I Love You Forever

Mackenzie attends Ally's birthday party feeling distracted by her studies. Finn arrives with two friends and begins to mingle, quietly catching her interest. The encounter plants the first spark, and both realize there might be more to each other than a casual encounter.

The next day, Mackenzie discovers Finn is a TV journalist on his Instagram and they begin exchanging messages. Finn video calls her out of the blue, but she keeps her own appearance center stage as she worries about looking good. She explains she dislikes restaurant dates because they feel performative.

They meet for what seems like a real date at a restaurant. Finn reserves the entire restaurant to make Mackenzie feel comfortable and in control. He asks about her goals while gently countering her self deprecating replies, and he takes her old bracelet as collateral to ensure she will see him again. The evening ends with their kiss.

In bed together, they talk about insecurities and their pasts. Finn shares that his mother left when he was young and connects that to his trust issues, helping Mackenzie understand him a little better. He gives her a real gold bracelet in place of her old one, and she accepts his gesture.

Finn buys her a plane ticket to Portland where he will report on a story, showing his willingness to include her in his world. While she watches him on the news, he signs off with a public declaration of love. The moment marks a deepening commitment but also foreshadows later control.

Four months later, Finn's messages flood Mackenzie's phone and begin interrupting class sessions. When she tries to focus, he insists she respond, and his evasive explanations only raise her alarm. The pattern reveals jealousy and possessiveness masking as concern.

A confrontation escalates as Finn demands her attention and begins to dictate her life. He rips off his bracelet, flushes it, and bangs his head against the wall before running into the street where a vehicle misses him. Mackenzie tries to intervene and stop him, but the damage is done.

The next day in class, Mackenzie looks worn and distracted as she tries to refocus. Purple daisies appear in her life, a sign of his fixation, and her friends question the price of maintaining the relationship. The relationship atmosphere remains tense and unsettled.

At a coffee shop, Ally and Lucas discuss their informal college reunion while Finn stays on edge. To compensate for what he missed, Mackenzie arranges a sleepover to recreate some of the closeness from their early days. In the morning, Finn presses to cancel the reunion and stay, creating mounting tension.

During the reunion dinner, Finn relentlessly texts Mackenzie and she tries to ignore him. A party friend snaps a photo of her, prompting Finn to accuse her of an affair with Lucas. He coaxes her to leave the restaurant, then hammers at her boundaries with guilt and manipulation.

The next morning, Mackenzie returns home to find the TV smashed and a torn photo of them. Ally texts to confirm Finn paid for the dinner, deepening the sense of manipulation. Finn continues to pressure her, undermining any attempt at healthy boundaries.

Six months pass and Mackenzie lands her dream internship at City Hall thanks to Finn's political connections, but friends warn that Finn has ruined other occasions for her. He floods her with messages about not being available, and she grapples with guilt, fear, and the pull of gratitude.

On a business trip, Finn pressures Mackenzie to fly out to him and spins a story about a study group and a number named Lindsey. They end up in a hotel where Finn destroys items, cuts himself, and threatens to jump from the balcony; hotel security intervenes and Mackenzie uses the opportunity to escape.

With Ally and Lucas's support, Mackenzie begins rebuilding her life and sharpening her boundaries. She hides iCloud access to avoid Finn reading her messages and starts to reclaim her self worth. The story closes with Finn appearing on the news declaring I love you Jenny, underscoring the danger she escaped and the closure she seeks.