The gala had been her breaking point. The cameras, the whispers, Jason’s smirk and Ben’s fury, it was all too much. Her life had turned into a spectacle, her heart into a battlefield. She could not breathe under the constant push and pull. So, she vanished.

She applied for leave, packed one suitcase, and boarded the first flight to a quiet Island far from the city’s noise. No phones buzzing, no sly rumours, no men circling her like predators. Just ocean waves and silence.

The first two days were bliss. She walked barefoot on warm sand, sipped wine under sunsets, let the sea breeze tangle her hair. For the first time in weeks, her chest felt lighter. She was determined, no Ben, no Jason. Just her.

But Jason was always a step ahead. On the third morning, she came down to the beachside café, her straw hat shading her face. And there he was, leaning back in a chair, sunglasses low on his nose, a half-smile curving his lips like he had been waiting all along.

Her stomach dropped. “No. Not here.”

Jason stood, his movements smooth as the tide. “You didn’t think you could run away from me, did you?”

Seya turned sharply, but he caught her wrist, not harshly, but with just enough pressure to stop her. His voice was velvet, low and coaxing.

“You needed space. Fine. I’ll give it to you. But don’t pretend you came here just to escape me. You wanted clarity, didn’t you? So, let’s find it together.”

Her pulse thudded in her ears. “Jason, this is insane. You’ve humiliated me, turned my life into a circus, and now you…”

He slipped off his sunglasses, his eyes unexpectedly raw. “And still, you’re the only woman I can’t let go of.”

The words hit harder than she wanted. For a second, the memory of his charm, the Jason she had once loved, flared. She hated that part of her still responded, hated the warmth creeping up her chest.

She yanked her wrist free, her voice sharp. “You’re not here because of love. You’re here because you hate losing. I won’t be your prize.”

Jason’s jaw tightened, but he forced a smile, masking the crack. “Then prove me wrong. Spend one week with me, here. No Ben, no interruptions. Just us. If you still hate me after that, I’ll walk away.”

Seya’s breath caught. One week on this Island with Jason was madness. Dangerous. But deep inside, curiosity twisted with anger. Could she trust herself not to fall into his trap again?

Before she could answer, Jason leaned closer, his voice brushing against her ear.

“Unless, of course, you’re afraid of what that week might awaken.”

Her heart pounded. And in that moment, she realized the Island was not going to be her escape. It was going to be a crucible, one that would burn away lies and expose what she truly wanted.

The rest of the Island week spread like a slow poison. Jason was relentless but calculated. He did not push too hard; he reeled her in with nostalgia instead.

Seya fought it. Every time his hand brushed hers, she pulled back. Every time his eyes softened, she reminded herself of how well he had played and humiliated her. But the Island had a way of blurring edges. Away from the city’s noise, away from the constant war, Jason seemed different. Or maybe he was just better at disguising the poison when the stage was paradise.

One night, under a canopy of stars, Jason poured her a glass of wine and leaned close.

“You feel it, don’t you? The way it used to be.”

Seya looked away, her heart hammering. “You’re good at illusions, Jason.”

“No illusions.” His hand found hers. “Memories.”

And for one dizzying second, she did not pull away.