lunch I'd brought to the floor before storming out . The soup I had spent hours simmering stained the floor and the hem of my dress . The silence in the room was thick with embarrassment . Then , a man in a sharp suit walked over , knelt down , and began to wipe the mess from my dress . " Ma'am , " he said , looking up at me , " your hus- band has a terrible temper . " It was Ethan . He was no longer the hardened negotiator from the meeting , but a gentle , tame wolf . That was the first time we had met in person . Because of his business dealings with Liam's company , we started running into each other more often , and we reconnected online . The day I walked out of the city records office , Liam had rushed off to his hotel . Ethan happened to message me . [ How have you been ? ] I told him the truth . [ Not great . I'm divorced . I don't know where to go . ] He suggested , [ Maybe you should travel . Clear your head . ] But a bird that has been caged for too long forgets how to fly . Then he said , [ I'm going to Switzerland on business in a week . It's beautiful there . Want to come along ? ] [ Yes . ] 6 " Did you make other plans ? " he asked now , his voice tight with worry . I looked at the overflowing bathtub and was at a loss for words . " No. " " Then why did you change your mind ? " " Because ... I'm just tired . " My bleak , pathetic life was exhausting . I didn't want to fight anymore . There was a long silence on the other end of the line . For a while , all I could hear was the sound of the wind . I thought he was about to hang up . I was about to get up and go back to the bathroom . Then he spoke again . " Let me take care of you . Then you won't have to be so tired . " I froze . My resolve to leave this world alone crumbled . With a trembling finger , I managed a single , affirmative sound . " Okay . " Ethan was unbelievably fast . I don't know how fast he was driving , but by the time we hung up , he was already downstairs . He changed his flight , picked me up , and we headed straight for the airport . It was so sudden it felt like a kidnapping . When we boarded the plane , my hair was still damp . I was in a daze . He got me a blanket , draped it over my shoulders , ordered me a hot drink , and pressed it into my hands . Then , like a magician , he pulled a stack of magazines from his bag and set them in front of me . " You can look at these if you get bored . You studied art , right ? These are some of the most respected publications from the last few years . I 09:53 Chapter thought you might be interested . " His voice was gentle , comforting . " I just have a little work to do . Let me know if you need anything . " 09:53 ) After I nodded , he turned to his laptop and began to work . The light from the screen illuminated his handsome face , his long fingers flying acr oss the keyboard . He looked exactly like the stoic , unapproachable executives from the movies . But for some reason , I felt a sense of peace . I sipped my drink , feeling the warmth return to my body . I opened a magazine , and a riot of color filled my vision , a stark contrast to the black and white world I had been living in . The moon outside the window was bright . It lit up the sky . It felt like it could light me up , too . 7 When we arrived in Bern , the capital of Switzerland , Ethan took me to our hotel . One suite . I took the master bedroom , he took the guest room . He was there to inspect a potential partner's manufacturing plant , a deal that was crucial for his company's future . So the first week was incr- edibly busy . He was gone before I woke up each morning , leaving only a handwritten note and a freshly made breakfast . And a new , updated travel guide for the day . The guides were meticulously detailed : which bus to take , which restaurant to eat at , the best time to visit each attraction . He was like an invi- sible tour guide - I couldn't see him , but he was everywhere . Following his guides , I visited art galleries , museums , clock towers , rose gardens ... I took pictures , ate delicious food , saw incredible sights , and experienced all kinds of performances . It was magical , exhilarating . Even the most ordinary streets were fascinating . I could spend ages just looking at a uniquely designed streetlight . I felt like a country bumpkin , wandering through this magnificent city . But I had never felt so relaxed , so free . Liam had never taken me on a real trip . He always said that with my history of depression , I needed to limit my exposure to the outside world , to keep my mind from wandering . Trapped in his gilded cage , I had thought life was utterly pointless . But now , I found myself falling in love with the world . Ethan and I would meet for dinner , our second meeting of the day . He would listen patiently as I shared my adventures , a gentle smile always on his lips . Then he would turn into my personal hype man . " You should seriously consider photography . Your pictures are amazing . " " You're a walking encyclopedia ! I learned so much about art history today . " Being praised like that by someone five years younger than me made my cheeks burn . " Stop it , " I said , embarrassed . " Who taught you to flatter people like that ? " " You did . " My heart skipped a beat . The soft light in his eyes pulled me back years ago , to when we first met . He was the student , I was the sponsor . " First place again ? You're incredible ! " " You broke the record ! You're going to be amazing one day . " It was as if fate had come full circle . The tree I had planted all those years ago had grown , and now it was sheltering me from the storm . 8 While I was enjoying the peace and quiet in Switzerland , on the other side of the world , someone was losing their mind . The VIP room , usually a scene of wild partying , was thick with a tense , oppressive atmosphere . At the center of the storm was Liam , chain- smoking , his face a dark , terrifying mask . No one dared to speak . Because Kiara was gone . It had been seven days since their fight , and he still hadn't gotten the apology he was waiting for . A strange panic had started to set in , and he had finally gone home to look for her . But she was gone . Her clothes , her documents , all her personal belongings were missing . He tried to call her , but he was blocked . Every other way he tried to contact her was met with a red exclamation point . 09:53 Chapter 09:53 This wasn't a trip . This was a severing of all ties . Liam refused to believe Kiara would actually leave him . He had domesticated her , turned her into a helpless , broken - winged canary . She coul- dn't survive without him . But what if ? The thought gnawed at him . He tried to drink it away , but the alcohol only fanned the flames of his anxiety . Something had slipped from his control , and it infuriated him . Zoey arrived late , dressed in a slinky black dress that showed off a lot of skin . She slid in next to Liam , pressing herself against him . " Who ups- et my big brother ? " she purred . " Tell me , and I'll fix it . " Liam waved her away dismissively . " It's nothing . Stay out of it . " " Is it because Kiara ran ... " Zoey began , trying to be clever . " I said , stay out of it ! " Liam roared , his voice suddenly sharp and dangerous . Zoey flinched , her eyes filling with tears . But this time , Liam didn't comfort her . He just kept drinking , his voice cold . " If you're going to be a buzzkill , you can get the hell out . " Zoey shut her mouth and quickly poured him another drink , a silent apology . For all her wildness , she was still just a parasite , surviving on the whims of men . Cut off from her source , she would quickly wither . That night , Liam drank himself into a stupor . Someone had to carry him home . Lying on the cold , empty bed , he groaned , " Honey , get me a glass of water ... " But the only answer was a vast , crushing silence . Chapter Chapter 2 On my eighth day in Bern , I woke up as usual , ready to open my surprise travel guide for the day . But the paper was blank . Confused , I finished my breakfast . Just then , the door opened . Ethan was back from work early , carrying a huge package . " Good morning ! " he said , his energy as bright as a puppy's . I smiled back , my eyes fixed on the package . " What's this ? " Ethan told me to open it . After a bit of wrestling with the wrapping , I revealed its contents : a complete set of art supplies - an easel , canvases , brushes , and paints . " I had it custom - made , " he said . " I had to call them a bunch of times to rush it . I think they're pretty annoyed with me . Do you like it ? " I traced my initials , which were carved into the corner of the easel . A lump formed in my throat , and I couldn't speak . I just nodded vigorously Yes . I loved it . It had been so long since I had touched any of these things . Liam had kept me at home , with nothing to do . Painting , something I had done for nearly a decade , became my only joy . I started posting my work online , and to my surprise , people liked it . I quickly gained over ten thousand followers . Someone even messaged me , asking for a commission . I didn't care about the money ; I just loved the feeling of being wanted , of my work being appreciated . Until Liam found out . The person who had commissioned the piece happened to be a man . Liam exploded . " Kiara , I give you everything , and this is how you repay me ? By cheating on me ? " I tried desperately to explain , but he wouldn't listen . He stayed out for days , and everyone started to think I was ungrateful . In the end , I had to give in . I deleted my account and stopped taking commissions . Liam , still not satisfied , threw away all my art supplies . Then he held me and whispered , " Kiara , you have me . That's all you need . None of that other stuff matters . " At the time , I had foolishly nodded in agreement . But now , feeling the warmth spread through my chest , I knew . My passion mattered too . It wasn't something I should have ever given up . The weather was perfect that day , bright and sunny . I decided to set up in a nearby park . Ethan helped me carry my equipment and set it all up . He stood back , his arms crossed , a wide smile on his face . " I can't wait to see what you create ! " I clutched my brush , suddenly nervous . " I'm probably rusty . It's going to be a disaster . " Ethan raised an eyebrow . " Then I'll just have to disagree with the rest of the world and be your number one fan . " He said it with such sincerity , such conviction . My breath hitched . The sun was warm on my skin , the wind rustling through my hair . I knew I would never forget this morning , or the man standing in front of me . Ethan still had work to do , so he left , albeit reluctantly , turning back every few steps . I took a deep breath , soaking in the beauty of the world around me , and then I lost myself in my art . 10 Time flew by . Before I knew it , it was noon . I hadn't even noticed . It was only when Ethan called to remind me to eat that I snapped out of it . I had just gotten back to the hotel when my phone rang again . Thinking it was Ethan , I answered without looking . A mistake . A voice I never wanted to hear again said , " Kiara ? " Liam must have used someone else's phone to call me . " What do you want ? " My voice was calm , detached . Facing him now , I felt no pain , no fear , no emotion at all . There was a pause on the other end . " Where are you ? Send me your address . I'll come pick you up . " I was confused . " Why would you do that ? " Liam's voice was uncharacteristically soft . " Kiara , I know you're angry . But it's been long enough . You should be over it by now . " 09:53 Chapter 2 00:53 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!