Once, there was a girl named Elara. She had always lived in the shadow of her father’s absence. He wasn’t physically gone, but emotionally, he was a stranger to her. His love seemed to vanish when she was just a child, and no matter how many times she tried to earn it—through perfect grades, kind gestures, and unwavering loyalty—his approval remained just out of reach. She often felt like a ghost in her own home, floating between his distant silences and fleeting moments of attention that never felt genuine. She longed for the simple comfort of a father’s love, a love that would never judge her, but simply exist.

As she grew older, she sought love in other places, hoping that the love she never got at home could be found in someone else's arms.

Her first love came when she was 16, a boy named Lucas, with soft brown eyes and a smile that made her heart race. He was everything she thought she wanted—charming, sweet, and attentive. For the first time in her life, Elara felt seen, cherished even. But the fairy tale was short-lived. Lucas betrayed her trust in the worst way possible. He didn’t just cheat on her—he cheated on her with Mia, her best friend. The betrayal was sharp, cutting through her heart like a blade. It wasn’t just the loss of Lucas that hurt, but the pain of losing someone she thought she could always trust.

After the heartbreak, Elara swore she would never let anyone get close enough to hurt her again. But life...