For the first time—
He looked unsure.
Like he didn't want to say it.
Like saying it would change everything.
"Because I couldn't."
"That's not an answer!"
"It's the truth."
Andrea shook her head.
"No. You chose not to."
Marco stepped closer.
"I was forced to."
The words hit differently.
Andrea froze.
Forced…?
Daniel frowned.
"What kind of excuse is that?"
Marco ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Andrea.
"Do you remember the night before I left?"
Andrea's chest tightened.
Of course she remembered.
That night.
The last time they were together.
The last time everything felt right.
"…Yes."
Marco exhaled slowly.
"That was the last night I was free."
Andrea's heart started pounding.
"What do you mean?"
Marco looked away for a second.
Then back at her.
"My father was arrested the next day."
Everything went silent.
Even the rain.
Andrea felt like the ground beneath her disappeared.
"…What?"
"He was involved in something he shouldn't have been," Marco continued. "And I had to choose—"
His voice tightened.
"Stay with you… or fix the mess he left behind."
Andrea's eyes filled with tears.
"You could've told me…"
"I couldn't risk dragging you into it."
So you chose to hurt me instead…
"I tried to come back," Marco said. "But every time I got close, something else pulled me back in."
Andrea shook her head, overwhelmed.
"Why tell me now?"
Marco didn't hesitate this time.
"Because I saw you again."
A pause.
"And I realized… I never stopped choosing you."
Silence.
Dangerous. Fragile silence.
Andrea's heart was racing.
Her mind was spinning.
Her emotions—completely out of control.
Daniel's hand tightened slightly on her shoulder.
"That's enough," he said coldly. "Whatever story you're telling—"
"It's not a story," Marco cut in.
"It doesn't matter," Daniel replied. "She's with me now."
Andrea closed her eyes for a second.
Why does this feel like I'm being torn apart…
Marco took one last step closer.
Close enough that his voice dropped—
Just for her.
"If I had one more chance…"
Andrea's breath hitched.
"I wouldn't leave you again."
Her heart broke.
Completely.
Because this time—
She believed him.