Keifer's POV
For a moment I thought I was imagining things.
The woman standing across the boardroom table looked exactly like her.
But that was impossible.
I had searched for years.
Cities.
Countries.
Hospitals.
Universities.
Everywhere.
And now she was standing right in front of me.
"Jay…?" I whispered.
The room was silent.
Every executive looked confused.
Jay stood there frozen.
Her expression was calm, but I could see the storm in her eyes.
"Mr. Watson," one of the board members spoke nervously. "Shall we begin the meeting?"
I didn't even look at him.
My eyes stayed locked on her.
"Everyone leave," I said coldly.
The room fell silent.
"But sir—"
"Now."
Within seconds the room emptied.
The heavy doors closed behind them.
And suddenly it was just the two of us.
After years.
Finally.
Jay's POV
My heart was beating so loudly I thought he could hear it.
Keifer.
Standing right in front of me.
The man I had spent years trying to forget.
The man I had left behind.
He walked slowly toward me.
Each step made my chest tighten.
"You disappeared," he said quietly.
His voice wasn't angry.
It was worse.
It was hurt.
I looked down at the table.
"I know."
"You didn't call."
Silence.
"You didn't send a message."
My hands clenched slightly.
"You didn't even leave a note."
When I didn't respond, his voice suddenly rose.
"Do you have any idea what I went through?!"
The pain in his voice hit me like a knife.
Keifer's POV
Years.
Years of searching.
Of hoping.
Of thinking she might be dead somewhere.
And she was here.
Alive.
Successful.
Standing right in front of me like nothing happened.
"You left me," I said.
Her voice was quiet.
"I had to."
"No."
My hands slammed onto the table.
"You didn't."
She finally looked at me.
And for the first time I saw tears forming in her eyes.
"If I stayed…" she whispered.
"I might have hurt you."
The words hit me hard.
"Is that why you ran away?"
"My flashbacks were getting worse," she said.
"The doctor told me if another one happened while someone was near me… I might seriously injure them."
"And you thought leaving was the solution?"
"I thought it was the only way to protect you."
My chest burned with frustration.
"You should have trusted me."
"I did," she said softly.
"That's why I left."
Jay's POV
Keifer ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
"You went through everything alone."
"Yes."
"You worked three jobs while studying medicine."
"Yes."
"You became the best trauma surgeon in the country."
I nodded slowly.
His eyes softened slightly.
"You could have told me."
"I couldn't risk it."
"And now?" he asked.
"Are you still running?"
I stayed silent.
Because the truth was…
I didn't know the answer.
Keifer's POV
I stared at her.
Years of anger.
Years of pain.
Years of love.
All mixing together.
"You know what the worst part was?" I said quietly.
"What?"
"I never stopped loving you."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"And no matter how angry I was…"
My voice softened.
"I still looked for you."
Her breathing became uneven.
"Keifer…"
Before she could finish—
I pulled her into my arms.
For a moment she froze.
Then slowly…
She hugged me back.
Jay's POV
Being in his arms again felt unreal.
Familiar.
Safe.
Everything I had tried to forget came rushing back.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
He tightened his hold.
"Don't disappear again."
My voice trembled.
"What if I still hurt you?"
He lifted my chin gently.
"You won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know you."
His thumb brushed away a tear from my cheek.
"And because I'm not letting you face anything alone anymore."
My heart felt like it might break.
Years of distance.
Years of pain.
All collapsing in this one moment.
"Keifer…"
"Yes?"
"I missed you."
He smiled slightly.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I missed you more."
Then he pulled me closer and kissed me softly.
And for the first time in years…
I allowed myself to believe that maybe…
Just maybe…
We could start again.