INICIAR SESIÓN(Aliana's POV)"Whatever it means, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to waste my time thinking about it," he said.Just like that?He was going to treat it as though it was nothing?Maybe it really was nothing. But I couldn't afford to take any chances.The look on Delvin's face after the phone call told me it had affected him, even if only a little.Hadn't Simon bullied him when they were younger?Maybe he was trying to do the same thing again... trying to intimidate him into giving up the company.I would never let that happen."Maybe we should call the police," I said, my voice trembling slightly as I reached for my phone.But before I could make the call, Delvin gently held my hand, stopping me."No, honey. Not yet," he said calmly.I furrowed my brows, wondering why he was stopping me from calling the police."I need to know what he's planning. I need more evidence against him," he said."More evidence?" I repeated."So this isn't the first time?" I asked in surprise.Delvin's lip
(Aliana's POV)I couldn't believe the weekend was already over.Somehow, I wished it had never ended. It was the shortest weekend I had ever had, but it was also the sweetest.Delvin and I spent the entire weekend together. From the very first day I arrived, he never left my side.Deciding to surprise Delvin with this visit, spend time with him before returning to work, and prepare for the international medical competition had turned out to be the best decision I had made in a long time."I can't believe the weekend is already over, and you're leaving," Delvin complained as he took my hand. "Now this whole house is going to feel empty all over again."A warm smile spread across my lips, but deep inside, I felt the same emptiness.The truth was, I didn't want to leave either.If it were up to me, I would have stayed with him a little longer.But I couldn't.I had to return.The short break I had managed to get before burying myself in work was over."Can I at least come with you?" he a
(Caren's POV)I didn't know how long we stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, until Andrea slowly pulled away.His hands trembled slightly as he gently cupped my face."I'm so sorry, Caren," he said quietly.I blinked at him, confused about why he was suddenly apologizing.Before I could ask, he continued."I'm sorry for all the pain I put you through," he said. "I was stupid for not ending the bet sooner... the moment I realized I had fallen in love with you."My heart thundered heavily in my chest, and my legs froze in place."That morning, after I left your house, I called off the bet," he continued softly. "I told them I had lost... that you refused to let me in."My breath caught, my fingers instinctively tightened around his arms.But... he had won the bet. I had shamelessly thrown myself into his arms that morning.So why would he lie to his friends just to protect me? Wasn't his pride the most important thing to him?"Why?" I asked, my voice coming out much softer th
(Caren's POV)Andrea stopped immediately.For a moment, neither of us said anything.I stared at our joined hands, feeling the weight of sadness behind his words settle heavily in my chest.I had always thought Andrea was simply careless. Someone who enjoyed living recklessly because he didn't care about anything or anyone.But I had been wrong.Behind all his confidence, his smiles, and his carefree attitude was a man who had been carrying pain for years.A man who wasn't only hurting because his mother had left. But was hurting because he had lost her forever.No matter how much he made it sound like he hated her, I could see the truth now.It wasn't hatred. It was pain. It was grief."Andrea..." I called softly.He didn't look up. His eyes remained fixed on my hand holding his tightly."You don't really believe that, do you?" I asked quietly.His fingers twitched slightly in my hand before he finally lifted his eyes to meet mine."Believe what?" he asked softly."That she left you
(Caren's POV)Andrea's brows furrowed as he gestured in confusion, clearly wondering how it was the same. Did he really not know, or was he only pretending not to?Whether he was wearing a towel or not, it practically felt the same to me.The way my body had reacted the moment I saw him standing there made that obvious.Seeing him in nothing but a towel had affected me just as much as it would have if he hadn't been wearing anything at all. And I was almost certain he wasn't wearing anything underneath it. One wrong move, and everything would be exposed.My throat suddenly went dry as the image of his large manhood flashed across my mind.I quickly shook my head, forcing that crazy thought away. I didn't want to think about it, or about how much I had wanted him again."You... you should go... shower now," I stammered awkwardly as I turned toward the dresser.From the mirror, I saw Andrea's lips curl into a smile, as if he understood exactly what had been going through my mind.But h
(Caren's POV)"What are you saying, Dad? There's not even an extra room for him to sleep in if he stays," I said.I lived in a two-bedroom flat. If my family stayed in the guest room, then where would Andrea sleep? With me in my master bedroom? I hoped not."He can sleep on the couch," Abel said, as if he had read my mind. He pointed toward the couch in the living room."What's so wrong with letting him spend the night here anyway?" Dad asked, looking confused."Aren't you two close?" he added, glancing between us.Close?That single word almost made me choke on my own saliva.We had been close before.Close enough for me to have the best sexual experience of my life with him.But then he hurt me afterward.And now, I was scared to let him get that close to me again.I didn't answer.Of course, I couldn't tell my dad any of that. So I simply cleared my throat and looked down.Andrea stared at me for a moment.There was something like sadness in his eyes, as if he knew exactly what I w







