I pulled my arm free from his grip and walked toward the bathroom.


    Standing in front of the mirror, I didn’t find my reflection all that reassuring.


    Even though Alvin and I had broken up, his harsh words still stung.


    And the way he acted just now-he was clearly jealous.


    What a total jerk he was. He flirted with the young widow on one side, but wouldn’t let go of me on the other. He really tried to have his cake and eat it too.


    I stayed in the bathroom for several minutes before finally stepping out, only to hear Thea’s voice. It was soft, almost mournful, “Alvin, you still love Zoe, don’t you?”


    “She’s my fiancée,” Alvin’s reply confirmed what I suspected-he still had feelings for me.


    “But she broke up with you,” Thea’s voice dropped, almost in a whisper.


    I couldn’t help but feel a little impressed-she was ying the role of the vulnerable woman perfectly, even making her voice sound just right.


    “That was her decision. I didn’t agree. Besides, she can’t live without me. She’s just mad; once she cools down, she’lle back,” Alvin said, surprising me with his words.


    So, he thought our breakup was just a tantrum, and he believed I couldn’t live without him.


    But was he saying all this in front of Thea because there really was nothing between them?


    “You men are all the same,” Thea sneered. “You never know what you have until it’s gone, and then you can’t let go.”


    He stayed silent, not responding. Then Thea added, “If Zoe is the one you’ve already chosen, why are you still being so nice to me, making her think otherwise?”


    My breath caught. This was what I was curious about too.


    Before hearing that, I really thought there was something between him and Thea. But if there really was, he wouldn’t be so open about admitting his feelings for me right in front of her.


    But Alvin didn’t answer, and I wasn’t sure what to think. I took a quiet step forward, curiosity gnawing at me.


    They were standing just outside the hallway, and I could see them through the floor-to-ceiling mirror.


    Alvin’s head hung low, his face dark with thoughts I couldn’t quite read.


    “Alvin, if you love Zoe, why did youe to me in the first ce? Why did you kiss me?” Thea’s voice hit me like a punch.


    Had they really kissed? That kind of intimacy?


    My heart twisted, and it felt like something inside me snapped.


    “Alvin, say something!” Thea’s voice grew more desperate as she grabbed his shirt.


    “Why did you kiss me? If you hadn’t, Benjamin wouldn’t have seen us, and…” She stopped mid-sentence, and before I knew it, I saw her body go limp. Alvin immediately caught her.


    Thea! Alvin called out, panic in his voice as he lifted her up and rushed out of the room.


    I stayed frozen, watching them leave, my eyes reflecting the image of Alvin hurriedly carrying Thea out.


    Thea had mentioned Alvin kissing her, and that Benjamin had seen them. That meant their affair wasn’t recent-it had been going on for a while.


    He had already betrayed our rtionship.


    A waiter entered and asked, “Are you Miss Kemp?”


    I snapped back to reality and looked at her. “Mr. Hayward is waiting for you outside,” she said.


    I clenched my palm tightly, forcing myself to adjust my emotions before walking out of the bathroom.


    Josh stood by theundry area, backlit by the light, his tall frame standing steady like a rock.


    He walked toward me, his voice low and husky, “What’s wrong?”


    I swallowed the lump in my throat and said, “Josh, I can’t stay for this meal.”


    “Okay, then I won’t eat,” he said, holding out his hand.


    I stepped back, “You eat. I’m leaving.”


    Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and quickly walked away.