Her heart ached at the distance between them, the invisible wall that had grown since he returned from the war. "But you don't have to do this alone. We promised each other, remember? When we were kids—we promised we'd always be there for each other."
"That was a long time ago," Rai muttered. "Things are different now."
She reached out to touch his shoulder, but he pulled away, standing up and moving toward the door. "I can't do this," he said, his voice heavy with resignation. "I can't be part of this… arrangement. Not like this."
"Rai, please—"
"Don't," he interrupted, his voice low. "Just don't."
He left without another word, leaving Eli standing there in the dark, her heart shattered.
*
Eli sat by the fireplace in her study, staring into the crackling flames as the memories flooded her mind. It had been years, yet the weight of the past clung to her as tightly as the day she had made the decision—the decision that changed everything.
It was after Rai had returned from the war, battered and broken, but alive. Barely. His prosthetic hand, the scars that marred his once-strong body, the distant look in his eyes—it was all too much for her to bear. He had survived the battlefield, but she knew that in the world of politics and noble families, survival was a much crueler game.
She remembered that day vividly, the moment she made her proposal—one that had sealed both of their fates.
…
…
…
Eli stood in her father's study, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she faced Duke Matheris. He sat behind his massive desk, his face calm, but his eyes were calculating.
"You can't send him away again," Eli pleaded, her voice shaking with desperation. "He's been through enough. I won't let you use him like a pawn in your games any longer."
Her father sighed, barely lifting his gaze from the documents on his desk. "This isn't about him, Eli. This is about the future of our family. Marquess Adira Ashford is an ideal match for you. The alliance will strengthen our position, and Rai… Rai is nothing more than a distraction."
"A distraction?" Eli's voice rose, her anger finally breaking through. "He's a person! He fought in your war, nearly died because of it, and now you want to throw him away?"
Duke Matheris stood up slowly, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. "You will not raise your voice at me. Rai is the son of a man who was once a threat to our power. He was useful during the war, but now, he serves no purpose. You will marry Adira once he is found, and that is final."
Eli's heart pounded in her chest. She had known her father's ambitions all her life, but she had never imagined he would be so cold, so ruthless. She thought of Rai, of the boy who had been her best friend, her protector, the one she had secretly loved all her life.
There was only one way out of this.
"I want to marry Rai." The words left her mouth before she had fully thought them through, but she stood her ground, meeting her father's icy gaze.
The duke raised an eyebrow, surprised by her boldness. "Excuse me?"
"If I marry Rai, it will protect him," she said quickly, her mind racing. "You'll no longer be able to send him away to war nor discard him as you please. He'll be a part of our family, and his name will be tied to ours. It's the only way."
Her father's face darkened. "You can't be serious. A marriage with him would bring nothing to this family. He has no title, no wealth, no influence. You're a duke's daughter, and he's a crippled soldier with nothing to offer."
"I don't care!" Eli's voice trembled, but she forced herself to stand firm. "I'll make it a contract marriage then. It doesn't have to be real in the way you think. It's just… just a way to protect him from your peoplw. After all he's done for us, I owe him that much."
Her father stared at her for a long moment, his eyes cold and unreadable. Finally, he sat back down, folding his hands in front of him.
"You owe him nothing," Duke Matheris said calmly. "But very well. If this is the only way you'll obey, I'll allow it. However, know this, Eli—this marriage will not stop me from securing our future. I will still see to it that you are wed to Marquess Adira when he is found and alive. And as for Rai…" He paused, his expression darkening. "He won't stay around forever."
Eli's heart sank, but she nodded, knowing she had little choice.
…
…
…
Back in the present, Eli squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the pain that surged through her chest.
She had tried, time and time again, to speak with Rai after that night, to explain that her love for him was real.
But he had always avoided her, keeping his distance, as if the contract marriage was a chain around his neck that he couldn't bear to wear.
Then, one day, he was gone.
No note, no explanation.
He had simply vanished, leaving her to face the fallout of their broken promises alone.
Eli opened her eyes, staring into the fire once more. The embers flickered and cracked, much like the fragile bond she and Rai once shared.
And now, she was left with only one question echoing in her mind—was it too late to fix what had been broken?
Or had she lost Rai forever?
*