He was standing over me, his phone still in his hand, staring down at me like I had just fallen from the sky.
Shock flickered across his face.
He had been stepping toward the mansion.
I had been walking out, distracted, tangled in my own thoughts.
Neither of us had been paying attention.
He reached for me immediately.
"Are you okay?"
I stared at him.
This wasn't how this was supposed to happen.
He wasn't supposed to be here.
I canceled.
"You said you'd reschedule," he said carefully.
"I… was going to."
His eyes scanned my face the way they always did — slow, observant, professional but personal at the same time.
"You look shaken."
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
My ankle throbbed slightly, but I ignored it and pushed myself up without taking his hand.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"Alyssa," he said quietly, lowering his voice. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. I just have somewhere to be."
"Can we talk later?" I added quickly, trying to sound polite instead of desperate.
He exhaled softly. "You can't keep doing this, Lys."
There it was. The therapist tone.
"You really have to take therapy seriously."
He started saying more — something about avoidance, emotional triggers, patterns — professional words I didn't have the patience for right now.
I began pacing slightly.
What does he want this time?
Why today?
Of all days.
"Alyssa."
I stopped.
"Don't forget I'm a therapist," he said gently. "I see your face. I can tell something isn't right."
I let out a small laugh. "Oh, now you're a mind reader too?"
"Not really," he replied calmly. "But do you need a mirror? It's very obvious you're unsettled, Madam Alyssa."
I blinked. "Madam Alyssa? Why so formal, Mr. Aaron?"
He smiled, shaking his head. "Very funny."
Then his tone shifted slightly. Softer.
"Let me accompany you."
"Where?"
"To get the gift," he said. "You mentioned it the other day. Your little niece's birthday."
I froze.
Gift?
"You begged me to go with you," he added lightly. "Remember?"
I had no memory of that.
None.
But I nodded anyway.
"Oh. Right. Yes. The gift."
Why didn't I remember?
Had I really asked him?
Or was my mind just too full of other things?
You see? Crazy.
Maybe they're right.
Maybe I'm losing it.
He reached for my hand briefly, squeezing it in reassurance.
"I'll drive."
He led me toward his car, opened the door for me like he always did. Calm. Gentle. Predictable.
A sweet gentleman.
Handsome. Tall. Muscular. Grounded.
The one stable thing in the middle of all this chaos.
As he settled into the driver's seat and began fastening his seatbelt, something pulled my gaze back toward the mansion.
And then I saw him clearly.
Victor.
Standing exactly where I had fallen.
Still.
Watching.
His dark green eyes locked onto mine even from that distance.
Firm.
Unreadable.
Dangerously intense.
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't moving.
He was just… staring.
My chest tightened.
God, this man looked too good to ignore.
No.
Enough.
I slapped my own forehead lightly.
"Stop it, Alyssa," I muttered under my breath.
"You okay?" Aaron asked quickly, alarm flashing across his face.
I forced a laugh. "I'm fine. Just… Alyssa being Alyssa."
He stared at me a little longer than usual.
Like he was trying to decide if I was joking or breaking.
Then he nodded slowly and started the car.
We drove off.
But I could still feel Victor's eyes on me.
"Stop here," I said calmly as we approached the cafeteria.
Aaron pulled into the parking space smoothly and parked.
Before I could reach for the handle, he was already out of the car, walking around to open my door.
He gestured politely. "After you."
Perfect gentleman.
"Aaron," I said softly, stepping out. "You should wait here. It's personal."
His expression shifted immediately.
"Are you sure you'll be safe?"
"Yes."
He hesitated.
"He's not a threat."
He blinked. "He?"
I paused.
"Yes."
"Your boyfriend?"
That question felt too direct.
Too intrusive.
Too accurate.
"Just wait here," I said. "This is important."
He studied my face one more time before nodding slowly.
"I'll be right here."
I turned and walked toward the cafeteria doors.
My palms were slightly sweaty.
My heart beat faster with every step.
I told myself this was nothing.
Just a conversation.
Closure.
Something quick.
But my body didn't believe that.
The bell above the door chimed as I stepped inside.
The smell of coffee and baked bread hit me instantly.
Warm.
Small.
Too small.
And then I saw him.
He was sitting at a corner table near the window.
He looked… different.
A little paler than I remembered.
Thinner, maybe.
His posture wasn't as confident as before.
For a second, doubt crept in.
What could possibly be so urgent?
A thousand thoughts raced through my head.
Did he find out?
Did someone say something?
Is this about Elena?
About Victor?
About me?
He looked up.
Our eyes met.
And the air shifted.
The noise of the cafeteria faded into a dull hum.
I walked toward him slowly at first.
Then faster.
The closer I got, the more intense everything felt.
The heat.
The smallness of the room.
The weight of his stare.
He didn't smile.
He didn't stand.
He just watched me approach like he had been waiting a long time.
I didn't give myself time to think.
I didn't give myself space to breathe.
I reached him.
Pulled the chair back sharply.
Sat down beside him instead of across from him.
Close.
Too close.
I grabbed his shoulder.
Tight.
"What do you want this time?"