Three Years Ago...The late summer air was warm, sticky with the scent of jasmine and freshly cut grass, filling the sprawling estate grounds where Stella had slipped away from the noisy family gathering. She found him on the terrace, alone, his hands stuffed into his pockets, the city lights behind him casting a shadow over his striking profile."Noah?" she'd asked softly, her voice barely carrying over the soft hum of the music drifting out from inside.He turned, his eyes softening when they landed on her. "Stella. Thought I'd lost you to that crowd."She managed a smile, her pulse quickening as he approached. They had been circling each other for months, stealing glances, and sharing laughter at every gathering. He was Kai's best friend, the guy she'd always looked up to as a kid, but last summer had changed things. They had begun spending more time together—conversations that stretched into the early morning, texts that made her heart race, and a pull she couldn't quite name. Then, one night under a canopy of stars, they had shared their first kiss.From there, they had fallen into a routine of stolen moments, always on the edges of family gatherings or late-night calls, keeping everything hidden from Kai. But in the back of her mind, she always feared it was temporary, that once he returned to the city and his world of high-powered deals, she'd be forgotten.That night, as he reached for her hand and pulled her close, she knew she'd fallen harder than she'd ever intended."You know we'll have to tell Kai," she'd whispered, her cheek pressed against his shoulder, her heart pounding.He pulled back slightly, his gaze guarded. "Maybe. But not yet.""Why not?" she'd pressed, sensing a sudden tension in him that hadn't been there before."Stella..." His voice was a mix of frustration and hesitation. "You're still in college. Your life's here, with Kai, with school. And mine... it isn't very easy. I don't think we're on the same path."The words hit her harder than she'd expected. She pulled her hand away, her eyes wide. "What are you saying, Noah?"He sighed, the tension in his jaw sharp as he looked away. "I don't want to hold you back. There's so much ahead of you—you deserve to enjoy every bit. Besides, Kai would never understand."The silence between them grew, thick and painful. She had known he was ambitious, and driven, but she hadn't realized how much that drive would push her to the sidelines."So that's it?" Her voice wavered a mix of anger and hurt. "You're done?"He looked at her, his expression hardening. "I'm just saying we need space, Stella. It's not forever."But she didn't believe him. Something in his tone told her that for him, this wasn't temporary. She forced herself to nod, biting back the urge to demand more. "Fine," she whispered, stepping back. "Good luck with your plans, Mr. Noah Dawson."And that was the last real conversation they'd had before he left for the city, diving headfirst into his work, barely sending a word her way.Present DayNow, standing in the middle of the gala, that night seemed as real as if it had just happened. Stella's hands clenched by her sides as she scanned the room for him, her chest tight with unresolved frustration. The years hadn't dulled the sting of his words, and no matter how many times she told herself she was over it, over him, Noah always had a way of throwing her back into that headspace.She wandered into the quieter part of the hall, the sounds of laughter and music dimming. As if fate had its sense of timing, she felt his presence before she saw him.Noah leaned against the wall, his expression unreadable, watching her with that same intense focus. He straightened as she approached, his cool demeanor replaced with something closer to regret."Stella," he began, his voice low, careful.She halted a few steps away, crossing her arms. "What do you want, Noah? Another round of empty promises?"He flinched, though he tried to cover it with a casual shrug. "I deserved that.""Yeah, you did." She held his gaze, the years of unresolved tension between them filling the air. "You walked away, and then just... disappeared. Left me to figure it all out on my own."He exhaled, looking away for a moment. "It wasn't easy for me either."She let out a bitter laugh. "Really? You seemed to move on pretty quickly. I was just a distraction, right?""No." His voice was sharp, the anger flashing in his blue eyes. "You were never just a distraction, Stella.""Then why did you leave?" Her voice cracked, and she hated herself for it, for letting him see how much she still cared."Because I thought I was protecting you. I thought... you were better off without someone who'd drag you into his mess. I was starting my company, fighting to make it in a world that's cutthroat, and I didn't want you caught up in that chaos.""So you decided for both of us?" Her voice rose, drawing the attention of a few nearby guests who quickly looked away. "Do you have any idea how that felt? To be dismissed like that?""I didn't mean to dismiss you." His voice was softer now, the confidence faltering. "I was scared. Scared that I'd ruin you, that I'd end up hurting you more than I already did."She shook her head, taking a step back. "You did hurt me, Noah. But not because you had a chaotic life. You hurt me because you never let me in. You took away my choice."A tense silence fell between them as they stood there, each one struggling to process the weight of their past. Noah clenched his hands, his jaw set. "I know I can't change the past, Stella. But I'm here now. I'm not the same guy I was back then. I've grown up too."She studied him, her heart warring with her mind. She had told herself a hundred times that he didn't deserve a second chance, that she had moved on. But here, standing inches from him, she realized that no matter how much time had passed, part of her had never let go.But forgiving him was a different story. That would take more than words.They spent the rest of the evening exchanging polite words, sidestepping each other's gazes, neither willing to confront the conversation they'd just had. By the time Stella returned to her apartment, her mind was a tangled mess, each thought leading her back to him, to the what-ifs, to the ache of unresolved memories.The next few days passed in a blur, her classes and her writing all feeling like background noise. She tried to focus, to convince herself that the conversation had settled things. But all it had done was reopen a door she'd thought she'd locked for good.Meanwhile, Noah found himself distracted at work, unable to focus on anything but the way Stella had looked at him, the hurt in her voice. It was an ache he hadn't expected, one that kept resurfacing no matter how much he tried to bury it.One evening, Stella's phone buzzed with a text that sent her heart racing.Noah: "Coffee tomorrow? I owe you an explanation."She stared at the message, torn between the urge to ignore him and the undeniable pull to meet him, to finally settle the questions that had haunted her for so long. With a shaky breath, she typed her reply.Stella: "Fine. Noon."Setting her phone down, she felt a mixture of nerves and anticipation rise within her. This was her chance to finally confront the past, to find closure. Or maybe, just maybe, to start something new.But this time, she would make sure it was on her terms.