Chapter 96 She remembered Elena's words. They needed to leave immediately, if they want to make it on time.She stood up and walked towards the closet, with Stefan watching her every step. “We should leave immediately if we want to make it on time tomorrow” she said, tossing clothes into her bag. Her tone was firm..... devoid of uncertainty or panic..... It was sharp and focused.Stefan got on his feet too, moving with quiet urgency. “Alright ma'am. I’ll tell Collins to prep the jet.”Mia stared at him with an amused look, after a while, she nodded. “Good. I don’t want any delays.” Their eyes lingered, then Stefan moved close and gave her a quick peck on her head before saluting.A blush appeared on Mia's face but then she turned her focus back to the work at hand..... She didn’t want a single thing going wrong.Within hours, they were already on board Stefan’s private jet, headed for Manhattan.Mia sat by the window, legs crossed, typing something into her tablet. Stefan sat across
Chapter 95The ride back was quiet, but Mia and Stefan's hands stayed joined. Stefan had taken her hand the moment they stood up to leave the restaurant, only letting go when he opened the car door for her.Neither of them said a word the whole way home. But it wasn’t the awkward kind of silence. It was the heavy, thoughtful kind. The kind where your heart speaks louder than your voice.Mia’s mind was spinning. She could feel the pound against her chest. She kept hearing his words from earlier."I love you Mia. Let me earn your love."She hadn’t seen that coming. All this time, she thought she was the only one feeling something. She didn’t know Stefan felt it too.When they got to their room, she didn’t linger in the living room. She needed space and time to breathe. She went straight to the bathroom and freshened up.She didn’t wear anything too fancy.... just a soft tank top and shorts. Something simple. Comfortable. She wasn’t trying to make anything happen tonight. Not after last
Chapter 94Mia nodded. “You can tell she didn’t expect it. Her reaction was everything.”Stefan shifted in his seat. He turned his gaze, letting it wander to the dark horizon where the last embers of the fireworks were dying out. The letters were gone now, but his chest still felt the burn.She never even thought it could be him.He let out a breath, calm and controlled. Mia didn’t notice it.She was still watching the couple, her eyes twinkling with that soft kind of envy only people pretending not to feel can carry.Stefan leaned back into his seat. Smiled again. This one was steadier. He’d worn that kind of smile his whole life, that he was so use to it.The one that hides everything.He wasn’t going to tell her. What was the point?She already made up her mind. Thought it was meant for someone else. Thought he wasn’t capable of something that intimate, that thoughtful.He let the rest of the show play without so much as a glance upward.And when the final crackle of fire lit the a
Chapter 93The ride back to their resort had been quiet.Mia sat with her fingers still lightly brushing her palm where Stefan had held her hand most of the day. His touch lingered, like the weight of the silver lock they’d left behind, clinging to her skin even in its absence.He hadn’t stopped touching her since morning.He’d held her hand through every picture, adjusted her sunglasses once with two fingers beneath her chin, and even tucked a strand of hair behind her ear like they’d been together for years.Mia stared at the passing streets outside the window, heart thudding.What exactly is going on with Stefan today?He’d taken at least fifty pictures with her. Always finding a reason to pose beside her. His hand on her waist, his face close to hers. There was a time she’d thought he didn’t even like photos.But today, he had proven her wrong.They’d even stopped at a garden just past the edge of the town. Stefan said he wanted to take one last picture before they returned. She h
Chapter 92The next morning, the scent was what hit Mia first. Warm ginger. Honey. A hint of lemon.She stirred beneath the soft sheets, one arm slipping out from under the comforter as her eyes cracked open to golden sunlight.Her gaze swept the familiar space slowly.Wait… no, why was it familiar. Her breath hitched.This was their suite.She sat up abruptly, heart skipping once. She remembered clearly..... she hadn’t slept here. Her hand instinctively reached out, brushing over the other side of the bed. It was cold and empty.But beside her was a small tray. On it, a mug of something steaming. And two little white pills.She squinted at them. Ginger tea… hangover relief?Her head did ache a little. Not pounding..... just a soft, annoying throb behind her eyes.She picked up the mug and inhaled. It was perfectly warm. Fresh. Like someone had just made it. Her lips met the rim slowly, and she took a careful sip.Warmth bloomed down her throat. Her chest tightened as she thought of t
Chapter 91And then… Stefan froze. His hands held her in place, but his lips stopped moving.Mia blinked, confused and breathless. She watched with confusion as Stefan's hands loosened around her ass, and his arms slowly fell away as he lowered her to the floor in a careful manner.Her legs felt weak and shaky from being wrapped tightly around him. She stumbled slightly when her feet touched the ground. Her knees wobbled under her weight, but she caught herself before falling back against him. Her skin tingled where his hands had been, and where his lips had left their mark.Stefan's hands folded tightly behind him as he mentally held himself from reaching out to her. He couldn't afford to touch her again; if he did, he'd regret it forever.Mia drew in a sharp inhale, her chest lifting fast like she was trying to catch air after being underwater. Her eyes found his, searching them for something... anything.But Stefan had already stepped back, the warmth of his body replaced by the e