Emily’s POV
I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the dress in the box, the fabric shimmering under the soft light of the bar. Time stretched into an uneasy eternity as I pushed aside the unsettling thoughts creeping into my mind.
"This is all Layla's fault," I muttered to myself, laying blame on her for the whirlwind of meaningless thoughts swirling in my head, but I soon pushed them away as my eagerness to see Marco again intensified.
Hurrying through my singing performance, adrenaline surged through me as I swiftly got dressed, impatience palpable as I awaited Marco’s arrival.
Throughout the encounter, Chris couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away from me. His eyes betrayed a mix of sadness and pain, evidence of the hurt he was concealing from my rejection, and seeing him like this broke my
