The rest of the evening moved like it didn’t exist.
Mia locked herself in her room, drowning in shame and the sting of rejection. The silence inside those four walls screamed louder than anything. She clutched her pillow and stared at the ceiling for hours, unable to understand how one moment of vulnerability had ended in humiliation. Her skin still tingled where Christian had touched her, her pride still raw from the way he had walked away.
Meanwhile, Christian buried himself in the basement. The air felt heavier than usual, like even the walls knew something had broken. He kept pacing, jaw clenched, fists tight. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to face Mia after that. But in his heart, he had made a decision. From now on, it was strictly professional. No lines blurred. His dut
