Zayn continued to reach out to me after that day, frequently checking in on how my day was going, whether I had eaten, and what I was up to. Although we weren't in a relationship, I appreciated the attention he was giving me, and notably, he had stopped asking for anything more intimate.
As my time in Berlin came to an end, I chose not to inform him about my return to Los Angeles. There was nothing that would draw me back to Berlin for the time being; my work there was complete. I was considering a short getaway to the Maldives, as my aunt and uncle could manage the business while I took some time for myself, just as Lyon had suggested.
Upon landing in Los Angeles, I headed straight to my penthouse. I lay on my bed, inhaling the familiar scent of my sheets, and realized how much I had mi
