Martinez slowly pulled his hand back from her cheek, his expression soft. "Goodnight, Cassia," he said gently before turning and stepping out the door. Cassia stood there for a moment, caught between thought and feeling, her cheek still tingling where his fingers had touched. "Oh... right. Goodnig
As Martinez stood by his window side, taking in the beautiful night view of the city beneath him, he raised his right hand to his face and began staring at them. His fingers...this same fingers...had brushed against Cassia's cheek earlier today. It was the first time he had ever touched a lady's fa
" It doesn’t look like you’re searching for a girlfriend. No, Darvan. To me, it looks like you’re in desperate need of a mother. Someone to handle everything for you." Darvan stood there, stunned into silence. He opened his mouth to reply, but no sound came out. "It looks like you’re in desperate
“Don’t worry,” Mrs. Sinclair said coldly, her voice like steel. “I’ll handle this myself. And whatever you want with Darvan, just let me know. He’s my son, after all, and he will abide by my rules.” Her tone was firm as she turned away from Stacy as if lost in thought. Her heels clicked sharply ag
"Darvan..." she whispered, startled. For a moment, her resolve softened. His body was freezing and trembling, and she could feel him struggling to hold himself steady. His desperate grip on her arm felt sincere, almost enough to make her reconsider. But just as quickly, she snapped herself out of
Liam’s car came to a halt, and he unfastened his seatbelt, ready to step out. But his gaze froze on the figure standing in the rain—Darvan. He was drenched to the bone, trembling from the cold, yet he made no attempt to move or seek shelter. At the very least, he could have waited somewhere out of
Stacy drove through the gate roughly, her heart pounding as she immediately dialed James' number. "I need your help. It's Darvan," she said hurriedly, her voice shaky. In no time, James arrived. Together, they managed to carry Darvan inside, his weight heavy between them as they took him into his
Cassia tossed and turned in bed as the moonlight, bright after the rain, streamed through her curtains. Sleep felt impossible with her thoughts spinning in endless circles. Was she seriously thinking about Liam right now? She couldn’t get him out of her head—not the way he suddenly hugged her or how
As Martinez walked toward his car, the dive coach and those at the seashore couldn’t help but whisper among themselves. “Hope she’ll be okay.” “Where exactly did the coach go?” “He promised to stay back to double-check everything.” “He deserves to be held accountable for being careless.” “Maybe
Quinn and Kiara emerged from the water, swimming toward the shore while laughing and chatting as they removed their masks. "That was fun," Kiara murmured. Quinn's eyes scanned the area for the coach. Not spotting him, she shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I thought the coach said he'd wait her
Cassia stepped out of the mall, her small shopping bags swaying at her sides, the cool evening breeze brushing her face. She glanced over her shoulder for what felt like the hundredth time, her unease growing with each passing moment. "Okay, seriously, what’s wrong?" Quinn asked, noticing the dist
"It just... felt like someone was watching us," she added, her gaze still fixed behind them. Quinn turned, scanning the street, but it was empty. "There’s no one there. Maybe you’re imagining things? I mean, why would anyone with bad intentions follow us during the day? They're not that stupid," Qu
Cassia walked through the hallway, making her way toward the apartment she and her friends had rented temporarily. She could hear their voices, loud with laughter and chatter, coming from the living room. As she stepped inside, Kiara and Quinn turned to look at her, their expressions brimming with c
After watching Darvan walk away, Cassia turned her attention to Martinez, a gentle smile gracing her face. "I think my friends must have gone back to the hotel," she said, glancing briefly at her wristwatch. "I should probably head there too. It's getting late, and I'm exhausted—and famished." Mar
"And you're the one giving me lessons?" Darvan’s brows furrowed, his anger barely contained as he stared at his uncle. Martinez bit his lower lip, sensing the direction Darvan was taking the conversation, but he didn't care. He repeated his words as if daring Darvan. "I don’t intend to lecture you
"Hi...?" Martinez muttered, his tone hesitant. Cassia chuckled, unable to resist her amusement at his unexpected shyness Right now, he seemed more like a lost child. She turned her gaze to the sea, and there was silence for a few seconds before she turned back to him. "Is this the place you mentio
As Darvan watched her walk away, he sat frozen in place, his mind replaying her words like a broken record. "Desperate pest?" Did she really call him that? him? "Darvan... I want to go back to the hotel," Stacy’s voice broke through his daze. She was clearly uncomfortable. She couldn’t bear to stay