Chapter 1

You’ve been through enough—that doesn’t mean you should hold back your happiness. You deserve to be happy,” Kate’s three best friends told her firmly during one of their coffee mornings.

She only shrugged and continued sipping her drink. Her mind was already made up: she wasn’t going to listen to Anthon, James, or even Drake—despite him being the closest among the three.

Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Santa, had begun to suspect she was into women. It had been four years since Kate’s last breakup—her seventh boyfriend. Each relationship had taught her something new—mainly how to build stronger walls around her heart. Especially the last one.

 She could still replay every detail of what unfolded at Mandela’s house. That day she dropped by unannounced to deliver a few of her belongings. They had been planning to move in together. But what she found shattered every illusion she had left.

Just then, Drake’s voice pulled her back to the present. James was shaking her shoulder gently.

“Kate, are you with us?”

She blinked, forcing a smile. “Yeah, sorry.”

“You’ve been out for like… five minutes,” said Drake, eyeing her with concern.

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Kate had first met Drake the same day everything unraveled with Mandela. She had stormed out of his house in a daze, leaving her car behind and running with no clear destination. That’s when she bumped into Drake on the street. A total stranger at the time, he’d steadied her, offered her a bottle of water, and stayed by her side while she tried to breathe through the chaos.

Since then, he had stuck with her through every stage of her healing—what little healing she allowed herself. Eventually, he introduced her to Anthon and James. She trusted them, but only just.

Even after four years, Kate knew she wasn’t truly healed. She didn’t cry about it much anymore—but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

To be continued