1.

~SCARLETT.

"Welcome to Le Casa Rosa. We're so glad to have you here. Your suite is ready, and we've made sure everything is prepared for your stay," the receptionist greeted us warmly, handing the keycard to the man I've known for four years, and come to love somewhere along the way.

Jake took the card without so much as a smile or a thank you. His eyes were glued to his phone, fingers tapping away like the glowing screen held more importance than anything around him.

"Thanks," I said, offering a smile as I shot an apologetic look at the receptionist. She seemed to understand, nodding with a practiced grace.

Two weeks ago, I stumbled across Le Casa Rosa while scrolling through !nstagram. It was a dreamy destination for couples. Perfect sunsets, private dinners, everything drenched in romance. It had seemed like exactly what Jake and I needed.

Our relationship had been… off. I didn't know when it had started to shift, but now, I felt like I was chasing something that wasn't there anymore. Jake's reluctance to come on this trip had been clear from the beginning. He'd groaned at the idea, claiming he was too busy, but I'd pushed. I'd begged.

The bellhop wheeled our luggage up to the counter. "Shall I show you to your room?" he asked, his gaze darting between us, clearly sensing the tension.

Jake shrugged, still not looking up. "Sure."

Forcing a smile, I nodded. "Yes, please."

We followed the bellhop to the elevator, Jake trailing behind me, his attention fixed on his screen.

When we reached the suite, I was momentarily struck by its beauty. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the ocean, the waves catching the golden light of the setting sun. A king-sized bed with crisp white linens, a plush seating area that looked like it belonged in a luxury ad, and a spacious balcony overlooking the water completed the picture. It was perfect.

Except… Jake wasn't here with me. Not really.

The bellhop set our luggage down and left with a polite bow. Jake didn't even glance at the room. He walked straight to the balcony, slid the door open, and closed it behind him.

I stood in the middle of the suite, staring at his back. How had we gotten here?

We used to be so in sync effortlessly. Now, every interaction felt strained, like I was clutching at frayed threads, trying to hold us together on my own.

Two years. That's how long it had been since we'd had sex. Since he'd touched me like he wanted me.

I had desperately tried to fill the void, futile attempts to satisfy the ache with toys, but nothing worked. My body craved him, yearned for the connection we once had. But Jake? He seemed perfectly content to ignore the growing void between us, as though it didn't even exist.

Not this time. I wouldn't let him.

I walked to my bag, fingers trembling as I pulled out the delicate red lingerie. It was for him, for us. I wasn't ready to give up.

Slipping into the walk-in closet, I changed. The lace clung to my curves, accentuating every part of me I wanted him to notice. My ginger hair tumbled down my shoulders as I pulled out the pins holding it back.

For a moment, I stared at my reflection in the mirror, searching for confidence I wasn't sure I possessed. The gold locket around my neck caught the light, its familiar warmth grounding me. Inside was a photo of my parents and me, their arms wrapped around me in a moment of love that felt like a distant memory.

I missed them.

Shaking the thought away, I straightened. This wasn't about them, or the years of struggle I'd faced since losing them. This was about Jake and me.

I slipped on a robe to cover the lingerie and stepped back into the bedroom. Perching on the edge of the bed, I let the robe fall open slightly, revealing a leg through the high slit.

"Jake," I called softly.

No response.

"Baby," I tried again, a sultry edge slipping into my tone.

A long silence followed before the sound of the balcony door sliding open broke it. Jake stepped into the room, leaning casually against the doorway. His steel-blue eyes swept over me, lingering on the curve of my exposed leg.

Slowly, his gaze traveled upward, pausing on the silk robe barely draped over my shoulders and the red lace peeking through.

His jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt seen.

I stood slowly, letting the robe fall from my shoulders, pooling at my feet. My skin prickled under his gaze, a mix of nerves and anticipation flooding through me.

"Do you like it?" I asked, taking slow steps toward him.

His expression was unreadable, his gaze locked on mine.

I closed the distance between us, my bare feet brushing the cool floor. I stood on tiptoe, tilting my head to press my body against his. My arms slid around his neck as I whispered, "I've missed you."

For a moment, he stood still, his hands hovering near my waist. I thought… no, I hoped he would pull me closer. But instead, his hands shoved me away, forcefully.

The force sent me stumbling backward. My foot caught the edge of the rug, and I crashed to the floor, the impact sending a jolt through my body.

I stared up at him, breathless and shocked.

His eyes were a deeper shade of blue now, his fists clenched tight at his sides. A sneer twisted his lips, and disdain seeped from every line of his face. "Do you think this is going to fix anything? Throwing yourself at me like this? It's pathetic."

The words hurt worse than the fall.

Before I could respond, he turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I remained on the floor, my chest tightening with each sob that shook my body. Tears blurred my vision as I curled into myself, pulling my knees tightly to my chest and burying my face in my arms. The room felt impossibly large, achingly empty—and I had never felt more alone.

I stayed there for what felt like hours, the tears eventually drying, but the emptiness remained. My gaze fell on the phone resting on the table. I reached for it, my hands shaking as I unlocked the screen.

I dialed Jake's number.

It rang once, twice, then his voicemail picked up.

I tried again. And again. And again. Each time, it went straight to voicemail.

Panic filled my chest, making my heart pound faster. Where was he? Had he left me? Was he done with us?

The guilt crept in like a shadow, and I tried to push it away, but it only grew stronger. It was my fault. I shouldn't have insisted on this trip. If I hadn't pushed so hard, maybe things would've turned out differently. Maybe we'd still be okay.

But he wasn't answering. He wasn't coming back. I was alone.

Determined to take some action, I grabbed one of Jake's oversized shirts and slipped it on. I took a deep breath, the familiar scent of his cologne filling my lungs. It should have brought me comfort, but instead, it only highlighted the distance that had grown between us.

I grabbed my phone again, dialing his number, but still, it went unanswered.

I stepped out of the suite, the burden of everything closing in on me. My feet moved on their own through the hallway, phone pressed to my ear, praying that this time, the call would go through.

It didn't.

I reached the lobby, only to find the receptionist had already left. I spotted the bellhop and made my way over to him. He still wore his polite smile, though it appeared more strained now.

"E…Excuse me," I said. "Have you seen my boyfriend? He hasn't come back to the room."

The bellhop shook his head. "Sorry, ma'am. I haven't seen him."

I thanked him, the deepening ache of uncertainty tightening in my chest. Turning away, I began to mentally map out my next search.

I wandered through the resort, searching for any trace of Jake, desperate to find him, to repair whatever had broken between us before it unraveled completely. It wasn't until I reached the far end, where a secluded row of rooms stood, that I heard moaning.

I stopped in my tracks.

A door nearby was slightly ajar, and the sounds from within grew louder. A woman's moans echoed through the hallway.

I felt a sharp pang of jealousy twisting in my chest. How lucky she must be to feel so desired, so cherished. Whoever she was, she had someone who made her feel wanted, in a way I hadn't in so long.

I gripped my phone tighter, my knuckles white, as I turned away, trying to push the sickening feeling in my stomach down. But I couldn't escape it.

I dialed Jake's number again.

It rang.

And then, just before it switched to voicemail, I heard a ringtone I knew too well.

It was coming from the same room, where the woman's moans still echoed in the hallway.

My heart skipped a beat. No. This couldn't be.

Shaking, I dialed again, desperate. But the same thing happened. His ringtone sounded, unmistakable, coming from inside the room.

I took a few hesitant steps toward the door, my chest tight with dread. With shaky fingers, I pushed it open and peeked inside. What I saw made my blood turn to ice.

A woman lay naked on her back across the table, her legs bent and resting over a man's shoulders. His raven hair gleamed in the faint light, his head buried between her thighs, while one hand firmly gripped her breast.

The broad shoulders. The familiar build.

It was Jake.

I gasped, my phone slipping from my hand as my knees buckled.

This couldn't be real.

But it was.

Jake was with her. He was with someone else.

My body trembled as the truth crashed over me. The air felt heavy, stolen from the room, leaving me gasping. I turned and ran, my legs shaking beneath me. I didn't know where I was going, I just needed to get away.