Chapter 5

The scar on his temple caught the light, faint but there.

Years ago, in front of my abusive stepfather, Julian had his head cracked open just to keep me safe.

Bleeding and trembling, he had held me tight and whispered, "Maya, as long as I’m here, no one will ever hurt you again. I know how much pride you have. I promise, no one will ever know about your family."

The boy who made that promise felt so close, yet so far.

That scar had been the only anchor keeping my face blindness from completely erasing him from my mind.

But now...

Julian's face began to warp.

His lips were moving, but his words turned into static. His sharp features melted into a blank, white fog.

I couldn't see him anymore.

"Maya?!"

A voice broke through the fog, tight and laced with panic.

I turned toward the sound. I saw a face—sharp brows, deep-set eyes, filled with genuine concern and urgency.

It looked exactly like the boy I had fallen in love with all those years ago.

I stared at him, whispering, "Julian?"

The moment the name left my mouth, the air in the room seemed to freeze.

The man stared back at me, his eyes swirling with emotions I couldn't comprehend. It wasn't anger or disappointment. It was something much deeper, much heavier.

I looked toward the door, confused. "Julian? Did Chloe leave? Why didn't you walk her out?"

He didn't speak. He took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions.

I reached out, taking his hand, and forced a smile.

"I'm sorry. I'm bad at comforting people. Please don't be mad at me, okay?"

His entire body stiffened.

After a long silence, he whispered, "I'm not mad at you."

I blinked. I noticed his temple. The skin where the scar should have been was perfectly smooth.

I reached up, my fingers brushing his temple. "Did your scar heal? Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt," he said, his voice rasper than usual. "It healed a long time ago."

My tears finally spilled over. "Hold me. I'm cold."

He hesitated for a second, then pulled me tightly into his chest.

His arms wrapped around me so hard I could barely breathe. His chin rested on my head, his warm breath brushing my ear.

It felt like the familiar embrace I had clung to for years. But as I closed my eyes, something felt different.

His heartbeat was roaring like a drum, and he didn't smell like Julian's usual hospital disinfectant.

He smelled like sandalwood and fresh paper.

I tried to pull back to look at him, but his hand gently pressed the back of my head, keeping me close.

"Don't move," he whispered. "Just stay like this for a while."

In his warmth, the icy weight in my chest slowly melted. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

When I woke up, the morning sun was filtering through the blinds.

I sat up, my head throbbing. I looked around and froze.

This wasn't my apartment with Julian. It was a spacious, minimalist bedroom with shelves packed with heavy legal textbooks.

"You're awake?"

A voice came from the doorway.