Chapter 5

After spending the whole morning making a scene, Kieran offered to take everyone out for lunch.

Mona turned him down flat. "No, thanks. You've had your fun. Now it's time to go."

Kieran ignored her and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the door.

His friends, worried she'd refuse to come along, grabbed Ryder and dragged him out with them.

The group drove to a hot spring resort.

Ryder barely knew Kieran's friends and had little to talk about with them. He wasn't interested in joining in, either. Instead, he found a quiet corner and watched them laugh and drink together.

Noticing how out of place he looked, Mona came over to pour him some juice. But just as he reached for the glass, she abruptly got up and headed back toward the others.

Kieran was about to take a sip of whiskey when Mona snatched the glass from his hand. Her angry voice cut through the chatter. "You're allergic to alcohol! What are you doing? Are you trying to kill yourself?"

Kieran blinked at her innocently. "I thought it was juice. I just grabbed the wrong glass. Why are you so mad?"

He took the glass of juice from her other hand and gave her a cheerful smile. "Thanks!"

Mona's fingers tightened around the whiskey glass. She said nothing more and returned to Ryder, absentmindedly offering him the drink she was holding.

Ryder glanced at the amber liquid, then at Mona, who still seemed distracted.

He didn't take it. Instead, he picked up his bag and stood. "I don't drink. I'm going to the hot springs."

Only then did Mona realize she'd made a mistake. She'd been so preoccupied with Kieran that she'd handed Ryder whiskey instead of juice.

She wanted to explain, but Ryder was already walking away. He was gone before she could say anything.

The warm water eased the tension in Ryder's body. He leaned against the side of the pool, watching the steam curl into the air.

Before long, his eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep. He'd grown so used to the noise outside that he didn't hear anyone knocking.

Mona called his name several times. When he didn't answer, she grew worried and pushed the door open.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him slumped against the side of the pool. She hurried into the water and helped him up.

Ryder stirred and opened his eyes, still half-asleep. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her shoulders to keep his balance.

Steam rose around them, their bodies pressed close together. The sudden closeness left them both still for a moment. Mona rose onto her toes, leaning in for a kiss.

Their faces were inches apart when footsteps interrupted them. Kieran appeared in the doorway. His smile disappeared the moment he saw them.

He gritted his teeth, his shock and disappointment plain to see. Then he turned and hurried away.

Mona froze. Without thinking, she let go of Ryder and rushed after Kieran. "He got the wrong idea. I need to explain."

And just like that, she was gone.

Ryder watched her leave.

They were husband and wife. There was nothing wrong with them kissing, and Mona had no reason to explain herself to anyone.

But she'd never really let go of the past. Somewhere deep down, she still saw herself as Kieran's girlfriend. That was why she'd gone running after him without a second thought.

She'd spent so long putting Kieran first that it had become a habit, one she couldn't easily break.

Ryder watched her disappear, a faint smile on his face even as tears welled in his eyes. He wrapped a towel around himself and opened the window to get some fresh air.

Just then, he spotted Kieran storming out of the building. Kieran yanked open his car door, but Mona caught his wrist before he could get in. Their argument carried clearly through the open window.

"Ryder fell asleep in the hot spring. I was just worried he'd get cold! Do you really have to get this upset?"

"Right, he's your husband! I have no right to be upset! So, go back to him! Why are you wasting your time explaining yourself to your ex-boyfriend?"

"Kieran, do you have to be like this?"

"What? I'm just telling the truth!"

That was the end of their argument.

With tears in his eyes, Kieran pulled his hand free, climbed into his car, and sped away. Mona stood there for barely a few seconds before getting into her own car and chasing after him.

Ryder watched the dust settle over the empty road. Then he quietly closed the window and went to get changed.

He'd just finished dressing when several of Kieran's friends came rushing toward him, looking frantic. "Ryder! There's been an accident! Mona and Kieran were in a car crash!"