Chapter 1: Let's End It

Kyla stared at the ceiling in her small, dimly lit room, unable to sleep. Lately, her mind had been a battlefield, filled with thoughts she couldn't control. She sighed, reaching for her bag and pulling out two sleeping pills. She swallowed them quickly and lay back on her bed, hoping they would finally give her the rest she desperately needed.

Minutes passed, and just as her eyes began to close, the door clicked open. Someone was in her apartment. Her heart raced for a moment before she caught a familiar scent-musky, rich, unmistakable. It was Reece.

She felt him before she even saw him. His lips brushed against her neck, waking her fully from the light sleep. "I called, but it didn't go through," Reece murmured in his deep, velvety voice. "So I rushed over."

"My phone's battery is dead," Kyla replied softly, her voice cracking. She turned to look at him and couldn't help but stare. Even after all this time, he took her breath away. Reece was tall, with a chiseled body that looked like it had been sculpted by the gods themselves. His muscles were sharp and well-defined, his jawline strong. He was pure perfection.

His hand reached for her chin, lifting her face up to meet his gaze. Without warning, he kissed her deeply, his lips sending a wave of heat through her body. She couldn't resist. She never could. Her heart betrayed her, melting into his touch as if it belonged to him-and maybe it did.

Their kisses turned passionate and intense. Clothes were thrown off, their bodies moving together as though nothing else in the world mattered. The room filled with heat, their breaths heavy, as Reece's desire took over. His body pressed against hers, powerful and unrelenting. She tried to slow down, to catch her breath, but Reece didn't stop. His need for her was too strong, and he kept going, deeper and deeper, until they both collapsed onto the bed, completely spent. For a moment, they lay there, their breathing loud in the quiet room, as if they had just run miles together. Reece was the first to move. He got up and went to the bathroom, the sound of the shower starting soon after. His scent lingered in the air, wrapping around Kyla, reminding her of everything she was trying to avoid.

She turned on her phone, and her heart sank. Two missed calls from Reece's mother. Shit. She's going to kill me.

Kyla's fingers hesitated over the phone before a new call came in. It was her. This time, Kyla answered, trying to keep her voice calm.

"I found him a bride," came the cold, emotionless voice of Reece's mother. "You know what to do next." Then, without another word, the line went dead.

The weight of those words hit Kyla like a ton of bricks. I knew this day would come, she thought, but I didn't expect it to come so soon. Her heart ached, and her hands shook as she stared at the screen, lost in thought.

Reece stepped out of the bathroom, water still dripping from his dark hair. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, and the water trailed down his body, finding the lines of his muscles. He looked so good, too good, but her heart was too heavy to care.

He walked over to her, his blue eyes locking with her grey ones. He cupped her chin in his hand again, his gaze sharp. "Why do you look so sad?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

Kyla forced a smile, trying to push away the pain. "Just thinking about my parents," she lied. "I miss them a lot." She had no other excuse, and she couldn't let Reece know the truth. He couldn't suspect a thing.

Reece stared at her for a long moment, clearly not believing her, but he said nothing. He simply kissed her on the forehead and left her to her thoughts.

Kyla watched him leave, her chest tight with a mix of guilt and fear. The woman Reece's mother had chosen was no doubt perfect-rich, beautiful, everything Kyla wasn't. It's time to end this, she thought. I have to leave before I get hurt any more than I already have.

The next day, Kyla took a deep breath and made her way to the HR office. Her decision had been made. She handed in her resignation, her heart heavy but her mind clear. It was the only way out of the mess she had found herself in.

By lunchtime, the news had already reached Reece. He stormed into her office, his face a mix of confusion and anger. "What is this?" he demanded, holding up the resignation letter.

Kyla looked at him, trying to keep her composure. "I'm leaving, Reece," she said softly. "I can't do this anymore."

Reece's eyes flared with anger. "Why?" he asked, his voice low but dangerous. "Is this about something I did? Tell me the truth, Kyla."

Kyla shook her head, forcing herself to hold back the tears. "No, it's not you," she lied again, knowing she couldn't tell him about his mother's plans. "I just need to go."

Reece stepped closer to her, his jaw tight. "You're not leaving," he said, his voice firm as if though he commanded her. "Not like this."

But Kyla didn't flinch. She had made up her mind, and nothing could change it now.

"I'm sorry, Reece," she whispered, her heart breaking with every word. "But it's over."