Me: "Darling, what are you doing here? Did you come to pick me up?"

 When he saw me, his usually handsome face immediately darkened. He was visibly furious. I knew I was putting him in an embarrassing position in front of his employees, but I didn't have time to think about that. Perry and Courtney were right there, and I refused to be humiliated in front of them. So I used Nathan to save face.

 Nathan: "You? What are you doing here?"

 His voice was low, but I could clearly feel the anger in his tone.

 Me: "Please... just do me this one favor. After all, I gave you my virginity, the least you could do is play along."

 I had no idea how Nathan would react. Would he reject me? Go along with it? I had no clue. His dark eyes were furious, unreadable. I couldn't guess what he was thinking, but instinctively, I could feel the dangerous aura radiating from him.

 Just when I thought he would push me away, he suddenly wrapped an arm around my waist and looked into my eyes with a soft smile.

 Nathan: "Are you okay, baby? I hope I didn't hurt you too much last night..."

 His voice was so gentle. I couldn't help melting under his gaze, especially when a man as stunning as him looked at me so tenderly.

 Me: "I... yes, I'm fine. Much better now..."

 I replied with a shy smile, unable to hold his gaze.

 Nathan: "I'll be gentler next time. I won't hurt you again. I promise."

 He reached out, swept a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and looked at me lovingly.

 Without meaning to, his words made me panic, and I suddenly started blushing. And then... what did he just say? "Next time"? There would be no next time! I had given him my virginity and he had the nerve to handle me roughly all night, and now he was talking about a next time? Pfft... I secretly cursed Nathan in my heart, but I had to pretend to be happy in front of Perry and Courtney.

 Perry's expression changed instantly: his eyes darkened with anger as he stared at me. Courtney looked completely shocked as she stared at us pressed against each other.

 Courtney: "What... he's your man?"

 One look was enough to see that Nathan surpassed Perry in every way. Looks, presence, prestige... Even without knowing his identity, Courtney must have sensed it too.

 Me: "Of course he's my man. Do you regret choosing Perry now?"

 I looked at Courtney with a mocking smile.

 Perry: "Mr. Spence..." Perry straightened up and walked toward Nathan, suddenly looking very respectful.

 Nathan: "Perry, can you explain why there's so much noise here? What's going on?" Nathan asked coldly after giving him a brief look.

 Perry glanced at me, clearly embarrassed by Nathan's question. He didn't know how to answer. I was in Nathan's arms, and I wondered how Perry felt at that moment. But I felt absolutely triumphant.

 Perry: "It... it's nothing, just a personal issue. But... what brings you here today?" he asked quickly, trying to change the subject.

 Nathan: "I came to accompany this beautiful lady while she chooses whatever she wants. Since you're here, maybe you could give her some advice? What do you think, baby?" he asked, staring straight into my eyes.

 Me: "Uh... no, it's fine. Liliana is here, and I know the center very well."

 Courtney: "Perry, you know this man? Is he really Irene's boyfriend?"

 Courtney had always been arrogant. She must have been upset after seeing Perry tremble in front of Nathan. Nathan wasn't just more handsome-he clearly had a higher status than Perry. Seeing me with a man better than Perry must have deeply frustrated her.

 Perry: "Courtney! Shut up!"

 Courtney: "Why should I shut up? I'm telling the truth! I'm sure Irene still loves you. She's just hurt because you left her, so she found some guy just to pretend!"

 Perry: "Courtney, that's enough!" he shouted, finally stopping her.

 Perry knew very well that Nathan wasn't the kind of man anyone could use to pretend or manipulate-there was no way this was a game.

 Courtney: "You... you yelled at me? Perry, you don't love me anymore?" Her expression turned vicious in an instant. Tears filled her eyes as if she had been wronged.

 I snickered at Courtney's pitiful act. She always had to pretend to be the victim. Maybe that was how she seduced Perry-men liked delicate, gentle women. But I was the complete opposite.

 Nathan: "Perry, you should seriously reconsider your taste in women." Nathan let go of my waist and stepped closer to Perry. His tone was mocking as he looked at Courtney. I didn't expect the usually reserved Nathan to spice up my little game. When he spoke, I could clearly see the embarrassment on Perry's face. Watching him look so defeated made me feel triumphant.

 Perry: "Mr. Spence, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

 Perry was a reserved man. Courtney's behavior must have embarrassed him, so he quickly dragged her away.

 Liliana: "See? Even a random guy off the street would be ten times better than Perry!" Liliana said, adding fuel to the fire.

 I could no longer pretend, and I struggled to maintain my smile once they left. I hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Nathan and said:

 Me: "Thank you... for what just happened."

 Nathan glanced at Liliana standing next to him. Then he turned to me and spoke coldly.

Nathan: "Take your friend home first. I need to talk to you."

 Me: "I don't think we have anything to talk about. If that's all, I'll go."

 I didn't understand why just meeting Nathan's dark gaze could unsettle me so much. I grabbed Liliana by the arm to leave. I had drunk way too much that night. I had let myself go, and so had Nathan. But now I was sober, and I no longer had the courage to talk to him.

 Liliana: "Well... I'll leave you two. I just remembered I still have some errands to run. Irene, I'm going now," she said.

 I had no idea what she was up to. She let go of my arm and slipped away immediately, leaving me alone. Just as I was about to leave, Nathan grabbed my wrist. He pulled me toward a corner near the stairs and pinned me against the wall. We were so close I could almost feel his scent, his masculine aura. I had been completely drunk that night. Aside from the fact that we slept together, I remembered nothing. And now my heart was racing wildly.

 Me: "Na... Nathan, what are you doing?"

 His gaze on me completely destabilized me. I wanted to run away, but my legs felt paralyzed.

 Nathan: "What's your relationship with Perry?" he finally asked, his eyes full of questions.

 Just hearing that name made my chest tighten. The breakup had been a nightmare. Even if I was still broken, I had become very good at hiding my pain.

 Me: "Nothing. He's a stranger."

 Before, Perry had been the most important person in my life, the man I wanted to spend my life with. Now, at best, we were two strangers.

 Nathan: "Do you really think I'm going to buy that, Irene?"

 His eyes hardened, and there was a hint of anger in his voice.

 I froze. How did he know my name? I didn't remember ever saying it in front of him!

 Me: "How do you know my name?" I looked up at him, my voice weak.

 Nathan: "It's not hard for me to investigate someone. And the woman next to Perry just called you."

 He frowned, and the depth of his voice made me feel almost stupid.

 Me: "I... I'm leaving. Running into you today was just a coincidence. And... thank you for what you did earlier."

 I turned to walk away after saying that. But once again, he trapped me against the wall. He placed his arms on either side of me, closing the distance. At that moment, I could clearly feel my heart pounding uncontrollably. His handsome face was so close to mine. Anyone would react in front of a man that stunning. I wasn't used to being so close to men. During the seven years I had been with Perry, I had gotten used to keeping my distance from others, so being face-to-face with the man I had given my virginity to last night made me incredibly uneasy.

 Nathan: "You're leaving just like that?"

 He leaned in slowly, his deep, seductive voice sending shivers down my spine. His words stirred something in me, and my heartbeat went wild.

 Me: "What do you want?"

 I held my breath as he approached me.

 Nathan: "Come on... are you trying to play hard to get with me now?"

 Suddenly, his eyes darkened as if questioning me. At first, I was still a little flustered, but when I heard what he said, anger rose inside me. What did he mean by that? Was he implying that I was playing hard to get?

 Me: "I don't know what you're talking about. Sorry, I have to go."

 I pushed his arms away roughly, wanting to leave. He must have been insane. Since when had I ever played hard to get with him? I had no idea what he was talking about! At first, I thought he wouldn't let me go so easily. But surprisingly, he didn't try to stop me again.

 I had never felt so shaken while walking alone through the streets. The scene at the shopping mall replayed in my mind. I didn't know how to forget Perry or how to end my heartbreak.

 When I returned to Liliana's place, she bombarded me with questions about Nathan.

 Liliana: "Come on, tell me. What's your deal with that guy? Is he the man... the man you slept with that night?"

 Liliana was a very smart person. Honestly, she would have figured it out even if I hadn't said anything.

 Under her endless questions, I eventually admitted that the man I had slept with was Nathan.

 Liliana: "Irene, seriously, Nathan is not bad at all. If he became your boyfriend, he'd be a thousand times better than Perry."

 Liliana obviously wanted me to get over my breakup, so she started putting "dangerous ideas" in my head.

 I weakly shook my head and sighed. She had it all wrong. Other than that one night, there was nothing between me and Nathan-and there never would be. We came from two different worlds.

 What kind of man was Nathan Spence? With a flick of his wrist, he could shake the entire Milshire. He owned properties and businesses all over the country. He kept a low profile, but everyone knew he was a billionaire.

 Me: "There's no way anything could happen between Nathan and me. Stop imagining things."

 With that, I went back to the room to rest.

 Liliana: "You know he's Perry's boss, right? Didn't you see how respectful he suddenly was when he saw Nathan? If he found out you were actually his boss's girlfriend, it would hurt him even more."

 Her words annoyed me. Yes, I had wanted revenge. Yes, I had been furious when I saw Perry with Courtney. But it had just been a moment of anger. Nathan and I... we were nothing. Just two strangers.

 I didn't even know why he had been in that bar that night. Maybe he had his own problems-even billionaires do. But that had nothing to do with me.

 What mattered was healing from the breakup and finding a job to support myself. I had left my previous job because it was too far from Perry's place. I wanted something closer to his office once we were married. In the end, not only was the wedding canceled, but I also lost my job. Who could be more unlucky than me? Losing everything for a man...

 Two days passed. Thanks to Liliana's support, I slowly pulled myself together. I realized it wasn't worth suffering over an unfaithful man who betrayed me. I returned to a normal life. I thought I was finally ready to start anew.

I got up early, determined to prepare myself. I slipped into a professional outfit, knowing I had an important interview ahead. A touch of makeup was all I allowed, just enough to look polished. I worked in advertising design, and today, I was stepping into a chance to join a bigger agency.

 Standing in front of Milshire's largest advertising agency, I felt a twinge of intimidation. The building loomed over me, far grander than anything I'd ever experienced. I had spent my career in small agencies; my results had always been excellent, but the rewards had been modest. To truly advance, I needed to be part of a larger company. That was why I was here. The only catch? Perry worked here. Initially, the thought of applying filled me with dread. But for my career, I forced myself to take the risk. I had to swallow the unpleasant reality: working in the same place as him.

 I also knew that Nathan had founded this company, though it was just a side venture for him. Running into him seemed almost impossible-he had so many businesses that crossing paths with him was highly unlikely.

 All I wanted was to grow professionally, to finally move forward instead of stagnating. In any other company, I would have been confident I'd get the position. With my degrees and experience, I was usually unstoppable. But this was Hayseed Inc. Here, employees were paid handsomely, and admission was fiercely competitive. Doubt crept in.

 I walked out of the interview feeling a little dazed. Hayseed Inc was even more massive than I had imagined-thousands of employees bustling through its halls.

 Of course, I couldn't stop thinking about Nathan. He was barely in his thirties, yet owned properties and businesses everywhere. Even if Hayseed Inc was just another advertising agency, it employed thousands. His wealth was beyond anything I could fathom. He was, without a doubt, the youngest and richest man I had ever met. But it didn't matter. My goal was clear: I had to get into Hayseed Inc.

 As I walked alone along the sidewalk, silently praying that the interview had gone well, a car horn blared behind me. I frowned in irritation.

 "Irène!"

 That voice-too familiar-made my heart tighten. I pretended not to hear and quickened my pace. I never wanted to see him again, not even for a second.

 "Irène, wait!"

 He ran to catch up, blocking my path.

 "Perry, what are you doing? You're in my way!" I said coldly.

 "I have questions for you," he said, ignoring my tone.

 "I have nothing to say, and no reason to answer your questions," I snapped. I tried to step around him. I had nothing left for him-why should I justify myself?

 "What's your relationship with Nathan? Why were you clinging to him at the mall the other day? And what about those things you said-'too rough' and 'be careful next time'? Did you sleep with him?!"

 His hand grabbed my arm, fury radiating from every pore.

 I looked at him with sheer contempt. "How does my relationship with Nathan concern you? Whether I slept with him or not is none of your business. Perry, don't you think you've crossed every line imaginable?"

 The day he betrayed me, everything had ended. How dare he question me now? What right did he have? Was it his problem if I slept with someone?

 "Did you sleep with him? Irène Fletcher, when did you become such a-" he paused, the words sharp and accusing. "-slut, sleeping with anyone? Were you pretending to be innocent with me?"

 His anger made my blood boil. He turned toward me, eyes blazing with fury and reproach.

 "Perry Bart! How dare you call me a slut!" I shouted, my voice trembling with rage. "You are far worse than me. You're not just a fool, you're a disgrace! Don't forget that you slept with my cousin behind my back. How dare you scold me now? Who do you think you are? If you can sleep with other women, why can't I do the same?"

 I didn't care if people around us were watching. I saw the shock in his expression.

 "I know what happened with Courtney hurt you deeply," he said, his tone softening slightly, though still reproachful. "But you can't just sleep with other men randomly. Do you even know who Nathan is?"

 "You don't need to tell me who Nathan is, Perry. It's over between us. My choices no longer concern you. From now on, we're strangers. I hope you marry Courtney soon, so you'll finally leave me alone."

 I forced down the anger swelling inside me and walked past him. He didn't follow. I had made my decision: if he questioned me again, I wouldn't hesitate to slap him-he deserved it. He was lucky he didn't push it.

 My mood shattered, I decided to let go completely that night. I bought beer and a huge pack of snacks at the supermarket. By the time I reached the riverbank, it was already evening.

 I called Liliana to join me for a drink, but she was stuck working overtime and could only come later. I had no choice but to drink alone. The cool breeze brushed my face as I sipped, the alcohol hitting me faster than usual.

 Nearby, a couple argued. The man looked like Nathan, the woman strikingly like the popular celebrity Alana Gills. Why was he here? And with a famous celebrity, no less? Nathan truly knew everyone, even celebrities.