It was almost midnight. Amber and Dave were lying together in their bedroom, enjoying a peaceful night. Dave had his arm around Amber, and everything between them seemed perfect. Amber finally felt that she had found someone who genuinely cared about her.

But she had no idea that one unexpected message was about to destroy her peace.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated on the nightstand.

Amber slowly opened her eyes and reached for it. She didn’t want to wake Dave, who was sleeping beside her.

When she looked at the screen, she noticed Wayne’s name.

She became curious.

Why would Wayne be messaging her this late?

Amber carefully opened the message. As she started reading, her facial expression completely changed.

WAYNE’S MESSAGE:

“Amber, I know Dave has been treating you well. I know he makes you feel special, and you probably believe that everything between you two is real. But I need you to understand something.

Dave’s behavior might change when our business partnership ends. Right now, he has reasons to keep everything peaceful between us. But once I separate myself from him professionally, you might discover a completely different side of his personality.

I’m not telling you this to hurt you. I’m telling you because I don’t want you to experience another heartbreak.

If Dave genuinely loves you, ask him to prove it. Ask him where this relationship is going. Tell him you want marriage, commitment, and a future together.

Don’t allow another man to waste your time while you keep believing in promises.”

Amber read the message twice.

Her hands started shaking.

She slowly turned toward Dave.

He was still sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of what had just happened.

AMBER (WHISPERING):

“Why would Wayne say something like this? Does he know something about Dave that I don’t?”

She placed her phone against her chest.

For the first time in a long time, she felt afraid of losing someone she loved.

Amber slowly got out of bed and sat near the bedroom window.

The room was quiet, but her mind was filled with painful memories.

She remembered Anthony.

She remembered the promises he had made and the beautiful future they had once discussed.

She had trusted him completely. She believed he would always stand beside her.

But everything changed when Shayla came into the picture.

Anthony eventually walked away, leaving Amber with nothing but painful memories and unanswered questions.

AMBER:

“I thought I would never have to go through something like that again. I trusted Anthony with everything, and he still betrayed me.”

She wiped her tears.

AMBER:

“Now Dave is treating me so well. He’s making me believe that I can be happy again. But what if Wayne is right? What if Dave is only pretending?”

She looked at Dave through the reflection of the bedroom mirror.

AMBER:

“I don’t want to be the woman who keeps giving her heart to men who don’t know how to value it.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

She wanted to believe Dave was different, but Wayne’s warning had planted a dangerous thought in her mind.

What if history was about to repeat itself?

A few minutes later, Dave slowly opened his eyes.

He reached toward Amber’s side of the bed but realized she wasn’t there.

He sat up and noticed her sitting near the window.

DAVE:

“Baby, what are you doing over there? Come back to bed.”

Amber quickly wiped her face.

AMBER:

“Nothing. I just couldn’t sleep.”

Dave looked at her carefully.

DAVE:

“Amber, what’s going on? You’ve been sitting there for a while. Are you crying?”

AMBER:

“I’m not crying, Dave. I’m just tired.”

Dave got out of bed and walked toward her.

DAVE:

“Look at me. You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Amber avoided his eyes.

AMBER:

“Can I really?”

Dave became confused.

DAVE:

“Of course. Why are you asking me that?”

AMBER:

“Because sometimes people tell you everything you want to hear, but when the situation changes, they show you who they really are.”

Dave stared at her.

DAVE:

“Where is this coming from? Did somebody say something to you?”

Amber remained silent.

Dave sat beside her and gently held her hand.

DAVE:

“Baby, whatever is bothering you, let’s talk about it. I don’t want you sitting here crying by yourself.”

Amber pulled her hand away.

AMBER:

“That’s exactly what Anthony used to say.”

Dave’s expression changed.

He immediately understood that she was thinking about her previous relationship.

Dave took a deep breath.

DAVE:

“Amber, I understand that Anthony hurt you, but you can’t keep putting his mistakes on me.”

AMBER:

“I’m not putting anything on you. I’m just trying to protect myself.”

DAVE:

“Protect yourself from what? Have I ever given you a reason to believe that I’m going to hurt you?”

Amber looked directly into his eyes.

AMBER:

“Not yet.”

Dave shook his head.

DAVE:

“Not yet? What does that even mean?”

AMBER:

“It means I don’t want to wait until it’s too late to find out that you were never serious about me.”

Dave became frustrated.

DAVE:

“Amber, I have been showing you every day that I care about you. What else do you want from me?”

She paused before answering.

AMBER:

“I want commitment. I want to know that you’re not just enjoying the relationship because everything is convenient for you.”

DAVE:

“So you think I’m using you?”

AMBER:

“I didn’t say that.”

DAVE:

“But that’s exactly what you’re suggesting!”

Amber lowered her head.

AMBER:

“Then prove me wrong, Dave.”

Dave looked at her in disbelief.

After a long silence, Amber finally decided to ask the question that had been running through her mind.

AMBER:

“Dave, do you see yourself marrying me?”

Dave looked surprised.

DAVE:

“What?”

AMBER:

“You heard me. Do you actually see a future with me? Or are we just enjoying each other’s company until something better comes along?”

Dave moved closer.

DAVE:

“Amber, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t see a future with you.”

AMBER:

“Then why haven’t we talked seriously about marriage?”

DAVE:

“Because I don’t believe in rushing important decisions. Marriage is something I take seriously.”

AMBER:

“And how long am I supposed to wait?”

Dave sighed.

DAVE:

“Baby, I want us to build something strong. I don’t want to make promises just because you’re upset tonight.”

Amber looked disappointed.

AMBER:

“So you don’t have an answer?”

DAVE:

“That’s not what I said.”

AMBER:

“Then tell me what you want from this relationship.”

Dave held her hands.

DAVE:

“I want you. I want a future with you. But I need you to trust me enough to let us get there.”

For a moment, Amber wanted to believe him.

But Wayne’s message was still sitting on her phone.

And she knew there was something Dave wasn’t telling her.

Dave noticed that Amber kept looking at her phone.

DAVE:

“Who messaged you?”

Amber immediately locked the screen.

AMBER:

“Nobody important.”

DAVE:

“Then why are you hiding your phone?”

AMBER:

“I’m not hiding anything.”

DAVE:

“Amber, we’ve been together long enough that you should be able to talk to me honestly.”

Amber hesitated.

AMBER:

“What would you do if someone told me something bad about you?”

Dave frowned.

DAVE:

“Who told you something?”

Amber didn’t respond.

DAVE:

“Was it Anthony?”

AMBER:

“No.”

DAVE:

“Then who?”

She took a deep breath.

AMBER:

“Wayne.”

Dave’s expression immediately changed.

DAVE:

“Wayne? What does Wayne have to do with our relationship?”

AMBER:

“Maybe you should ask him.”

DAVE:

“Amber, stop playing games. What did he tell you?”

She looked at him.

AMBER:

“He told me that everything might change between us when your business partnership ends.”

Dave became completely silent.

For several seconds, he didn’t say a word.

DAVE:

“He told you that?”

AMBER:

“Yes. He said you might show a different side of yourself once you no longer need him.”

Dave stood up and started walking around the room.

DAVE:

“I cannot believe Wayne would involve you in something like this.”

AMBER:

“Why? Is there something he’s telling the truth about?”

Dave turned toward her.

DAVE:

“No! But I don’t understand why he’s trying to put these thoughts in your head.”

Dave picked up his phone and checked the time.

He looked angry, but there was also something else in his expression.

Fear.

AMBER:

“Dave, why are you getting so upset? If Wayne is lying, you should have nothing to worry about.”

DAVE:

“It’s not that simple, Amber.”

AMBER:

“Then explain it to me.”

Dave sat down.

DAVE:

“Wayne and I have been having problems with the business for a while. There are certain decisions we haven’t agreed on. I’ve tried to keep those issues away from our personal lives, but apparently he has decided to bring you into it.”

AMBER:

“What kind of problems?”

DAVE:

“Business problems. Nothing that should affect our relationship.”

AMBER:

“Then why does he think you’ll change after the partnership ends?”

Dave looked away.

DAVE:

“Because Wayne doesn’t want to lose control of the situation.”

Amber studied his face.

AMBER:

“Are you saying he’s trying to manipulate me?”

DAVE:

“I’m saying you shouldn’t believe everything he tells you without hearing my side.”

Amber slowly nodded.

But she still wasn’t satisfied.

The following morning, Wayne was sitting in his office, reviewing some business documents.

His phone rang.

It was Dave.

Wayne looked at the screen and answered.

WAYNE:

“Well, look who decided to call.”

DAVE:

“Why did you message Amber?”

Wayne leaned back in his chair.

WAYNE:

“What are you talking about?”

DAVE:

“Don’t act like you don’t know. You sent her a message warning her about me.”

Wayne remained calm.

WAYNE:

“I was simply trying to protect her.”

DAVE:

“Protect her from what? From me?”

WAYNE:

“Dave, you and I both know that things haven’t been good between us lately.”

DAVE:

“That has nothing to do with Amber.”

WAYNE:

“Maybe it doesn’t. But she deserves to know what kind of future she’s getting herself into.”

Dave became furious.

DAVE:

“You have no right to interfere in my relationship.”

Wayne gave a slight smile.

WAYNE:

“Then give her a reason to believe that I’m wrong.”

Dave paused.

DAVE:

“What exactly are you trying to accomplish?”

Wayne looked at the documents on his desk.

WAYNE:

“Nothing you need to worry about. Unless, of course, there’s something you’re hiding from her.”

Dave ended the call without responding.

Wayne placed his phone on the desk.

His expression became serious.

He opened a folder containing several business documents and stared at one particular page.

WAYNE (TO HIMSELF):

“Let’s see how long Dave can keep pretending everything is perfect.”

Later that afternoon, Amber was sitting alone in the living room.

She had barely spoken to Dave since their conversation the previous night.

Dave walked into the room carrying two cups of coffee.

He placed one in front of her.

DAVE:

“I brought you something.”

AMBER:

“Thank you.”

Dave sat beside her.

DAVE:

“Are we going to keep acting like strangers?”

Amber looked at him.

AMBER:

“I don’t want to fight with you, Dave. I just need honesty.”

DAVE:

“You have my honesty.”

AMBER:

“Then I need you to make one thing clear. If Wayne walks away from the business tomorrow, will you still choose me?”

Dave immediate