The room smelled pleasant, but I nearly suffocated. Nicholas's grip around me was so tight that I was becoming breathless. "Let me go…" I murmured, yet he remained unmoved. "I don't know how you feel about me now, but we don't stand a chance anymore."Nicholas stiffened. However, he continued to ho
I reflexively raised my hand to cover my neck, but it was already too late. Seemingly having anticipated my move, Nicholas grabbed my wrist midair. His grip on my wrist tightened, causing my fingers to turn pale. He was using a lot of force.Petrified, I intended to avoid him and jerked my head asi
The tension in the air seemed to dissipate when I saw Pete's name. Telling Douglas to return to the hotel first, I answered Pete's call under the street's neon lights."Ariana." Pete's gentle voice came through the receiver. "What made you think of calling me? Aren't you busy?" I asked, smiling. "
I could see the moon over Pete's head and a very bright star beside it, but he couldn't see them.In a voice filled with disappointment, he asked, "In your heart, have we always been just two separate individuals? Have you never thought about relying on me?"I felt a bit angry. Pete was speaking to
After sending the message, I felt a huge sense of relief. I wasn't sure if I was telling Nicholas to keep his distance or reminding myself to do so. Every time I was with him, my heart felt uneasy.In any case, I decided that my future was going to be with Pete.When I returned to the hotel room,
"Nicholas, you're absolutely unreasonable!"My teeth were chattering as I spoke. "It's only a matter of time before I end up with someone else. Even if it's not Pete, there'll be another man. Are you going to kill someone every time I start a new relationship?"Why is it that you can have all the wo
Pete raised his hand, vowing in a way that was both playful and endearing. I ignored his attempts to be cute and shook my head. I didn't want him to regret his decision later."How about five days?" he asked.I stayed silent."Three days, but not a day less, Ari." He became serious. "No matter what
The next day, I went to the address Pete sent me. It felt like the excitement of opening a mystery box. He had been very secretive about the details and hadn't even mentioned the style of the place, but I guessed it would be minimalistic, like most apartments.As the housekeeper led me inside, the