Chapter 1: The End of Everything

Emma Carter stood at the edge of the cliff, staring at the dark ocean below.

The waves crashed violently against the rocks, creating a haunting sound that echoed through the night. The cold wind whipped through her hair and stung her skin, but she didn't care.

Nothing mattered anymore.

A bitter smile appeared on her lips as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Just this morning, she had been planning her wedding.

She had imagined walking down the aisle, wearing a beautiful white dress, and spending the rest of her life with the man she loved.

What a fool she had been.

Only a few hours ago, her entire world had shattered.

The image was burned into her memory.

She had returned to her apartment earlier than expected, excited to surprise her fiancé with dinner.

Instead, she had opened the bedroom door and found him in bed with her younger sister.

Emma squeezed her eyes shut.

The pain was unbearable.

"Emma, wait! It's not what it looks like!"

Her fiancé's voice still rang in her ears.

Not what it looks like?

She had seen enough.

There was no misunderstanding.

No explanation.

No excuse.

The man she had loved for four years had betrayed her.

But what hurt even more was her sister.

Emma had always protected her.

She had defended her when their parents scolded her.

She had helped pay her college fees.

She had sacrificed so much for her.

Yet her sister had repaid her by stealing the man she planned to marry.

The cruel smile on her sister's face haunted her.

"You were always too boring for him, Emma."

Those words had cut deeper than any knife.

As if that wasn't enough, her parents had chosen her sister's side.

They had told Emma not to create a scene.

Not to embarrass the family.

Not once had they cared about her feelings.

Not once had they asked if she was okay.

It was as though she had never mattered.

Emma looked down at the dark water below.

The emptiness inside her heart felt endless.

She was tired.

Tired of being the responsible daughter.

Tired of always giving while everyone else took.

Tired of pretending she was strong.

For the first time in her life, she wanted to stop fighting.

Maybe everyone would be happier if she disappeared.

Maybe the pain would finally end.

Taking a shaky breath, Emma stepped closer to the edge.

The wind roared around her.

Tears blurred her vision.

This was it.

One step.

Just one step.

She slowly lifted her foot.

Goodbye.

Before she could move forward, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

A deep voice thundered beside her.

Emma gasped.

The next second, she was pulled backward with surprising force.

Her body slammed into a hard chest.

Strong arms held her firmly in place.

Shock flooDed through her.

She immediately struggled.

"Let me go!"

"No."

The response was cold and firm.

Emma turned around angrily.

The man standing before her was tall and impossibly handsome.

He wore an expensive black suit that looked out of place on the lonely cliff.

His dark eyes were sharp and intimidating.

At the moment, those eyes were filled with anger.

"Who are you?" Emma demanded.

"Someone stopping you from making a stupid mistake."

His blunt answer only made her angrier.

"You don't know anything about me!"

The stranger stared at her for a long moment.

Then his expression softened slightly.

"You're right," he said quietly. "I don't know you."

His gaze met hers.

"But I know that whatever happened, it isn't worth your life."

Emma froze.

No one had said those words to her.

Not her parents.

Not her friends.

Not anyone.

For the first time that night, someone seemed to care.

The walls around her heart crumbled.

A sob escaped her lips.

Then another.

Before she knew it, tears were pouring down her face.

The stranger didn't say anything.

He simply stood there, silently supporting her as she cried.

Neither of them knew it yet.

But this unexpected encounter was about to change their lives forever.

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