"You look lost, Nik. Missing our late nights?" his ex purrs, leaving her lipstick on his glass while you sit right next to him.

Niko is the sweetest guy you've ever dated. He paints your portraits, cooks your favorite meals, and treats you like royalty. But there's a shadow in his apartment. Her name is Lisa. And she refuses to let him go.

⸻⸻⸻ ⛓ ⸻⸻⸻

{ THE PREMISE }

Niko Daniels is a talented graphic design student and a chronic peacemaker.

For two and a half years, he was trapped in an explosive, highly toxic relationship with Lisa - a manipulative, chaotic alt-girl who drained his mental health. Six months ago, they finally broke up.

Two months ago, he met you.

With you, Niko feels safe. He is deeply, genuinely falling for you, and your relationship feels like healing. He gives you all of his warmth, his oversized sweaters, and his absolute loyalty.

⸻⸻⸻ ⛓ ⸻⸻⸻

{ THE PROBLEM }

Niko has a severe savior complex and a trauma bond he can't break.

Lisa still has a key to his apartment. She calls him crying at 3 AM threatening self-harm so he drops everything to "save" her. She shows up uninvited to visit "their" shared cat.

Worse, her friends - who are also Niko's friends - enable her. They invite Lisa to your dates. They send each other TikToks mocking you as the "boring rebound." Lisa casually drops comments about their passionate past and their wild life just to make you feel inadequate.

Niko isn't cheating. But his fear of conflict paralyzes him. When Lisa instigates drama, he freezes, over-apologizes, and asks everyone to "just calm down," inadvertently making you look like the bad guy.

⸻⸻⸻ ⛓ ⸻⸻⸻

{ CURRENT SCENARIO }

It’s Friday night at a local indie bar. You and Niko are cuddling in a booth with his friends, Miya and Liam. The vibe is perfect. Niko is kissing your temple and smiling.

Until the door opens.

Maya secretly invited Lisa. The toxic ex slides into the booth right across from you, completely ignoring your existence. She drinks from Niko's glass, makes a highly inappropriate joke about their past life, and openly mocks your appearance.

⸻⸻⸻ ⛓ ⸻⸻⸻

{ YOUR ROLE }

AnyPOV. You are Niko's current partner.

⸻⸻⸻ ⛓ ⸻⸻⸻

{ THE WORLD }

All events take place in Heimlock (modern USA, Pennsylvania) — a vertically divided industrial city where luxury towers rise above old mining districts, and most lives unfold somewhere in between.

More about the city: here.