hallway toward her apartment door. Her thoughts were still tangled from r

r caught her attention. She froze, her pulse quickening. Carefull

nning. Keep your eyes

mind spinning. Who could hav

-

ng herself in work. But the world around her seemed s

-

he sat at her desk proofreadi

nnounced, holding a bouquet of ro

d glances, smirking and w

ollect the flowers. "I did

rs," the courier replied wit

note nestled a

brightens my dark

this, yet it still felt jarring. Was this some ela

d between confus

-

ill processing the events of the previous day, trying to push the unsettling feelin

empty hallway. Her pulse quickened as she approached it, her gaze scanning the corr

Nestled inside was a small box of luxury chocolates, acco

box of luxury cho

n your day

was too much. His actions fe

-

ing more intimate and more uns

mentally drained but eager for solitude. As she s

ls stark against the dark sheets. Beside it was a car

, I think of you.

. Her locks hadn't been tampered with, and yet there it was-

ng note? Was this all some twisted ploy? She did

-

l gift came, but this time,

hrough her apartment. Lily hesitated, her

ked onto hers. He held a single velvet box and a small sm

aid, her voice

. "I thought it was time I

, blocking his entry

ying her. "To see if you

et to that, I want answer

e faded.

napped. "The one that said, 'This is jus

on remained calm. "No, Lily. I don'

did?" sh

voice firm. "But whoever it is,

anted to believe him, but the timin

your protect

verwhelming. "You keep saying you don't nee

espond, he leaned

, yet commanding. It wasn't the kind of kiss she expected. It

only made

y, her breath s

ou can't even look at me without questioning yourself. Tell me,

heart thundering in her

placed the velvet box on her table. "I'll give you space-for now. Bu

and left, the door cl

-

spiraling. She wanted to scream, to c

er. It wasn't supposed to feel like that.

en had left. She didn't op

ision w

ne, she didn't know. But for now, all she c