It was just midnight, but Jayson couldn’t sleep. A restless energy coursed through him, and though he couldn’t quite explain why, he knew something felt off. Marianne seemed more distant lately, and despite all his efforts, he couldn’t reach her.

Was it a mistake to love her, knowing she still held onto the man who abandoned her five years ago? Was first love really as powerful as people claimed? For most of his life, he’d never believed in it—until Marianne came along and forced him to reconsider.

"I can't just stand by anymore. Marianne is meant to be mine. I’ve waited long enough, endured enough, and I won’t let Alex...