The Man From The Past

Tere's hands tightened around the steering wheel. Her eyes were fixed on the magnificent mansion standing behind the tall iron gates before her.

Tere's car stopped several meters from the gate. She did not immediately press the accelerator. Inside the silent cabin, her heart pounded hard. The moment she stepped inside, she would come face-to-face with the man she had left behind years ago.

Marvin.

Tere closed her eyes. The voices of her parents suddenly echoed in her memory.

"Don't be with Marvin, Tere. He isn't the right man for you."

"We don't want to see our daughter living with a mafia boss."

"Leave Marvin and marry Xandes if you respect us."

Back then, Tere chose to give in and obey their wishes. She buried her feelings, left Marvin, and married Xandes. She believed that decision would bring her peace. She thought Xandes could be a good husband and give her a happy life.

However, all of that faith was shattered without a trace.

Her parents died in a tragic accident exactly one week after her wedding. The accident had felt suspicious, even though Tere had no evidence to uncover the truth at the time. To this day, the guilt over their deaths still haunted her.

Then Ana was gone forever, and her marriage fell apart. When Tere lost everything she had ever held on to, it was the man she had once left behind who was the first to reach out his hand.

Tere opened her eyes. She took a deep breath.

"I already made a promise," she whispered to herself. Before Ana breathed her last, she had already promised Marvin that she would leave Xandes. She would not go back on her word.

Tere pressed the accelerator. The tall iron gates slowly opened automatically. The two men dressed in black standing beside the gate lowered their heads as Tere's car passed through. Her arrival had clearly been expected.

Tere stopped her car directly in front of the main entrance, then turned off the engine. As soon as she opened the door and stepped out, the mansion's main door opened.

A man stood there.

Marvin.

Tere froze. The man still looked exactly as he did in her memories. His body was tall and straight, his gaze sharp, and his expression calm and nearly devoid of emotion. However, one thing was different. Marvin's eyes no longer held the gaze of a man demanding an explanation. Instead, they belonged to someone who wanted to make sure the woman before him was truly safe.

Marvin slowly stepped outside. The guards around him immediately moved aside. Not a single one dared to speak.

When he stood only a few steps in front of Tere, Marvin stopped. His eyes settled on Tere's pale face, then lowered to her fingers.

There was no wedding ring there anymore.

Marvin looked back into Tere's eyes. He did not ask about Xandes or what had happened.

"Marvin..." Tere called softly. Her voice was almost drowned out by the night breeze.

Marvin's right hand clenched tightly for several seconds before finally relaxing again. For years, the man had imagined this meeting. He had once thought he would be angry, demand an explanation for why Tere had left him, or make Tere feel the same pain. Yet, when he saw the fragile woman standing before him, all that anger vanished.

Marvin stepped closer. "Have you eaten?"

Tere was stunned. Of all the things he could have said, she never expected those to be the first words to come from Marvin's mouth.

"No," Tere answered softly.

Marvin nodded slowly. "Come inside."

"Marvin, we need to talk about our agreement..."

"Eat first, Tere," Marvin interrupted gently but firmly. "We can talk about everything else later. None of it is more important than your condition right now."

Tere froze in place. This man's concern for her had not changed in the slightest. Marvin was the first man who had ever made her feel loved unconditionally. Yet back then, their relationship had been blocked by Tere's parents' fear of Marvin's underworld.

On the other hand, Tere also carried a deep disappointment from the past. Back then, Marvin had never fought for her or tried to win her back when her parents rejected their relationship. Marvin had simply remained silent and let her go. That disappointment was what eventually pushed Tere to let Marvin go and learn to love Xandes.

Tere never knew that Marvin had been bound by a promise to her parents at the time, a promise not to drag their daughter into the dangers of his world. Marvin had given in for Tere's safety and happiness.

Marvin extended his hand. "Come."

Tere stared at his palm before slowly placing her fingers in it. Marvin held her hand warmly, not so tightly that it hurt, but firmly enough to make her feel safe.

"Come," Marvin repeated.

Tere obeyed. They walked into the mansion together. The guards lowered their heads respectfully. Everyone here knew who Tere was, the only woman capable of softening Marvin's decisions.

Marvin led Tere straight to the dining room. Tere stopped in her tracks when she saw the dishes spread across the table. Everything was her favorite food. Marvin still remembered every little detail about her.

During the meal, silence filled the room. Marvin simply sat beside her, poured her water, and made sure Tere finished her portion without asking too many questions.

After they finished eating, Marvin led Tere upstairs to the second floor. Tere's steps gradually grew heavier as she walked along the corridor that felt so familiar.

"Do you still remember this place?" Marvin asked without turning around.

"I remember." Tere's voice trembled. "It's been so long."

"Yes, it has."

Marvin stopped in front of a thick wooden door and turned the handle. The door opened.

Tere stepped inside and immediately froze. It was the room they used to share before everything fell apart. The arrangement, the color of the curtains, even the scent in the room were still exactly the same. Nothing had changed.

"You... you kept this room like this?" Tere asked, looking at Marvin with eyes that were beginning to fill with tears.

"Yes."

"Why, Marvin?"

Marvin closed the door firmly, then walked toward Tere until the distance between them narrowed.

"Because I never allowed anyone to touch or enter this place after you left," Marvin answered honestly.

Tere lowered her head. A single tear slipped down her cheek.

Marvin raised his hand, intending to wipe away the tear. However, his fingers stopped several inches in the air. The man who was usually ruthless and never hesitated to make decisions in the underworld suddenly found himself hesitating simply to touch the cheek of the woman he loved.

Tere lifted her head and looked into Marvin's uncertain eyes. "Why did you stop?"

"I don't want to make you feel pressured," Marvin said softly. "I don't want to force you again."

Those words struck Tere's chest. In the past, Marvin's dominant nature and the decisions he made unilaterally had often made Tere feel ignored. Marvin realized the mistakes he had made in the past. He deeply regretted them, but for years, he had never been given the chance to make things right.

Now that he had that chance, Marvin did not want to use his power or pressure her. He wanted Tere to be here because it was what she wanted.

"I made so many mistakes with you in the past, Tere," Marvin said in a low voice. "I realize that now."

"Yes, you made mistakes," Tere replied hoarsely. "And I didn't leave you only because of my parents, Marvin."

Marvin looked deeply into her eyes. "I know."

"I loved you so much back then," Tere continued, tears now streaming down her cheeks. "But I was also deeply disappointed in you. You never fought for me in front of them. You let me walk away without putting up a fight. That's why I chose to stop hoping for you."

Marvin lowered his head for a moment, accepting every word Tere spoke as a blow to his pride. "Forgive me. Back then, I thought letting you go was the only way to protect you."

"Now... I've lost everything, Marvin. My child is gone. I have no one left," Tere whispered in despair.

"You have me," Marvin interrupted immediately, without hesitation. "You will always have me, Tere."

Tere fell silent, stunned by the certainty in the man's voice.

Marvin stepped forward, closing the distance between them. This time, he did not give Tere a chance to pull away. His hands moved to cup Tere's face, then he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers.

The kiss was neither rough nor hurried. It was filled with longing, guilt, and the deep feelings he had kept buried for years.

Tere froze for a few seconds. However, the warmth and protection she had been missing for so long suddenly filled her chest. Her hands slowly rose, clutching the fabric of Marvin's shirt over his chest. Her sob broke through the kiss.

Marvin slowly broke their kiss when he felt Tere's shoulders trembling violently. He pressed their foreheads together, taking a deep breath while continuing to hold Tere's face in both hands.

"I've already given in once and let you go for the sake of the happiness you chose," Marvin whispered, his voice suddenly becoming very serious and filled with dominance.

Tere looked into Marvin's black eyes, which gleamed sharply beneath the dim bedroom light. "What do you mean..."

"This time, I will never let you go again, Tere," Marvin cut in coldly. "No matter what happens, anyone who tries to take you away from me, including your husband, will be destroyed until nothing remains. You belong to me now."