The sun had just begun casting a golden hue over the city when Alexander Hayes stepped out of his sleek black SUV. As CEO of Hayes Innovations, his days were usually filled with boardroom meetings, global travel, and luxury appointments. But today felt different. Today, something had drawn him back to the quiet streets of his childhood.
He adjusted his coat and made his way toward the neighborhood bakery—the only piece of his past that had survived the city’s constant reinvention. The smell of cinnamon drifted through the morning air, bringing back long-forgotten memories.
Memories of her.
Sophie.
He hadn’t seen her since they were sixteen—his closest friend, his first love, the girl who once left him a note of encouragement before a high school science fair. Her laugh, her sunflower hair clips, the way she believed in him—it all came rushing back.
Just as his phone buzzed with a message, a small voice stopped him in his tracks.
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