𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗻 [ BILLIONAIRE ]

25. He's back !!

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Florida, USA - Eight Years Later

Sheya sat alone in her dimly lit room, the only source of light being the solitary candle on her small birthday cake.

She inhaled deeply and blew out the candle, watching the smoke swirl and disappear into the air.

No one surrounded her; the room was quiet, save for the occasional buzz of her phone vibrating with notifications.

Sheya smiled softly as she began to check her messages.

Her sister drishti had sent a long, heartfelt text, followed by several missed calls from family members who had tried to reach her.

She spent a few minutes chatting with them, their familiar voices bringing a brief warmth to her heart.

A notification from her friend Yuvika popped up next.

Sheya's face brightened a bit more as she answered the call.

"Happy birthday, Sheya!" Yuvika's cheerful voice echoed through the speaker.

"Thanks, Yuvi," Sheya replied, her smile genuine but her eyes still searching for something, or rather, someone.

As the conversation continued, she sighed deeply.

Everyone remembered her birthday, but the one person she hoped to hear from remained silent.

It didn't matter now, or at least that's what she told herself, but deep down, it still stung.

Turning 24 felt strange to her. It sounded old, especially since her sweetest moments had been shattered years ago.

She stood up and walked to her study table, opening a drawer to retrieve a small box. From it, she took out a photo.

"I only have this to remember you by," she whispered, looking at the picture of her and a boy at an amusement park.

"You promised me so much, but fulfilled nothing."

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she gazed at the photo.

So much had changed over the years, yet her heart remained stuck in the past. She knew nothing about his current whereabouts or life.

"Where are you? How are you?" she wondered aloud, though she knew there would be no answer.

He had promised to always be there for her, but now she questioned if it was just a childish vow, meant to be broken.

She looked at the photo one last time before placing it back in the box.

"He must have a family by now," she laughed bitterly. "That mf old man."

Anger and sadness welled up inside her.