It was Saturday morning, and Lara stood in her kitchen, staring at the nearly empty shelves of her pantry. No more coffee, barely enough rice, some instant noodles and her fridge was mostly a graveyard of forgotten condiments and a lone egg. She had been so distracted lately she hadn’t even noticed how empty her kitchen had become.She sighed. “Well, guess it’s grocery day.”Lara had just finished changing into jeans and a soft blue blouse when her phone buzzed. A message from Reagan lit up the screen.Reagan: Good morning. Got any plans today?Lara paused, thumb hovering over the screen. She hesitated for a second before replying.Lara: Just heading out to do some grocery shopping. Why?A moment later, another message came in.Reagan: I’ll come with you.She blinked at the screen. She quickly typed again.Lara: It’s fine. You don’t have to. I don’t want to bother you.But his reply came almost instantly.Reagan: You’re not a bother, Lara. Besides, we agreed on this fake relationship
Friday afternoon.Lara stood in front of Reagan’s door, her heart pounding so loud it echoed in her own ears.She hadn’t texted him. Hadn’t warned him she was coming. She hadn’t trusted herself not to chicken out or send some awkward half-explanation via text. It had to be in person.Even if every fiber of her stomach twisted in knots.Taking a deep breath, she reached out and pressed the doorbell.A few seconds passed before the door swung open.Reagan stood there, casually dressed in a black sleeveless shirt and gray sweatpants, hair slightly tousled as though he’d just gotten out of bed or finished a workout. For a brief second, her eyes—traitorous as ever—fell to his bare arms, catching the defined muscles flexing as he leaned against the door frame.She blinked, internally scolding herself. Get it together, Lara. Now is not the time to get distracted!She forced herself to focus, looking up at his face instead.Surprised flickered across Reagan’ face when he realized it was her,
Without thinking twice, Lara called Lucas.He picked up almost immediately.[“Lara,”] he said, his voice careful, as if he already knew why she was calling.“What the hell are you doing?” she snapped, skipping any pleasantries. “Why are you suddenly backing out of the annulment?”There was a pause. Then, quietly, he said, [“I’m sorry.”]Lara’s eyes narrowed. Rage bubbled in her chest.“Sorry?” she laughed bitterly. “Seriously, Lucas? You said you’d go through with it! What kind of game are you playing now?”[“I’m not playing games,”] he said, his tone still maddeningly steady. [“And I’m not backing out completely. I just… want to renegotiate the terms.”]Her mouth fell open in disbelief.“You’re unbelievable!” she spat. “What the hell makes you think you can negotiate anything with me?”[“I know,”] Lucas replied, his voice faltering just slightly. [“I know I don’t have the right to ask for anything. But I don’t know what else to do. I’m desperate, Lara. I don’t want to lose you withou
The following days felt heavier than they should have.Despite telling Reagan she wouldn’t avoid him, Lara found herself doing exactly that. It wasn’t intentional at first—at least, that’s what she told herself. But each time her phone buzzed and his name appeared on the screen, her chest tightened. Sometimes she opened the messages only to stare at them blankly, unsure how to reply. Other times, she couldn’t even bring herself to look.She started adjusting her routine. Avoiding the lobby around the time she guessed he might be coming or going. Leaving her unit before sunrise to skip any possible encounter in the underground parking lot. Ordered delivery food in to avoid stepping out altogether.It felt cowardly—and childish. She knew it wasn’t fair to him. And she hated herself for it.It wasn’t that she wanted to hurt him. Far from it.But she didn’t know how to face him. Not after that night. Not after the look in his eyes… not after the way her heart had stuttered in her chest.R
Lara could hardly breathe.The world felt too quiet. Too still. As if time had stopped in that moment, and all she could hear was the echo of his voice inside her head. Her hand burned where his lips had touched, and her entire body trembled—overwhelmed, confused, and completely disarmed.She couldn’t think. Not clearly. Not with him standing so close, his striking green eyes looking at her like she was the only woman in the world. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest, and her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.This couldn’t be real.For so long, she had felt invisible… overlooked in her own marriage. She had gotten used to being the second choice—the unwanted wife. And now here he was—Reagan. Confessing that he liked her. Looking at her like she was something worth cherishing.She wasn’t ready for this.“I... Reagan... I don’t—” she finally managed, her voice breathless, caught somewhere between confusion and panic.But he gently cut her off. “It’s okay,” he said, his
Lara turned to him, startled. “What?” Reagan shifted to face her completely. The city lights framed his tall silhouette, casting gold highlights along his jawline and cheekbones. There was no trace of humor or teasing in his green eyes as they locked onto hers. “I mean it,” he said, voice low and even. “If you really want to make it clear to him that you’ve moved on... then show him. Let him see that he doesn’t have any place in your life anymore. And if pretending you’ve found someone new is what it takes to make him back off for good… then I can be that person, Lara.” For a moment, Lara was speechless. The suggestion hit her like a wave, knocking the breath out of her lungs. Her mouth parted, but no words came out. She stared at him, trying to decipher the meaning behind his offer. Was it pity? Was it just a favor? Or something else entirely? Her mind raced to find reason, logic—but nothing made sense. Reagan must’ve noticed the storm behind her eyes. He took a step clos
After finishing their meal, Lara stood and reached for the plates. “Let me wash the dishes. It’s the least I can do after everything.” she offered. But Reagan gently reached out to take the plates from her hands. “No need. You’re a guest, remember? Besides, I’ve got a dishwasher.” Lara gave him a reluctant look but eventually surrendered. “Alright, fine. I won’t argue with that.” Reagan gave her a brief nod. “You can relax in the living room or do whatever you feel like. I’ll just clean up here.” With a nod, Lara stepped out of the kitchen, wandering through the spacious penthouse. But instead of heading for the couch, her eyes were drawn to the glass doors leading to the balcony. She quietly slid them open and stepped outside. The air was cooler out there, crisp against her skin. The balcony stretched wide along the edge of the penthouse, open and generous. Its railing, made of clear fiberglass, was nearly invisible—like there was nothing between her and the world below—but th
Lara stirred slowly, her limbs heavy and her mind clouded with sleep. A faint headache pulsed at her temples, and for a moment, she didn’t quite understand where she was.Her brows furrowed as her gaze focused on the unfamiliar ceiling above her. It wasn’t hers. The room smelled faintly of sandalwood and something clean—masculine. She sat up abruptly, the soft comforter slipping off her shoulders.Panic seized her chest.Where... am I?This definitely wasn’t her room. The walls were painted in elegant shades of cream and black, the furniture minimalist but sleek. Everything about the space whispered luxury—but also restraint.Instinctively, she checked herself under the covers. She was still in the same clothes as earlier. Relief rushed through her, but her mind was still racing.Running her fingers through her messy hair, she tried to piece together what had happened. Her heart dropped as flashes of memory came rushing back—her conversation with Lucas... breaking down in Reagan’s arm
Lara kept walking, not once glancing back. Her chest felt tight, her emotions roaring inside her like a violent storm. Her vision blurred as tears clung stubbornly to her lashes, and the lump in her throat felt impossibly large. She pressed the elevator button with trembling fingers. When the doors slid open, she stepped inside and pressed herself into the corner, willing herself to disappear. The doors were just about to close when suddenly, a hand slipped through, forcing them to open again. Startled, Lara looked up—and her breath hitched in her throat when she saw who it was. “R-Reagan?” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. There he was, still in his dark, tailored suit, the crispness of his appearance a stark contrast to his expression. His usually composed face was tight with concern, his brows knitted together in a deep frown. There was no mistaking the worry in his sharp green eyes. Without a word, Reagan stepped inside. The elevator doors closed behind him, sealing