Melissa had spent the last few months trying to rebuild her life—carefully placing one broken piece after another, trying not to glance too long at the scars left behind. She had moved to a new apartment, started working and begun smiling again, even if it felt fragile. She had Leo's friendship, her sisters support, and a slowly returning sense of safety.
But all that came crashing down on a rainy Thursday evening.
It was quiet when the first knock came on her door. Gentle, almost polite. Melissa had just finished a shower and was drying her hair, humming absentmindedly. When the second knock came—firmer this time—she froze.
Something deep inside her twisted. A familiar kind of dread started crawling up her spine. Slowly, cautiously, she walked to the peephole. The moment she saw his face, her knees nearly gave way beneath her.
Kael.
She hadn't seen him in months, not since the night she ran out of their apartment with nothing but a backpack and tear-streaked cheeks. And now, here he was—standing calmly at her door, as if he hadn't terrorized her, as if he hadn't shattered her spirit bit by bit.
His voice through the door was low, calculated. He told her he wanted to talk. Said he missed her. That they belonged together. Melissa couldn't speak. Her breath caught in her throat, and all she could do was slide slowly down to the floor, hands pressed against her chest, heart pounding violently.
Kael continued speaking, his voice growing sharper. He threatened her, his words laced with manipulation and malice. If she didn't come back with him, he'd make things messy—not just for her, but for her sister too.
Then, just like that, he was gone. The sound of his footsteps fading, followed by the start of a car engine and screeching tires.
That night, melissa didn't sleep. She sat up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, staring at the door, terrified that he might return. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear, shame, confusion, and exhaustion. The progress she had made felt like it had vanished in seconds. By morning, her face was pale,and her hands trembled with the weight of everything she hadn't said.
Later that day, Leo found her.
She was seated outside a small café across the office, a cup of untouched coffee in front of her. Her body was there, but her spirit seemed adrift—vacant eyes staring into nothingness. He knew something was wrong the second he saw her.
Leo didn't ask too many questions. He sat beside her, patient. Eventually, Melissa told him everything—about kael's visit, his threats, his cold, looming presence at her door. She spoke in a quiet voice, the words trembling, as if saying them out loud made it all more real. Leo didn't interrupt. He simply listened, nodding slowly, his hands clenched tightly on his lap.
The fear in Melissa's eyes was unmistakable, and that was what broke Leo the most. He had seen her laugh, cry, and hope—but he hadn't seen her this scared in a long time. And now, the thought of her being forced to confront that man again made something burn in his chest.
After making sure Melissa safely back at her apartment, Leo called Don.
Don answered immediately, and when he heard the full story, he didn't hesitate. He asked one question—Do you have any information where kael might be. Then he told Leo to meet him in an hour, that he was going to call Mia and get more information.Mia gave Don all the information he needed about kael. There was a bar on the edge of town—a run-down place he used to frequent whenever he needed to lie low or cause trouble. That's where they found him, surrounded by two of his drinking buddies, leaning against the counter like he had no care in the world.
The moment Leo and Don walked in, the atmosphere shifted. Kael saw them, and his smug expression flickered just slightly. Don's presence was calm, but underneath that calmness was fire. Leo moved quickly—no words, no pretense. He cornered kael and let him know, in no uncertain terms, that Melissa was off-limits. That if he ever came near her again, it wouldn't end with just words.
Kael laughed at first, mocking them, trying to regain control. But Don stepped in, his eyes dead serious. He leaned in close and made it crystal clear—if kael so much as thought of Melussa again, they would dismantle his life.
Something changed in kael's eyes then. The bravado cracked. And for the first time, he looked afraid.
They left him there, slouched against the bar, humiliated. Leo didn't feel triumphant. He only hoped it was enough to make him back off for good.
The next morning, Melissa was packing. She wasn't even sure why—maybe she was preparing to run again, maybe she just needed to feel like she had some control. Her suitcase lay open on the bed, half-fullof clothes and memories she wasn't ready to revisit.
That's when she heard the car pull up.
Her heart dropped. She moved to the window and peeked through the blinds.
It was kael.
He stood in front of her house, hands in his pockets, looking strangely composed. She froze. Her stomach churned. Panic bubbled in her chest. He was back, and this time, she didn't know what he wanted.
He knocked softly. No shouting, no threats—just a single knock, followed by silence.
Then, his voice.
He said he just wanted to apologize.
Melissa stood behind the door, unmoving. Part of her wanted to scream. Another part—smaller, quieter—wanted to hear him out. Against her better judgment, she opened the door.
Kael looked different. Not in appearance, but in presence. He looked tired. Not the angry, manipulative man who had once controlled every part of her life—but something else. Still, Melissa didn't trust it.
He told her he had started therapy. That he had realized how deeply he had hurt her. That he didn't expect forgiveness—but he wanted to say sorry. Not to win her back, not to manipulate her—but because he needed to take responsibility.
Melissa listened silently. Her arms were crossed. Her mind raced through every terrible moment, every lie, every bruise, every apology that came too late. She didn't cry. She didn't shout. She simply looked at him and said that he didn't get to erase what he did with a simple sorry.
And he nodded. Then he turned and walked away.
That evening, Leo came over. Melissa told him what had happened. She expected him to be angry, but he wasn't. He was just relieved she was okay. And proud—deeply proud—that she had faced kael and stood her ground.
They sat together on the couch for a long time, not talking, just breathing in the silence.After a long scilence broke as Leo holds up Melissa's chin up and goes for a kiss, from kissing from the couch to him carrying her to the bed room and them having a steamy night. Later that morning, Melissa finally unpacked the suitcase. She placed the clothes back in her drawer, folded gently this time, without trembling hands. She lit a candle and sat by the window as the sun dipped behind the horizon.
The past still lingered in her memory, but it no longer controlled her. She had looked her fear in the face and didn't crumble. And with Steve and Jason by her side, she knew she didn't have to run anymore.
Kael was her past.