Lifting her hands, Tess pressed them firmly against Nick’s chest and pushed him back, putting space between them. She gave him a small, polite smile, tilting her head.

  “Shouldn’t you be working?” she asked, keeping her tone light.

  Nick didn’t let the distance st. He grabbed her waist, pulling her right back against him. His hands roamed down her sides, settling on her hips before sliding lower. He cupped her butt, giving it a firm squeeze as his lips found the side of her neck, trailing up behind her ear.

  Sighing into her skin, he murmured, “I’m in town for a few days because of work. I thought I’d stop by and visit you. Tess, I missed you so much.”

  Tess forced a smile.

  “I missed you too, but this... we shouldn’t do this.”

  Nick pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. His hands moved to cup her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek as his gaze searched hers.

  “Leaving was a mistake,” he confessed, voice low. “But what can I do?”

  Tess sighed.

  “This isn’t like st time, Nick.” She gently took his wrists, lowering his hands away from her face. “We can’t just go back to my pce and have sex. You’re going to keep doing this, showing up, expecting things to be the same—but they’re not. You need to move on.”

  Nick’s jaw tightened, irritation flickering in his eyes.

  This wasn’t the Tess he knew.

  The Tess he knew fell at his feet every time he came back.

  So what had changed?

  Nick pushed his doubts aside, deciding he didn’t care what had changed.

  In one swift motion, he grabbed Tess by the waist, lifted her off her feet, and pinned her against the car. A gasp escaped her lips, eyes wide in shock, but before she could protest, he crushed his lips against hers.

  The kiss was heated, demanding—a forceful cim that left no room for hesitation.

  Tess’s thoughts scattered.

  Adeline, the way her touch lingered—everything faded. Right now, there was only Nick.

  Her body reacted before her mind could catch up, hands gripping his shoulders, legs instinctively tightening around his waist.

  He groaned against her lips, deepening the kiss, feeling her give in—just like she always did.

  Climbing out of Nick’s car, Tess hastily buttoned up her pink long-sleeved cropped top and fastened her jeans. She could still feel the lingering warmth of his hands on her skin, but as she looked into the car, watching Nick button up his own jeans, a sinking feeling settled in her chest.

  He had always known how to make her feel good. That was never the problem.

  But this—this had to stop.

  She reached for her phone, instinctively checking the time, and her heart nearly stopped.

  11:00 PM.

  Her breath hitched as she stared at the screen—ten missed calls from Adeline.

  Shit.

  She had locked up the café just after eight, plenty of time to get home and prepare for Adeline’s surprise at nine. But who would have thought that Nick would show up and throw her off track?

  Tess exhaled sharply and sank onto the seat with her feet pnted on the ground, her back facing him. Tilting her head up, she gazed at the night sky for the second time tonight and whispered,

  “This ends tonight. I’m seeing someone else.”

  Nick stilled.

  Shock flickered across his face before he reached for her shoulder, but she flinched away.

  Turning to face him, her expression was firm, unwavering.

  “I’m serious, Nick. I’m not doing this anymore.”

  Nick stared at her, his expression shifting from shock to frustration. “Tess, come on,” he sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. “It’s just us. It’s always been us.”

  Tess let out a dry ugh, shaking her head. “No, Nick. It’s always been you showing up when it’s convenient and me letting you in because it’s easier than saying no.” She finally turned to face him, meeting his gaze head-on. “But I can’t do this anymore. I won’t.”

  Nick leaned back against the driver’s seat, watching her carefully. “So, who is it?” he asked, his tone ced with something she couldn’t quite pce—jealousy? Amusement?

  Tess swallowed, gripping her phone tighter. “It doesn’t matter.”

  Nick scoffed, buttoning up his shirt. “It does to me.”

  She stood up, brushing her hands over her jeans. “Then that’s exactly why this has to end.”

  His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. He just watched her as she stepped away from the car, dialing Adeline’s number with trembling fingers. The phone rang. Once. Twice. Three times.

  No answer.

  Her stomach twisted, regret hitting her all at once. She had no idea what Adeline’s surprise was, but she knew she had ruined it.

  Nick sighed behind her. “You sure about this, Tess?”

  She didn’t turn back. “Yes.”

  And with that, she walked away.

  *

  Tess pulled into her driveway, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. She barely had the energy to step out of the car, but the sight on her doorstep made her freeze.

  Sitting neatly on the doormat was a pizza box and a bouquet of lilies tied with a delicate bow.

  Her heart sank.

  Slowly, she walked up the steps and crouched down, staring at the flowers in front of her. Lilies. She wasn’t the type to care for flowers, but the gesture—it was still a gift from her lover.

  A humourless chuckle escaped her lips.

  “I guess she pnned dinner for me.”

  Adeline must have left this after Tess didn’t answer the phone. After Tess broke her promise.

  Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she reached for the pizza box, hesitating for a moment before lifting the lid.

  Ants.

  A wave of nausea rolled through her as she watched the tiny creatures scurry across the untouched meal, feasting on what should have been her dinner.

  Tess clenched her jaw.

  Her stomach twisted, but not because of the ruined food—because of what she had done.

  Because of Nick.

  Closing the box, she picked it up and cradled the bouquet in her other arm, stepping inside with a hollow feeling in her chest.

  The moment the door shut behind her, she rushed to the bathroom.

  Throwing open the cabinet, she grabbed the familiar packet of Pn B.

  Her fingers trembled slightly as she slipped one into her mouth and swallowed dry.

  As she lifted her gaze to the mirror, she found her own reflection staring back at her.

  Disheveled. Tired. Disgusted.

  Nick’s face flickered in her mind, and she sighed.

  She knew exactly what he was trying to do.

  Adeline sat in silence, her gaze fixed on the glowing screen of her phone. Ten missed calls. None returned.

  She sighed, setting the device down with a quiet clink against the gss table.

  Beside her, Martin shifted, dressed in loose pajamas, his eyes heavy with sleep. The tablet in his hands remained on pause, frozen on the final frame of the video neither of them had expected to see.

  Breaking the silence, Martin exhaled and turned to her. His voice was calm, but ced with quiet understanding.

  “I didn’t expect this... but we should have.”

  Adeline remained still, her fingers resting lightly against her lips.

  Martin studied her expression—the slight furrow of her brows, the way her jaw clenched ever so subtly. Disappointment.

  Rubbing a hand over his face, he muttered, “Do you want me to take a look into his background?”

  Adeline finally moved. She turned away, staring out of the window.

  The night outside was vast and dark, a stark contrast to the light in her vish home.

  Shaking her head, she whispered, “I think I’ll have my bath now.”

  She didn’t wait for a response before standing and walking toward her bedroom, leaving Martin alone with the screen still frozen on that damning image.