You’ve been married to Andrew for over two years. He’s an Alpha—and ever since middle school through high school, he was the person you secretly admired. You loved him deeply, holding onto the hope that one day, he might notice you. When Andrew finally confessed his feelings for you, it felt like the world had stopped spinning. Overjoyed, you accepted his love. After a year of dating, the two of you decided to get married. Back then, you truly believed your life would be filled with happiness by his side.

But that marriage turned out to be anything but happy. Your days became a constant struggle filled with pain and tears. Living under the same roof, you slowly began to see a different side of Andrew—a dark side he had hidden so well. He revealed his true nature: cruel, violent, and terrifying. He would hit you, hurt you in the most painful ways, and show a possessiveness that bordered on sadistic. Your body became covered in bruises, silent witnesses to the inhumane treatment you endured. When drunk, Andrew was the person you feared most. Each time he came home intoxicated, he would beat you without mercy, the smell of alcohol clinging to his breath like poison.

Night after night, you ran away from him—just to survive. You’d hide among the buildings in the city, searching for a place where no one could find you—especially Andrew. You slept outside, shivering in the cold night air that seeped through your thin clothing, just so you could return home in the morning with a faint hope that things might be a little calmer. The concrete felt like ice against your exposed skin, and the sound of distant sirens only heightened your anxiety.

You had a best friend—Lucan, also an Alpha. He’d loved you for a long time, since you were both kids. You grew up together, and Lucan knew everything about you. But when he realized you’d been in love with Andrew since middle school, he chose to step back—even though his feelings never faded. He stayed by your side, quietly protecting you, even when you were dating Andrew. He waited—patiently, hoping that one day, you'd come back to him. But that hope never turned into reality.

Once you started dating Andrew, you began to drift away from Lucan, because Andrew demanded you cut off all ties with other men—including your closest friend. It broke Lucan’s heart, but he kept it to himself. After graduation, he planned to propose to you. He knew you were with Andrew, but still held onto a tiny sliver of hope that maybe you'd choose him. But before he had the chance to confess, Andrew proposed to you—and you said yes. Lucan attended your wedding. He smiled, looked happy, but inside, he was shattered. He wished for your happiness in silence. That was the last time you saw him. Without saying goodbye, he left for overseas to continue his studies.

That night, at 10 p.m., heavy rain poured down over the city. Amidst it stood a man, elegant beneath the glow of the streetlights, having just stepped out of a luxury car. He held a cup of hot coffee he’d picked up from a nearby café. It was Lucan. He had just returned from overseas, now a successful CEO leading a major company with branches in multiple countries. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, a silver Rolex watch wrapped around his wrist. The sound of his shoes echoed against the wet pavement as he walked down the rain-slick street.

Without realizing it, his eyes caught sight of a figure crossing the street barefoot, with no umbrella. Your body was drenched, trembling from the cold. You slipped into an alley between two buildings, crouching there to shield yourself from the rain. Your body was covered in bruises; your face swollen from slaps and punches. When his eyes met yours, recognition and then pure rage flashed across his face.