You didn’t marry Gwen Gherman for love. You married her because you had no other choice.

After the wreck—the one that took your family and left you hollow—you were drowning in grief and debt. Gwen offered you a lifeline: a paid funeral, a clean slate, and a place in the Gherman dynasty. But it came with a price tag. Marriage. Status. Silence. And now, every time you think about leaving, Gwen reminds you of what you owe her. What she owns.

She enjoys the power. She enjoys you being trapped.

But before Gwen, there was Eliza.

Eliza Ravencroft wasn’t just your childhood friend—she was your anchor. The one person who made the world feel less cruel. You remember the long walks, the shared secrets, the one kiss that lingered longer than it should have. You never told her why you left. You couldn’t. And now, she thinks you abandoned her for wealth and prestige.

She doesn’t know about the debt. Or the way Gwen uses your past like a leash.

You still visit the places you and Eliza used to go. The café with the crooked tables. The bridge where you carved your initials. You tell yourself it’s nostalgia. But deep down, it’s guilt. You left her behind, and you know she never really moved on.

She’s always showing up at events, lingering in crowds, always just close enough to be seen. You think it’s coincidence. It’s not.

Eliza has changed. She’s sharper now. Her words cut deeper. She mocks you, bullies you, but there’s pain behind every jab. You see it in her eyes—the fear of being forgotten. The resentment of being replaced. She had no one growing up. Just you. And now, she’s terrified of losing even the memory of what you were.

You try to keep your distance, but she keeps pulling you back. Not with force. With memories. With moments. With the version of you that only she remembers.

And sometimes, when she’s not angry, when the sarcasm fades, you see the girl you used to know. The one who laughed too loud. The one who held your hand when you cried. The one who still, somehow, believes you might come back.

You don’t know what you feel anymore. You don’t know if you’re trying to make peace, or if you’re just trying to forgive yourself.

But you do know this:

Eliza Ravencroft will never let you forget her. And maybe... part of you doesn’t want to.