As soon as the words left my mouth, Jensen slapped me without hesitation.

"Do you think I respect you, Stella? Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

I held my cheek, glaring at him with all the hatred I could muster. He grabbed my wrist, yanking me along with him.

"You're coming back with me!"

"No—"

I struggled fiercely, desperate to break free. His gaze was filled with anger and confusion as he turned to me.

"What are you doing—"

"Get off me! Just let go!"

I pounded on his hand, tears streaming down my face. Every place he'd touched felt defiled, like an allergic reaction spreading red welts across my skin. Everything had to be his way. He set the tests, the rules, and he insisted I go back with him. He never considered how shattered my heart was, how deeply he'd wounded me.

"Stella!"

A clear voice cut through the tension between us. Jensen frowned at the newcomer. I seized the moment, wrenching free from Jensen's grasp and rushing toward the voice.

"Dante!"

No one could know how relieved I felt the moment I saw Dante. It was like finding solid ground after hanging in mid-air for ages. My body stopped shaking so violently. Dante quickly wrapped me in a protective embrace, checking frantically for injuries.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

I clung to his shirt, my head shaking as I felt the flood of tears continue. I didn't even get a word out before they began falling anew.

"Does anything hurt? Tell me."

Jensen gave Dante a hard shove, his tone hostile. "Who the hell are you?"

Dante stared right back, unfazed. "I'm her boyfriend."

Jensen's eyebrows knitted into a tight knot. He looked at me, then back at Dante incredulously.

"Ridiculous. Where did you come from? Do you even know Stella is my girlfriend? You think you can just waltz in here?"

Dante's voice was calm but carried an edge that made even me shudder. "After what you did, she stopped being your girlfriend. I suggest you back off."

Jensen laughed like he'd heard the world's funniest joke.

"Why don't you ask her if she agrees? Stella loves me to death. She can't live without me. You little wannabe hero, don't fool yourself. Stella, come here!"

I stood still, not giving Jensen an inch.

"Stella, get over here!"

Instead, I slipped behind Dante, not sparing Jensen another glance. Jensen's face darkened. He reached for me, but Dante pulled me protectively behind him.

"Stella, you better get over here!"

I clutched Dante's shirt tightly, shaking my head.

Dante spoke with calm authority, "As you can see, she doesn't want to go with you, Mr. King. I suggest you act like a gentleman and let her be."

Jensen's expression cracked bit by bit. He clenched his teeth, barely containing his anger.

"You don't know a damn thing. She'd do anything for me! You showing up changes nothing. For my sake, she—"

Dante's fist lashed out before Jensen could finish.

"Watch your mouth!"

Caught off guard, Jensen crumpled to the ground. He tried to retaliate, but Angel quickly intervened.

"Jensen, don't! There are too many people watching, and if the press shows up—"

"Angel, let go!"

"Jensen! There'll be another chance. Let's just go!"

Angel clung to his waist, finally calming him down. He looked around at the growing crowd of onlookers. Jensen shot me a glare full of daggers.

"Stella, don't come crawling back to me crying later."

Even after they had gone, my body continued to shake uncontrollably.

"Stella, Stella, it’s okay, you’re safe now!"

Dante was rubbing my arms gently, and I suddenly found myself sitting on a sofa in a quiet room. The confrontation with Jensen and his threats echoed in my ears, chilling me to the bone.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this!"

I knew I was a mess, a bundle of tears and helpless worry, unable to do anything but cry like a fool. Dante gently wiped away my tears.

"Don't worry. I’ll be here with you. I’m not afraid of you being a burden; I’m only worried you won't need me at all."

"Will he come after me again, Dante? I'm really scared!"

Dante wrapped his arms around me.

"I’ll stay by your side, not leaving you for a second. I won’t let him hurt you again. Stella, don’t be afraid. You’ve got me."

I rested against him. His heartbeat was strong and steady, calming the turmoil inside me. His shoulders were broad and warm.

"Stella, I’ll protect you."

I nodded. My emotions had settled, yet I didn't want to let go of that comforting warmth. Even if it was just a dream, even if it might lead to pain later. Just for this moment, just for now. Let me love once more. Just give me a second.

I nestled into his embrace, drifting into sleep. In my dreams, I was back in high school, with that determined boy who never backed down, no matter how much he was hit.

"Dante..." I murmured softly.

"You're calling out to that bastard again!" An angry voice jolted me awake.

"Jensen King!"

I shivered, glancing around the room where faint moonlight streamed through the windows. The sound of ocean waves filled my ears.

“Where's Dante?!” I shouted.

His face was menacing as he approached, grabbing my chin. “You wake up just to look for that jerk. Have you ever considered how I feel?”

Ignoring him, I scrambled off the bed, desperate to escape. He didn't try to stop me.

Opening the door, the salty sea breeze hit me. We were at sea?!

The ocean outside was an endless blackness, threatening to swallow everything. I collapsed on the floor, eyes vacant.

“Jensen, what do you want from me?”

He crouched beside me, forcing me to look at him. “I want you to see only me. No one else.”

“Stay away from that pretty boy!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take you to a deserted island where we can start over. Once you change your mind, we’ll return.”

I let out a hollow laugh, my gaze vacant as I looked past him.

“Jensen, let me go. I don’t love you anymore.”

He roughly grabbed my shirt.

“What do you mean?! You always said we’d be together forever, that you only wanted me in this life! You endured three years of hardship for me!”

“Why did you change?! It’s because of that pretty boy, isn’t it?! Why won’t you see me?”

Before, I didn’t hate you like I do now.

Jensen destroyed everything yet played the victim. So pathetic, so pathetic, so pathetic.

Everywhere he touched burned, making me feel sick.

I clawed at my arms, my neck, leaving my skin raw and red.

“Stella! What will it take for you to speak to me?! Do you know I gave up everything for you! Can’t you just look at me?!”

Ha.

An abuser, begging for forgiveness.

I finally looked at him, and he seemed frightened by my gaze.

“Do you want to know why?”

“For three years, I only got three hours of sleep a night, juggling five jobs to pay for your medical bills.”

“I lived on the cheapest meals, dinner rolls and pickles, just to save every penny.”

“I couldn’t refuse any job, no matter how hard. Even when bullied, I endured it.”

“Remember Major Sanchez? He tried to assault me and refused to pay me for a month! Did you know that? Did you?!”

He shook his head, terrified. “No, I didn’t know. Angel told me it was just a minor…”

I laughed bitterly. “Angel again. Did she also tell you how she sent disgusting clients to harass me at the bar? When I refused their advances, they beat me up. I couldn’t get out of bed for two weeks.”

“To this day, I can still hear the cracking of my bones. Snap, snap. One after another. Jensen, it was excruciating. All my ribs were broken. Do you even know I almost didn’t survive?”

“And where were you during that time? With Angel, or were you laughing at my misery?”

“When they threw money at me, I wanted so badly to refuse, but thinking of you in that hospital bed, I swallowed my pride.”

“You have no idea how much blood and tears I’ve swallowed these past three years. Standing on your moral high ground, blaming me, never understanding your so-called good intentions.”

“You’re selfish and will never understand.”

“The Stella who was once devoted to you has been erased.”

Jensen’s expression shattered piece by piece.

“I didn’t know, I didn’t know any of this! Stella, please forgive me! I really didn’t know! It was all Angel! I didn’t know you suffered like this…”

He collapsed to his knees, unable to bear the weight of his guilt, covering his face in anguish.

Jensen, so you can feel pain?

I gave a scornful smile.

While he was lost in his thoughts, I seized the chance to run from the room.

The wind on the deck was fierce, whipping my hair around wildly.

By the time Jensen realized and ran after me, it was too late.

I stood at the edge.

The rooftop I hadn’t jumped from three years ago—I could jump from now.

But this time, I wasn’t afraid.

Sorry, Dante, for not keeping my promise.

“Stella—!” Jensen’s scream rang out, but I didn’t hesitate for a second longer.

I leaped into the abyss.

The seawater swiftly engulfed me. I closed my eyes with a serene smile, free from panic or fear, only calm. Suddenly, a figure dove down above me. He swam frantically toward me. The moonlight filtered through the water, revealing his face bit by bit. It was Dante.

Dante swam toward me as fast as he could, grabbed hold of me, and steered me toward the nearby yacht. Once we were on board, he held me tightly, a trace of panic in his eyes.

"Are you hurt anywhere? I'm so sorry, it's all my fault. I fell asleep, and that's how he managed to take you. I'm sorry, Stella, don't be afraid. I'm here now."

His warmth chased away the chill of the seawater. At that moment, I felt hope reignite in my heart. He hugged me tightly, like a child recovering a precious lost toy.

Jensen's boat quickly pulled alongside us, and he stumbled out toward me. He embraced me frantically, "Thank goodness, Stella, you're safe!"

I pushed him away in disgust, retreating into Dante's arms. Jensen dropped to his knees, his face full of regret.

"Stella, please, forgive me. I was immature and didn't know how to love someone."

"I finally get it now."

"Stella, you can't be so heartless. You taught me how to love you, and now you're leaving me."

"Please don't leave me! I'll do whatever you want!"

"I'm begging you, please forgive me."

I watched his emotional outburst quietly. After a long moment, I spoke softly.

"Jensen, if I had a choice, I would have rather never met you."

"These past three years have been too painful."

He didn't say another word.