Run: 2026-02-17-01KHNF3RW6QJSBJXGSR0VHAC6M

The Raven's Nest was quieter than usual for a Friday night. Rory leaned against the polished mahogany bar, swirling the ice in her gin and tonic. The green neon sign cast an eerie glow across Silas' face as he wiped down glasses with practiced efficiency. "Busy night?" she asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. Silas glanced up, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. "Not particularly. The usual crowd will filter in later." He set down the glass he'd been polishing and leaned his elbows on the bar. "How's the delivery gig treating you?" Rory shrugged, taking a sip of her drink. "It pays the bills. Yu-Fei's a good boss, even if her mother is a bit... intense." "I've known the Cheung family for years. Mrs. Cheung means well, even if she comes across as demanding." Silas' expression softened. "How are you settling into London life, Rory? It's been what, six months now?" "Almost seven," Rory corrected. She traced the rim of her glass with her finger. "It's been... an adjustment. But I'm managing." "Good." Silas nodded, his gaze drifting to the door. "I'm glad you're finding your footing." Rory followed his line of sight, expecting to see a regular customer. Instead, her breath caught in her throat. Standing in the doorway, backlit by the streetlamps, was a familiar figure. Evan. Time seemed to slow as recognition dawned on his face. His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked as though he might bolt. But then his expression hardened, and he strode towards the bar with purposeful steps. "Rory," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I should have known I'd find you here." "Evan," she replied, her voice steady despite the racing of her heart. "What are you doing here?" "I could ask you the same thing." He leaned against the bar, his eyes roving over her face. "You left without a word, without a forwarding address. I had to track you down through your father." Rory's stomach twisted. She hadn't spoken to her father since she'd left Cardiff, hadn't wanted him to know where she was. "What do you want, Evan?" "I want to talk." His gaze flickered to Silas, who had gone very still. "In private." Rory glanced at Silas, who gave her a barely perceptible nod. She turned back to Evan, her jaw set. "Fine. But we're not going anywhere. We talk here, or not at all." Evan's eyes narrowed, but he nodded curtly. "Very well. I'll make it quick." Rory signaled to Silas, who poured her another gin and tonic without a word. She took a fortifying sip before fixing Evan with a level stare. "I know why you're here," she said, her voice low. "You want me to come back. To pretend like nothing happened." Evan's face darkened. "You owe me an explanation, Rory. You can't just walk away from three years together." "I can, and I did." Rory's voice was cold, detached. "What we had is over, Evan. It's been over for a long time." "Is that what you tell yourself?" Evan leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear. "That it's over? Because I know you, Rory. I know how much you need me." Rory recoiled as if burned. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "I don't need you. I never did." Evan's eyes flashed with anger. "You're just scared. Scared of what we could have been, if you'd just given me a chance." "I'm not scared." Rory's voice was barely a whisper. "I'm free." For a moment, Evan looked as though he might strike her. But then he laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "You think you're free? You're nothing without me, Rory. Nothing." Rory met his gaze steadily, refusing to flinch. "I'm more without you than I ever was with you." Evan's face contorted with rage. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, but then seemed to think better of it. With a final, venomous look, he turned on his heel and strode out of the bar. Rory watched him go, her hands trembling slightly. She became aware of Silas' presence at her side, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low and concerned. Rory nodded, swallowing hard. "I will be." Silas squeezed her shoulder gently before moving away to tend to another customer. Rory took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She picked up her drink and took a long sip, relishing the burn of the gin as it slid down her throat. She thought of the girl she'd been when she'd first met Evan, young and naive and desperate for love. She thought of the woman she'd become under his influence, small and scared and constantly walking on eggshells. And then she thought of the woman she was now, strong and independent and finally free. It wasn't an easy journey, and there were still scars that would never fully heal. But as she looked around the familiar comfort of the Raven's Nest, surrounded by the warmth of friendship and the promise of a new beginning, Rory knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be. She raised her glass in a silent toast to herself, to the woman she'd become and the woman she was still becoming. And as she took another sip, she felt a sense of peace settle over her, a quiet certainty that no matter what the future held, she would face it head-on, with courage and grace and an unwavering sense of self. The past was the past, and it could stay there. Rory had a new life to live, and she was ready to embrace it with open arms.