The doctor hesitated, then slid a small slip of paper toward me. “He didn’t want his name revealed. But he left this number. He said… you’d recognize his voice.”
Later that day, after hours of pacing and wrestling with my thoughts, I finally dialed the number. My heart pounded as the call connected.
“Sienna.”
The voice was calm, deep — achingly familiar.
“Orion…” I whispered.
A low chuckle came from the other end. “Second-guessing your decision now?”
I closed my eyes, my grip tightening around the phone. “Why would you do this?”
“Because I never stopped caring,” he replied simply. “Did you really think I’d let him ruin you completely? I told you before — Nikolai never deserved you.”
Back in high school, the three of us were inseparable — Nikolai, Orion, and me. We studied together, shared lunches, laughed over the smallest things. I once believed nothing could tear us apart… until both of them confessed their feelings for me.
What began as teasing soon turned tense. I still remembered the night everything changed. After practice, Nikolai grabbed Orion by the collar, accusing him of trying to take me away. Orion struck first, blood staining Nikolai’s lip as anger burned in his eyes.
“You don’t deserve her,” Orion snapped. “You only want her because I do.”
Nikolai laughed, cold and confident. “Then let’s see who she chooses.”
I stepped between them, my voice shaking. “Please, stop. You both matter to me. Don’t make me choose like this.”
But neither of them backed down. Nikolai smirked, wiping the blood from his mouth, while Orion’s expression darkened with hurt. I told them I needed time — that maybe, eventually, I’d understand my feelings.
In the end, I chose Nikolai. He was passionate, charming, unpredictable. I thought that was love.
Orion didn’t argue. He simply turned and walked away. The next day, he was gone. No farewell, no explanation. Just whispers that he had left the country, taken over his father’s business, and built an empire far greater than Nikolai’s.
Even after all these years, Nikolai still resented him. Not only as a rival — but because somewhere deep down, he knew Orion’s love had always been genuine.
“If you want,” Orion said softly, pulling me back to the present, “I’ll come for you in a few days. We’ll leave everything behind. I’ll marry you myself.”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”