Outside the private room, Charlotte Riley overheard Zac Gibson say, “Charlotte is gorgeous, no doubt. But the reason I pursued her? She reminded me of Wendy Cooper. For years, I was just searching for traces of Wendy in her.”

That night, she finally made the call she had been avoiding for years.

“Dad, I’m ready. I’ll come home and go through with the engagement.”

Later, when Zac saw Charlotte at a high-society gala—elegant, untouchable, and more dazzling than ever—only then did he realize the truth.

And he completely lost it.

*

The night Charlotte walked away from her family’s arranged marriage, Sean stood by the window, swirling his wine, his expression unreadable.

“Lottie, one day, you’ll come back to me willingly.”

Rumor had it that Jersey City's most powerful heir, Sean Jasper, was cold, reserved, and indifferent to women.

Charlotte believed it.

Until she realized just how intense and unwavering his devotion truly was beneath that composed, self-restrained facade.

When Charlotte Riley arrived at the bar to pick up Zac Gibson, she paused at the doorway when she overheard the conversation inside.

“Zac, Wendy Cooper is back. What about Charlotte?”

Zac’s voice was calm and indifferent. “What about her?”

“You’ve been with Charlotte for three years. Now that Wendy is back, what will you do?”

Through the narrow gap in the door, Charlotte saw Zac light a cigarette.

Smoke curled around him as he remained silent for a moment. Then, in a low voice, he said, “I don’t know. I don’t want to hurt Charlotte, but I also can’t let go of Wendy.”

One of his friends sighed. “Wendy was your first love—the one who always lingered in your heart. You two had such a fiery, passionate relationship back then. It’s no surprise you still can’t forget her.”

Another friend interjected, “Come on, though. Charlotte has been with you for three years. She’s beautiful. And you still can’t move on from Wendy?”

Zac rubbed his temples, his voice carrying a trace of exhaustion. “Charlotte is gorgeous, no doubt. But the reason I pursued her? She reminded me of Wendy. For years, I was just searching for traces of Wendy in her.”

“So she’s just a stand-in?” one of his friends sighed. “Man, I actually feel bad for Charlotte.”

Someone else asked, “So when are you going to break up with her?”

Zac flicked the ash off his cigarette. “I don’t know. Charlotte is obedient and understanding. Honestly, I’m a little reluctant to end things.”

A friend patted him on the shoulder. “Zac, you can’t have it both ways. You need to make a choice.”

“Why choose?” another friend said lazily. “Just keep dating both. And if you feel guilty about Charlotte, buy her some gifts. Women are easy to please.”

Zac let out a short laugh. “Not everyone is like you, juggling three or four women at once. I’m not that reckless.”

Outside the door, Charlotte curled her lips in a self-deprecating smile and turned to leave.

She walked along the riverside, replaying the past three years with Zac in her mind.

Three years. She had thought their love was mutual.

But in the end, she was nothing more than a substitute for his first love.

Standing by the river, she stared into the distance. The river flowed silently under the moon, forming a vivid contrast to the bustling city streets.

A tear slid down her cheek.

The fierce river wind lifted her hair.

Charlotte made a decision.

She took out her phone and dialed a number.

“Dad, I’m ready. I’ll come home and go through with the engagement.”

The dark night made the streetlights seem even dimmer. Moths fluttered around the glow.

Standing beneath the light, Charlotte gazed up at the endless night sky. Her voice was soft, calm.

“It’s nothing, really. I’m just done playing around. I’m ready to settle down.

“I was wrong before. I was reckless and immature. I shouldn’t have fought with you and run away from home. But I’ve figured things out now.

“I’ll head back to Jersey City once I’ve taken care of things here.”

*

Charlotte walked alone for a long time before finally returning to the Harmony Hill Villa. It was already past ten at night.

Mrs. Zimmer, the housekeeper, saw her come in and handed her a bowl of oatmeal.

“Miss Riley, you’re back. This is the soothing oatmeal you made for Mr. Gibson, right? It got cold, so I reheated it. I was just about to bring it up to him when you walked in. Why don’t you take it to him instead?”

Charlotte didn’t say anything. She simply took the bowl and headed upstairs to the bedroom.

She pushed open the door. The desk was empty. The computer screen was on, but Zac was nowhere in sight.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. The light was on.

He was showering this early?

She set the bowl down.

The constant notification sound from his computer drew her attention.

She moved the mouse and clicked it open.

It was Wendy.

“Zac, I’m back. I’ll arrive at Harbor City Airport at 11:30 tonight. Can you pick me up?”

The message was sent ten minutes ago.

So, that’s why he was showering—he was getting ready to pick up his old crush.

“Zac, these past few years apart, I’ve never stopped thinking about you. I couldn’t forget you. I regret choosing my career and going abroad over staying with you.

“We were both too proud. Neither of us knew how to give in. But deep down, I know you still have feelings for me, don’t you?

“I dated a few guys over the years, but none of them lasted. No matter who I was with, something always felt missing. It took me a long time to realize that I’ve only ever truly loved you.

“I was afraid to come back to Harbor City before. Afraid you’d still hate me. Afraid to see you with someone else. Afraid you wouldn’t love me anymore.

“I was wrong back then, Zac. Can you forgive me?”

Charlotte stared at the screen in silence, her chest feeling tight.

She was about to close the chat window and leave when she saw Zac’s reply.

“Wendy, I just have one question—do you still love me?”

Even while showering, he had to take the time to reply.

Charlotte’s heart clenched.

Zac was always busy with work. He barely had time to text her back.

She had gotten used to it. To avoid disturbing him, she rarely sent him messages anymore.

But for Wendy, even in the middle of a shower, he made sure to reply.

It couldn’t be more obvious whether he loved her or not.

Wendy’s response came almost instantly.

“I do. I only love you.”

“Okay. I’ll come pick you up.”

At that moment, Charlotte realized that her three-year relationship had been nothing but a joke.

She silently closed the chat window, placed the mouse back where it was, and pretended nothing had happened.

Then, she walked downstairs to the kitchen and ladled herself a bowl of oatmeal.

Spoonful by spoonful, she ate.

Zac had a sensitive stomach. She had learned to make him a warm, comforting bowl of oatmeal—simmering oats with milk and honey, then adding soft, diced sweet potatoes for a bit of natural sweetness.

It wasn’t quick or easy to make, but because he once said, ‘I like it,’ she had been making it for him for two years.

By the time she finished her bowl, Zac had come downstairs.

His hair was dry, and he had changed into a fresh set of clothes.

“Where did you go? I didn’t see you when I came down,” he asked.

Charlotte replied calmly, “Just went out for a walk.”

Zac put on his shoes. “I have to head out for a bit. If you’re tired, go to bed. Don’t wait up for me.”

Charlotte lowered her gaze and softly responded, “Mm.

“Are you coming back tonight?” she asked.

Zac paused while putting on his shoes. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “There’s an urgent matter at the company. If it gets too late, I probably won’t come back.”

“Oh, alright.”

No arguing. No questioning.

Charlotte had always been understanding.

Zac didn’t think much of it. He finished putting on his shoes and walked out without looking back.

Charlotte went upstairs and pushed open Zac’s bedroom door. As expected, the bowl of oatmeal by his computer remained untouched.

On her phone, a message popped up from Sean Jasper, the fiancé her family had chosen for her.

Sean: “Lottie, when are you coming back to Jersey City?”

To Charlotte, Sean had always been like an older brother. He treated her well, and when he called her Lottie, it didn’t feel like a nickname between an engaged couple—more like an affectionate term an older brother would use for his younger sister.

Charlotte: “After I take care of things here.”

Sean: “Alright. If you need any help, just let me know.”

Charlotte: “Mm, thanks, Sean.”

Sean: “Get some rest. Good night.”

That night, Zac never came home.

The next morning, Charlotte was woken up by the ringing of her phone.

“Hello?”

“Charlotte! My birthday is the day after tomorrow. Don’t forget to come to my party!”

She pulled her phone away slightly, blinking groggily at the contact name—Quinn Spencer.

A friend from Zac’s social circle. They got along well enough.

“Alright, send me the location,” Charlotte replied.

After hanging up, she got up, freshened up, and headed out to the mall to pick out a gift.

She settled on a necklace from a well-known brand, the latest design—one that perfectly suited Quinn’s style.

*

On the night of Quinn’s birthday party, Charlotte arrived early at the venue.

“Quinn, happy birthday.” She handed over the gift.

Quinn accepted it with a polite thank-you.

Just as they were exchanging pleasantries, Zac walked in, his arm linked with an unfamiliar woman.

Their eyes met.

Zac froze.

“Charlotte… what are you doing here?”

Zac instinctively brushed off the woman’s hand from his arm. She stiffened, momentarily caught off guard.

Charlotte met his gaze, a half-smile playing on her lips. “Quinn and I are friends too. Is it so strange that I’d be at her birthday party?”

Zac hesitated. “No, I just thought you didn’t like these kinds of parties, so I didn’t mention it to you.”

Charlotte scoffed inwardly. “Oh? Was it really because I don’t like parties? Or did you just not tell me because you planned to bring someone else instead?”

After offering his explanation, Zac scanned the room. His gaze was cold and piercing, as if saying “Who invited her?”

Quinn, avoiding eye contact, guiltily turned away and pretended she had nothing to do with it.

Just then, the woman Zac had arrived with stepped forward, smiling. “Hi, you must be Charlotte Riley. I’m Wendy Cooper. I’m sure Zac has mentioned me before?”

Oh.

So this was Wendy Cooper—Zac’s first love, the one he could never forget.

A dull ache settled in Charlotte’s chest, making it hard to breathe.

Three years of dating.

No matter how much she tried to tell herself it didn’t matter, feelings couldn’t just disappear overnight.

But she hid it well.

With a composed smile, she nodded politely. “Miss Cooper, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Wendy’s lips curled into a bright, seemingly innocent smile. “Miss Riley, has anyone ever told you that we look alike?”

The second those words left her mouth, Zac’s expression darkened.

Charlotte let out a small laugh and gave him a brief, amused glance before shifting her gaze to Wendy, whose eyes held a hint of provocation.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Her wide, almond-shaped eyes sparkled with feigned innocence as she tilted her head, her voice sweet and airy.

“I don’t see it.”

Then she smiled—soft, yet merciless.

“You’re not as pretty as me.”

The room went dead silent.

The onlookers, who had been quietly enjoying the drama, were stunned.

Wasn’t Charlotte always the gentle, well-mannered type?

Since when did she start throwing shade?

Sensing the tension in the air, Quinn quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. “Come on, everyone, don’t just stand around. Grab a seat!”

Wendy forced a smile, clearly irritated but unwilling to show it. She turned to Quinn and handed her a beautifully wrapped gift. “Happy birthday, Quinn. This is for you.”

Quinn took the bag, and the moment she saw it, her brows lifted in surprise.

“Wait… isn’t this the same gift bag Charlotte just gave me?” she muttered to herself.

Curious, she opened it and pulled out a jewelry box.

Her eyes lit up. “Wow! I’ve had my eye on this necklace for ages. Thank you, Wendy!”

Charlotte’s gaze flickered.

The same necklace?

Before she could react, Quinn grabbed the bag Charlotte had given her earlier and opened it too.

“Oh my God! Charlotte, you got me the exact same necklace!”

The excitement was short-lived.

A voice from behind Quinn snorted.

“Fake, obviously.”

Without even looking, she sneered, “That necklace costs over ten grand. Charlotte’s just a small-time lawyer. How much does she even make a month? Do you really think she could afford the real thing?”

The moment those words fell, the room went dead silent.

All at once, every gaze shifted to Charlotte—curious, skeptical, amused.

It was obvious.

They all believed it.

After all, she was just an insignificant, no-name lawyer. Why would she spend that kind of money on a real luxury necklace for Quinn?

Zac’s expression darkened, clearly displeased. “Charlotte, if you’re short on money, just tell me. I could’ve gotten the gift for you. There was no need to…”

No need to buy a fake one.

He didn’t say the words out loud.

But everyone in the room heard them anyway.

Charlotte’s expression remained calm, but her gaze turned cold. “Zac, you think I gave her a fake necklace too?”

Zac didn’t answer.

His silence said everything.

He didn’t believe her.

Quinn let out an awkward laugh, trying to smooth things over. “Come on, guys, that’s not possible. Charlotte and I are close. There’s no way she’d give me a fake necklace. Don’t say things like that, it’s really hurtful.”

Her words were meant to defend Charlotte, but the subtle look of disdain in her eyes didn’t escape her notice.

Charlotte’s heart sank.

She had spent over ten grand on this necklace as a token of gratitude for the small kindness Quinn had once shown her.

Three years ago, Charlotte had run away to Harbor City to escape her arranged marriage, cutting ties with her family.

Her father, Desmond Riley, had retaliated by freezing her bank accounts, cutting off her finances completely.

Determined to stand on her own, she refused to use her family's name or connections and managed to land a job at a law firm entirely on her own merit.

In her first year as a junior associate, she barely made $800 a month. Even after passing the bar a year later, her salary wasn’t much—at least, not in the eyes of the rich heirs and heiresses in Zac’s social circle.

To them, she was nothing but a nobody, an outsider.

Every time they went out, they sidelined her, excluded her, sometimes outright mocking her.

Zac never interfered. He simply turned a blind eye.

But Quinn had stepped in. She had defended her a few times, chatted with her when no one else would.

Charlotte had naively believed Quinn was different.

But now? She could see it clearly.

She had never truly belonged in their world.

And she never would.

How ridiculous.

That very night, after Charlotte had agreed to the engagement, Desmond reactivated her bank accounts.

Now, ten grand meant nothing to her—no more than spare change.

Zac finally spoke, his voice cool and authoritative. “Give me the necklace. I’ll make sure Charlotte replaces it with a proper gift.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she looked at him coldly. “If he wants it, just give it to him.”

Quinn hesitated, caught in the middle.

If she refused, she would be going against Zac—which would be a bad look.

But if she handed over the necklace, it would mean she believed it was fake—publicly humiliating Charlotte.

And Charlotte was still Zac’s girlfriend. If anyone looked bad here, it was ultimately Zac himself.

Under his piercing gaze, Quinn had no choice but to hand over the necklace.

Just then, Wendy spoke up, her voice soft and gentle. “Zac, don’t blame Miss Riley. I’m sure she meant well.”

Zac remained silent, his face clouded with irritation.

Someone in the group quickly suggested a drinking game to break the tension. Wendy eagerly joined in, flashing her usual charming smile.

Charlotte, uninterested in the lively scene, quietly walked over to a sofa in the corner and sat down, scrolling through her phone.

A few moments later, Zac followed and sat beside her, his expression still cold.

Charlotte ignored him, keeping her eyes on her screen.

After a long pause, he finally spoke in a low, firm voice. “If you didn’t have the money, you could’ve just bought something cheaper. That would’ve been better than gifting a fake.”

Charlotte didn’t even look up. Her tone was calm, indifferent. “If you think it’s fake, give it back.”

Zac’s jaw tightened. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for me?”

Charlotte shut her eyes, took a deep breath, then suddenly opened them.

She turned to look at him directly.

Her voice was calm, but her eyes burned with quiet fury.

“Embarrassing for you? Exactly how did I embarrass you? The receipt’s in the bag. You couldn’t be bothered to check? Or do you need me to take you to the store so you can verify it with a sales associate?”

Zac stiffened.

For a moment, he just sat there, speechless.

Then, wordlessly, he reached for the gift bag and started searching for the receipt.

Zac’s expression finally eased as he looked at the receipt.

The necklace was real.

His tone softened. “Why didn’t you just say you had the receipt?”

Charlotte let out a cold laugh. “Didn’t feel like it.”

With that, she returned to her game, fingers tapping the screen as if he weren’t even there.

Zac sat in silence for a while before finally lowering his voice.

“Sorry. I misunderstood you today.”

Charlotte pretended not to hear him, fully focused on her game.

Zac didn’t say anything else, but he didn’t leave either.

His gaze, however, wasn’t on her.

It was on Wendy.

Charlotte finished her game and glanced up, only to catch him staring at Wendy.

Across the room, Wendy had just lost a round of the drinking game. Her friends cheered as they pushed another drink into her hands.

At first, Zac restrained himself.

But the moment she tipped back her third glass and reached for a fourth, his expression darkened.

Suddenly, he shot up from his seat, striding across the room.

Before Wendy could take another sip, Zac snatched the glass from her hand.

“Your stomach’s still weak, and you’re drinking this much? Wendy, do you have a death wish?”

The once lively room fell into a stunned silence.

Everyone turned to look at them.

Wendy, clearly irritated, met his angry gaze and sneered. “Why do you care?”

“You’re not drinking anymore.”

Zac swept a sharp, warning glance across the room. His voice was ice-cold. “I dare anyone to make her drink again.”

Nobody dared to meet his gaze.

Charlotte sat on the sofa, watching the ridiculous spectacle unfold before her, her lips curling into a mocking smirk.

Wendy suddenly got up, reaching for the glass Zac had taken from her.

Zac lifted it higher, keeping it out of her reach.

Determined, Wendy stood on her toes, stretching toward the drink.

She lost her balance.

With a startled gasp, she fell straight into Zac’s arms.

Zac instinctively caught her, his free hand tightening around her waist.

“Careful,” he murmured. “It’s been years, and you’re still just as clumsy.”

Wendy, her cheeks flushed from alcohol, leaned into his chest, tilting her head up at him with a playful pout.

“Zac, you’re so annoying.”

The crowd burst into cheers and teasing laughter.

Just as Zac was about to say something, he glanced up and unexpectedly met Charlotte’s ice-cold gaze.

It was as if Zac had just remembered that his girlfriend was still here.

Snapping back to reality, he quickly let go of Wendy’s waist and took a step back, as if waking from a dream.

His friends, realizing the awkwardness of the situation, immediately jumped in to smooth things over.

“Come on, let's keep playing! Wendy, your stomach isn't great—skip the drinks. Just do truth or dare instead.”

“Yeah, truth or dare works!”

Zac, now composed again, returned to the couch.

He thought Charlotte would be jealous, maybe throw a small tantrum.

But she said nothing.

That complete indifference unsettled him more than anger ever could.

For some reason, he had this nagging feeling that Charlotte felt different tonight.

A strange silence stretched between them.

Zac hesitated, wanting to say something, to explain.

But just then, the room burst into laughter and cheers again.

“Wendy lost again! Truth or dare?”

Charlotte didn’t even need to turn her head to know that Zac’s attention had already shifted.

“I’ll do dare.” Wendy smirked, then turned to Zac, eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

Someone handed her a stack of folded slips.

“Here, pick one.”

She casually pulled a paper from the pile. The moment the guy next to her unfolded it, his eyes widened.

His gaze flickered between Wendy, Zac, and Charlotte.

A curious girl peeked over his shoulder.

“What did she get? Let me see!”

The second she read it, she gasped sharply.

The room buzzed with excitement.

“What is it?”

“Come on, what’s the dare?”

The guy cleared his throat, then announced—

“Kiss a random guy in the room.”

As soon as the words fell, Zac’s entire expression darkened.

The temperature in the room dropped instantly.

Wendy, however, seemed completely unfazed.

With a playful grin, she turned toward a good-looking guy sitting nearby.

“Ethan, would you mind kissing me?”

Ethan Lincoln snuck a glance at Zac, whose expression looked murderous.

He didn’t even dare to breathe.

Seeing that he wasn’t responding, Wendy stepped closer, reaching up to hook her arms around his neck, about to press her lips against his.

“Enough!”

Zac’s sharp voice rang through the room.

Unable to control himself any longer, he grabbed Wendy’s wrist and yanked her away.

Without another word, he stormed out, dragging her with him.

The room fell into stunned silence.

Slowly, all eyes turned to Charlotte.

She picked up a glass of juice, took a sip, and smiled lightly.

“Why are you all looking at me?”

The group quickly looked away, some pretending to drink, others casually chatting—acting as if nothing had happened.

Charlotte took another sip, and with it, she felt the last bit of warmth drain from her heart.

In all the years she had known Zac, he had always been calm, composed, and indifferent to everything.

Tonight was the first time she had ever seen him completely lose control.

*

After finishing her drink, Charlotte got up and went to the restroom.

Just as she was about to step out of the stall, she heard voices by the sinks.

“Is Zac crazy? He just left his girlfriend behind and ran off with Wendy!”

“Ugh, isn’t it obvious? Wendy’s the one he actually cares about.”

“Right? Did you see his face when Wendy almost kissed Ethan? He looked like he was about to kill someone.”

“Poor Charlotte. She just had to sit there and watch her own boyfriend lose his mind over another woman.”

“Honestly, she’s just a stand-in.”

“Yeah, at this rate, they’ll break up soon. Anyone can see Zac is still in love with Wendy.”

“Yeah, I—”

The girl’s words caught in her throat.

Through the mirror, she saw Charlotte step out of the bathroom stall behind them.

She shut her mouth immediately.

The other two girls saw her too. Without another word, they lowered their heads and hurried out.

Charlotte walked up to the sink, calmly washing her hands.

Yes.

She and Zac were indeed close to breaking up.

But this time—

It wouldn’t be because he left her.

It wouldn’t be because he didn’t want her anymore.

It would be because she no longer loved him.

Because she didn’t want him anymore.

*

By the time Charlotte returned to Zac’s villa, it was already past eleven at night.

She was exhausted. She showered quickly, crawled into bed, and fell asleep almost instantly.

Zac didn’t come home until the following afternoon.

Pushing open the bedroom door, he immediately noticed the open suitcase lying on the floor, clothes neatly stacked beside it. His brows furrowed in confusion.

“What’s all this?”

Charlotte peeked out from behind the wardrobe. “Oh, you’re back. I’m heading home for a bit in a few days.”

She had lived here for two years. There were plenty of clothes, shoes, and random things she wouldn’t bother bringing back to Jersey City, but she still needed to sort through them and pack up what she wanted to take.

When she left, she wouldn’t leave a single trace of herself behind.

Just as she finished speaking, her eyes landed on the faint red marks peeking out from Zac’s collar.

For a moment, she froze.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she looked away.

She no longer cared.

Who he spent the night with had nothing to do with her anymore.

Zac frowned at her response. “Why are you suddenly going home? Are you still upset about last night? Are you trying to avoid me?”

“No,” she replied casually. “I just miss my parents. Thought I’d go see them.”

Hearing this, Zac was relieved. “That’s good. It’s been three years. You should go visit.”

She had never gone home once in all this time.

Even on holidays, she spent them alone.

Of course, he wouldn’t have accompanied her. Leaving his family behind for her had never been an option.

Bringing her home to meet his parents? Even more impossible.

His mother would never accept a woman without status or background.

After a brief pause, he added, “I’ve been busy lately, so I won’t be able to go with you. What day’s your flight? I’ll have my driver take you to the airport.”

Charlotte carefully folded a dress and placed it inside the suitcase.

“No need. I’ll get a car myself. Someone’s picking me up.”

At that, Zac exhaled subtly, though he wasn’t even aware of it himself.

He had been worried she might ask him to go back with her to meet her parents.

After three years together, for an average couple, it would be time to talk about marriage.

But he wasn’t an average man.

He was Zac Gibson, the only heir to the Gibson family fortune and the sole successor to Gibson Corporation.

And the gap between their worlds was one that could never be crossed.

Deep down, he had always known they had no future.

There was no point in meeting her parents, no point in discussing marriage.

Thankfully, Charlotte seemed to understand this too. She never clung to him, never asked him to take her home.

Thinking about it now, Zac once again felt a sense of appreciation for how obedient and understanding she was.

Even after last night, when he had recklessly left her behind to chase after Wendy, she didn’t throw a fit, didn’t cry, didn’t even question him.

She made things so easy.

For the past three years, she had never checked up on him, never gotten jealous, never fought with him over his flings.

Just then, his best friend’s voice echoed in his mind—

“Just keep dating both. And if you feel guilty about Charlotte, buy her some gifts. Women are easy to please.”

Maybe he really could marry Wendy and keep Charlotte as his lover.

After all, a woman like her would never find another man like him.

She loved him too much to ever leave him.

Yes, he would wait until she came back from Jersey City, and then he would talk to her properly.

Zac glanced at her packing and said casually, “Take care on the way. Let me know when you get home. And when you’re back in Harbor City, I’ll come pick you up.”

Charlotte lowered her gaze and replied softly, “Alright.”

I won’t be coming back.

She said it only in her heart.

Zac seemed like he had more to say, but just then, his phone rang.

After answering the call, he turned back to her. “I have to head out. Last night was my fault. I shouldn’t have left you there alone. I bought you a gift. My assistant will drop it off soon.”

Charlotte responded with a simple, indifferent, “Mm.”

Zac didn’t linger. He turned and walked out.

Moments after he left, her phone lit up with a message from Sean.