2

I was completely dumbfounded.

To be honest, ever since he broke up with me three years ago, I never imagined I'd see Wyatt Valiant again.

After all, getting dumped is pretty embarrassing.

At least, that's what my mom thought.

Back then, right after the breakup when I was still a complete mess, my mom was already trying to set me up on blind dates.

But I really wasn't in the mood for it back then, so the whole thing just fizzled out. Later, once I'd finally moved on and wanted to find a boyfriend again...

And what do you know, I couldn't find one.

And so, just like that, I've been single for three years.

I looked at the man before me, my expression complicated.

Wyatt Valiant hadn't changed much from how I remembered him. The only difference, perhaps... was that he was a lot tanner.

I let out a long breath, forcefully suppressing the strange flutter that stirred in my heart once more.

Honestly, I don't know what kind of spell Wyatt Valiant put on me. Even after being so devastated by the breakup, three years later, just seeing him still makes my heart skip a beat.

Or maybe... he never truly faded from my memory.

Wyatt Valiant glanced at me and sat down in the chair opposite me.

"Name."

"...Wren Sterling."

"Age."

"Twenty-three."

"What were your plans for this evening?"

"A company party."

Wyatt Valiant set down my wallet and twirled the pen in his hand. His tone was unreadable.

"A company party that landed you in a police station?"

Me: "..."

'It's not like I saw this coming, either.'

I sighed in resignation, doing my best to speak to Wyatt Valiant with a calm demeanor.

"I got lost on my way back from the restroom, asked a random person for directions, and then I got arrested."

Wyatt Valiant gave a slight nod, looking completely unfazed, as if this sort of thing happened all the time.

I suddenly felt deflated.

He was always like this—calm and detached.

It was as if nothing in the world could ever provoke an emotional response from him.

That was once one of the things I liked about him, but it was also the reason we had countless arguments when we were together.

Oh, to be more precise, they were one-sided arguments on my part.

Wyatt Valiant would just watch me calmly until I had finished venting, and only then would he softly ask:

"Are you hungry?"

"Are you hungry?"

The question was identical to the one from my memories, and for a moment, I couldn't tell if I was in the past or the present.

Then I lifted my head and looked into Wyatt Valiant's light-colored eyes, seeing my own image reflected in them.

For an instant, I almost felt as if I were the only one in his world.

But... that was impossible.

"Are... are you asking me?"

I hesitated, pointing a finger at myself.

Wyatt Valiant nodded slightly, stood up, and returned all of my belongings.

"You're all clear, so you're free to go. Want to grab a late-night snack together in a bit?"

Me: "????????"

'How did he manage to switch from official business to a personal invitation so seamlessly?'

"Wyatt Valiant, do you know who I am to you?"

Hearing my question, Wyatt Valiant seemed a bit confused and looked up at me.

"My ex-girlfriend. What's wrong?"

I instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

'He remembers. Good. Then there's no problem... NO PROBLEM, MY ASS!!!'

3

Before I could even think, a woman in a police uniform knocked on the door and came in.

"Wyatt, a bunch of us are getting a late-night snack nearby. You should come, too."

I watched as Wyatt, who had been packing his things, paused for a moment, seeming to hesitate.

I glanced at the officer, then looked away.

'Oh, so he's already found someone.'

I couldn't quite put a name to the feeling in my heart. With a blank expression, I finished packing my things. Just as I stood up to leave, someone suddenly grabbed my arm.

"Wait, I'll take you home."

Wyatt's brow furrowed slightly as he looked over at the female officer, whose expression had become a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"Quinn, you all go ahead. I'm not going to make it."

The officer, Quinn, clearly hesitated. Her gaze lingered for a moment on Wyatt's hand holding mine before she nodded and left.

"Let go."

I frowned, glaring at him in annoyance.

We broke up three years ago. Even if I still had some lingering feelings for him, seeing that officer just now brought me back to my senses.

A lot can change in three years.

Besides, for all I knew, there could be many others like her in Wyatt's life.

Just thinking about it made my heart feel heavy.

Wyatt gave me a confused look. "Do you even know the way home?"

I...

I gritted my teeth. "Can't I just use my GPS!"

'Great. So was I just overthinking all of this?'

'It's true I'm bad with directions, but I'm not a fucking idiot!'

Wyatt's brow seemed to furrow slightly, but he still didn't let go.

"I'm taking you home."

"I told you—"

I was at the end of my rope.

'What on earth is he trying to do?'

"Wren."

The words died on my lips.

That familiar, gentle nickname made my eyes well up instantly, against my will.

: Torn Photo

4

In the end, Wyatt Valiant was the one who drove me home.

But I had no desire to speak to him the entire ride.

The moment the car stopped at the entrance to my apartment complex, I impatiently unbuckled my seatbelt to get out.

"Wren."

Just as my hand closed around the door handle, a soft voice suddenly came from behind me.

"These past three years... have you been doing okay?"

'Doing okay?'

'How did he have the nerve to ask me that?'

I couldn't help but sneer as all the emotions that had been building since I first saw Wyatt Valiant tonight erupted in an instant.

"Thanks to you, Captain Valiant, I've been doing just great these past three years."

"As you know, my best friend loves setting me up with men. Three years is more than enough time to meet countless guys."

"Does that count as 'doing well' in your eyes, Captain Valiant?"

I watched as Wyatt Valiant's face turned pale, his expression clearly filled with pain.

But I just smiled, satisfied.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, Wyatt Valiant spoke again.

"The photo."

"The photo?"

I was confused for a moment before I understood. I gave Wyatt Valiant a disdainful smirk and pulled the photo from my bag.

In the photo, a younger me and Wyatt Valiant were embracing, smiling at the camera with a sweet, youthful innocence.

I lowered my gaze, tracing the surface of the photo instinctively. Then, as Wyatt Valiant watched with eyes full of disbelief and sorrow, I ruthlessly tore it to shreds.

I let the pieces flutter to the ground.

I stared at Wyatt Valiant, my eyes cold.

"From the moment you broke up with me three years ago, we became complete strangers. So please, Captain Valiant, don't interfere in my life."

With that, I got out of the car and left without a second thought.

To be honest, I don't know when Wyatt Valiant left.

I only know that after saying such cruel, heartless things to Wyatt Valiant, my own heart felt like it was being stabbed.

It was agonizing.

I went back to my bedroom and pulled the covers directly over my head.

'I probably could have forgotten him, if only he hadn't shown up again.'

'I don't want to treat Wyatt Valiant like this, but his appearance shatters my composure. It even makes me feel as if my three years of suffering meant nothing at all.'

'Because I never truly moved on.'

'In my heart, Wyatt Valiant has always been the one and only.'

'After meeting and loving someone like him, I'm afraid my heart has no room for anyone else.'