Michael: Once upon a time, I believed in happily ever after, but it was brutally ripped away from me, and I closed myself to the option of ever finding love again. I don’t deserve a second chance at happiness, a notion I firmly held onto for eight years. Until I met Lauren. Lauren: From a young age, I was taught to always avoid risks. It’s what led me to waste ten years on a man who never really loved me and eventually took everything I worked hard to achieve. But playing it safe is a notion I just can't seem to let go of. Until I met Michael. *****This story is a spinoff of my story Dare to Look. While it can be read as a standalone, it's better to read after DtL for maximum enjoyment of characters and storyline.*****