She pulled off the earrings the moment she stepped into her room. Her hands were shaking — not because of the weight of the jewelry, but the weight of what she'd seen.
That kiss.
It shouldn't have mattered. It didn't matter. That's what she told herself as she peeled off her heels, as she wiped off the carefully applied makeup that now felt like a mask suffocating her.
He could kiss whoever he wanted.
She had Damien.
She was Ayla now — not Celeste, not the girl who looked at Leon like he was the only person in a crowded room.
And yet… that flicker in her chest wouldn't leave. A stinging sort of ache she had no business feeling. She hadn't even said a word to him all night, hadn't looked twice. And still, it burned.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her reflection in the dark screen of her phone.
You're doing it again, she scolded herself.
Letting him take up space he no longer owned.
Ayla inhaled sharply and reached for the soft throw blanket Damien had gotten her. She pulled it over her legs like a shield and leaned back.
He'd made his choice long ago. He left her once without explanation. She wouldn't let herself be that girl again — the girl who begged for answers that never came.
Her heart belonged to Damien now. He stayed. He loved her through the lie, the backlash, the blood.
Leon had been her storm.
Damien was her calm.
She chose calm.
Even if the storm still echoed in the distance.
MEANWHILE…
NICO
"Is the room ready?" Nico's voice was low, nearly drowned by the hum of the city traffic beneath the hotel balcony.
The man on the other end of the call replied affirmatively, mentioning something about pushing tomorrow's meeting to late evening due to a "scheduling conflict."
"Good," Nico said. "Keep stalling."
He hung up, leaning against the railing. His fingers tapped against the cigarette in his hand, though he didn't light it.
He hated manipulation. But he hated seeing Leon break more.
Kalen had been the one to bring the idea up. Nico just executed it.
If Leon found out, he'd never forgive them.
But he wasn't thinking straight, not since Ayla walked away. Nico had watched him spiral once before. The bruised knuckles. The reckless deals. The silence that made everyone on edge.
He wasn't going to watch that happen again.
And if keeping Damien away gave Leon a real chance to speak with Ayla… to fix the mess… then Nico would take the fall.
Let Damien believe this was a real business deal. Let him sign papers and meet with people who'd keep stringing him along.
It wasn't forever — just long enough to give fate a fighting chance.
And if it didn't work?
Then at least Nico would know he tried.
Because despite everything… he missed the Leon who smiled.
And that Leon only existed when Ayla was in the picture.