Chapter 2: Lost without you
The scent of eggs and bacon filled the air when Ella woke up, the warm, buttery aroma wrapping around her like a deceptive embrace. For a moment, still caught in the haze of sleep, she allowed herself to imagine that things were normal. That she was waking up in a home filled with love, where the man she shared a bed with truly cherished her.
Then she shifted, and the sting on her cheek brought everything rushing back.
Ella sat up slowly, running her fingers over the tender skin. The bruise hadn’t fully formed yet, but she knew it would darken by midday. Her stomach twisted—not just from the pain, but from what was waiting for her beyond the bedroom door.
The apologies. The sweetness. The part of the cycle that always made leaving seem impossible.
She inhaled deeply, bracing herself before pushing back the covers and stepping onto the cold wooden floor. The apartment, which had been a disaster the night before, was spotless now. The empty beer bottles were gone, the wrappers and dirty dishes cleared away. The couch cushions had been fluffed, and even the coffee table had been wiped down.
Ryan stood by the stove, flipping eggs in a pan, the muscles in his arms tensing as he worked. He glanced over his shoulder when he heard her footsteps, a bright, easy smile stretching across his face.
"Morning, baby," he greeted, like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t raised his hand against her just hours ago.
Ella didn’t respond right away. She watched him instead, the way he moved so confidently, like he was the perfect boyfriend—caring, thoughtful, dependable. This was the man she had fallen for once, before she had learned what lay beneath the surface.
Ryan turned off the burner and plated the eggs, adding crispy bacon and toast. He brought the plate over to the small dining table, pulling out a chair for her.