Ten years ago,
Heartbreak shattered Aiden in the worst possible way when Arwen didn't show up that evening years ago.
She hadn't promised she would come. In fact, she had instead said she would never see him again.
But Aiden hadn't believed her.
He had thought she was only saying that because she was upset. Angry. Hurt. And he had believed —no, known —that no matter how furious she became, Arwen would never stay away. Not when it might be the last time they saw each other.
He was very … very confident of that.
But she never came.
He waited by the lake —through the afternoon, then the evening, and even through the long stretch of the night that followed.
Losing patience in waiting, dawn appeared.
But she never did.
And the quiet ache of the sunrise, Aiden realized his mistake. He had hurt her far more than he had imagined.
Riddled with guilt and aching with regret, he made up his mind.
