They say life can be unpredictable and each person paves their own way.. But not in a million years would Andrea Winters have imagined how her life would change four years ago an encounter that left an indelible mark on her heart.
Now, sitting comfortably in her office chair, Andrea's eyes were fixed on the laptop screen before her. The email subject line read: "Love Island Summer" bodily rewritten in the subject line..
She tilted her head slightly, staring more deeply at it. Her fingers tightened around the pen she was holding as a sharp memory sliced through her thoughts, dragging her back to the moment everything changed.
Four years ago, Andrea was humiliated on national TV when her fiance Ethan, ended everything with her during the finale of the couple's reality show….
Even after burying her old identity and building a new one, the shame still clung to her like a scar that refused to fade.
Her pulse quickens. Just the name alone sends her back in time. Back to the cameras, the light, the endless games… and the one person who changed everything.
It was the day before the finals, Andrea and her fiance Ethan, had just won Best Couple of the Night. As a reward, production gave them a luxury suite to share one last romantic evening before the big day.
"Do you think we're going to win?" Ethan asked, his tone body still glistening as he popped open a bottle of champagne. He poured two glasses, the bubbles rising softly and walked toward Andrea, who sat on the bed surrounded by rose petals, looking up at him with a hopeful smile. "I think we might," she murmured.
Ethan smiled, sitting beside her. "Here," he said, handing her a glass and gently guiding it to her lips. Their fingers brushed, and the brief touch sent a spark between them.
He leaned in a little closer with his breath warm against her skin..
"I think so too," Ethan said with a low voice as he pulled back slightly realizing the fire he had set in her.
His gaze locked on hers.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Andrea..whether we win tomorrow or not. I want you to be mine completely."
Andrea smiled, blushing under his seductive gaze. She could swear she was already dripping down there. Then he slowly rose to his feet, knowing what the next moment would bring. He began unbuttoning his shirt, one button at a time, until it slipped from his shoulders and landed somewhere on the floor.
Then, without breaking eye contact, he leaned in and began trailing soft kisses across her skin. As if suddenly remembering they were being watched, he turned to the blinds and pulled them shut.
From outside, only faint shadows of their bodies played across the curtains, two figures moving closer, drawn into a heated kiss that slowly took a turn. The outlines melted into one another until, finally, the lights inside went out, leaving nothing but darkness to the outside view.
The next morning came faster than anyone expected, the big day as they all called it.
The whole villa buzzed with nervous excitement. Every couple was in their hopeful bubble, whispering about the prize, the votes, and what life might look like after the cameras stopped rolling. Some were confident; others tried to hide their nerves behind forced smiles and perfectly brushed hair.
The girls gathered around the vanity with curling irons everywhere, makeup palettes open like battle gear. Andrea sat quietly among them, brushing her hair, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Somewhere outside, the boys were already talking, pretending to be chill, but everyone could tell the tension was thick. Ethan was there too, leaning against the pool rail with sunglasses on, looking a bit too calm almost too sure of himself. He said all the right things, smiled at all the right moments…
There was a light knock on the girls' door.
Everyone turned looking curious. A few of them exchanged teasing looks when they saw Ethan standing outside.
"Ohhh, look who's here," one of the girls whispered, grinning.
Andrea froze for a second, brushing her hair back quickly. "I'll be right back," she said quietly, getting up.
When she stepped outside, Ethan was already smiling at her, his hands tucked in his pockets. "Can we talk?" he asked softly.
Andrea nodded and they walked down the corridor together. The camera followed, of course…it always did. Every step and every whisper were caught on the lens. They stopped near the garden, away from the noise. The sunlight hit his face as he turned to her. "You look beautiful," he said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Andrea smiled a little. "You're just saying that for the cameras," she teased.
"Maybe," Ethan chuckled, "but it's still true."
He leaned closer, pressing a light kiss on her forehead. It looked sweet, natural the kind of moment fans would melt over. And deep down, Andrea knew it too. They both did. The cameras loved this kind of romance.
They talked quietly for a while, about how far they'd come, about tomorrow, about what life might be like after this show ended. He reached for her hand, squeezing it softly and letting her know he was planning on losing her…
Then the villa speakers came alive with the familiar voice of the host.
"Islanders, please gather in the main hall. The final announcement will begin shortly."
Ethan looked at her and smiled. "Guess it's showtime."
Andrea took a slow breath, straightened her dress, and followed him back…
Once seated, each couple sat close, their hands linked. Those without partners shifted quietly in their seats, pretending not to care. You could feel hearts pounding everywhere.
The lights dimmed a little, then the host's voice came on, bright and cheerful.
"Good evening, everyone! First of all, congratulations. It's been three amazing months watching all of you grow, laugh, fight, and fall in love. You've all made this season unforgettable."
A few people laughed and clapped.
The host continued, "Tonight, we celebrate love but also the choices you've made. Whether you win or not, I hope what you found here stays real once the cameras stop rolling."
Everyone smiled, some nervously, some pretending to.
The host called a few names first. "Jamie and Priya…you two have been fire since day one!" The crowd cheered.
"Liam and Zara had a strong connection, always honest!" Another round of applause. Then she paused, turning toward Ethan and Andrea.
"And now, our fan favorites… Ethan and Andrea! You two had the whole country talking.
I heard you enjoyed your luxury villa last night?" A few people laughed. Andrea smiled shyly, glancing at Ethan.
"Yes, we did," Ethan said, squeezing her hand. "Well, we hope that love keeps shining," the host added with a wink.
"You've both been amazing to watch."
The camera zoomed in on them. They smiled for the lens, pretending to be calm, hearts racing for what was coming next.
As the lights changed and the stage became brighter, the hall fell silent, and their nervous faces suddenly became visible..
The host's smile widened.
"We've had an incredible journey, but now we're down to our top three couples!"
"The moment we've all been waiting for," the host continued, pausing for effect. "Ethan and Andrea… Jamie and Priya… and Noah and Emily … congratulations! You're our finalists!"
Andrea's heart raced as her palms were damp, but she held tightly onto Ethan's hand.
"Each couple has made it this far because of your love and your loyalty," the host went on. "But now, it's time for one final test… the Love or Money challenge."
The hall went quiet as the lights shifted, focusing on the stage. You could almost feel the tension spread across the room. Every face in the audience was turned toward the host, waiting.
She stepped forward with a bright, practiced smile on her face.
The rules were simple, but cruel. The couple with the highest votes would win the grand prize, a hundred thousand dollars. But only one of them would decide what came next: share the money in the name of love, or take it all and walk away.
A ripple went through the room. It wasn't just gasps , it was disbelief, nerves, excitement all tangled together. Andrea's stomach twisted. Beside her, Ethan stood steady, like none of this surprised him.
Then came the long pause, the kind that made seconds feel like minutes. The music built, low and heavy.
And finally, the announcement.
"Ethan and Andrea!"
The crowd cheered as confetti fell from the ceiling. Andrea's hand flew to her mouth. Ethan pulled her in, whispering something she could barely hear over the cheers.
Andrea smiled through tears she hadn't even realized were falling. But before she could fully take it in, the host lifted her hand, calling for quiet once more.
Two assistants appeared from backstage, walking toward them. One held a gold envelope and the other silver.