Chapter One

NinaI was watching a movie when Zoe’s call flashed across my screen. I hate it when I'm disturbed while watching a movie, especially my favorite, MY DEMON. This is a popular Korean movie that just came out, and I'm literally glued to my phone.A second later, she called again.And again.With an irritated sigh, I finally answered.“Hey, you finally picked, asshole,” Zoe’s voice burst through the speaker.I rolled my eyes. “Why are you calling? I’m watching a movie, and you know how much I hate interruptions.”“It’s urgent,” she said immediately. “I need you to come to the Bellamont Hotel right now. There’s something I need to show you.”Her tone made my stomach tighten.Zoe and I have been best friends since childhood. I knew her well enough to understand one thing—if she called more than three times, something was seriously wrong.Was she in trouble?Without wasting another second, I jumped off my bed and grabbed my sweater. I quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a pink sleevele

Chapter Two

NinaThe smell of coffee and butter pulled me out of sleep before the light did. I cracked one eye open.Zoe stood at the edge of the bed with a tray balanced on one hand, dressed like she was about to close a deal. Her blazer was perfectly fitted, her dark hair pulled back neatly, and her heels dangled from her fingers. Even her apartment reflected her personality: quiet, elegant, expensive. Nothing creaked here.Everything was polished into silence.“Don’t make me dump this on your face,” she said, setting the tray over my lap. Scrambled eggs with chives.Sourdough toast.Sliced avocado.A small bowl of berries.And coffee in my favorite mug, the white ceramic one with the chipped handle I mentioned once six months ago.“You’re going to work,” I murmured. My voice sounded rough from crying. “I’m leaving for work in ten minutes,” she said. “You’re going to eat first.” She sat beside me carefully, making sure not to wrinkle her blazer.Outside, her driver was probably alread

Chapter Three

**Nina**“Another one, please.”The bartender refilled my glass with whiskey, and I swallowed it in one gulp. I winced as the alcohol burned down my throat and settled heavily in my stomach.I slammed the empty glass onto the counter.“One more!”The bar was loud, filled with neon lights, heavy bass, and people pretending they weren’t exhausted with life.I sat on a high stool with my third… or maybe fourth glass of whiskey in front of me. The ice had melted to nothing. My phone was facedown on the counter.My engagement ring rested inside my jacket pocket like a stone too heavy to throw away.Around me, people laughed. Someone was doing karaoke badly in the corner. Normal life. Normal pain. Just not mine.I picked up the glass, the cheap tumbler cold against my fingers. My hand shook, but I steadied it by staring at the amber liquid until the room stopped spinning. “Hey!” My voice came out louder than I meant, cutting through the noise. A few heads turned. The bartender raised an ey

Chapter Four

**Nina**“You really did something crazy,” Zoe laughed.We were talking about last night, and honestly, I expected her to be angry. But she wasn’t. Instead, she was doing everything possible to make me feel better.“Sleeping with a stranger is better than wasting years with Nolan,” she said, her expression becoming serious.“Yeah,” I nodded.Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.“What’s for breakfast?” I asked, holding my stomach with the expression of a hungry child.Zoe rolled her eyes.“There’s nothing prepared. Go make yourself whatever you feel like eating,” she said, pointing toward the kitchen.“I feel like eating bread and eggs with tea.”“Everything you need is in the kitchen. Make an extra one for me, too,” she replied, already focusing on her laptop.I walked into the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. As I fried the eggs, memories from last night kept replaying in my mind. The stranger. His voice. Hi

Chapter Five

**Nina**Zoe usually wakes me up with breakfast.Actually, it’s the aroma of the food that always pulls me out of sleep before anything else, and today was no different.I opened my eyes and saw a plate of breakfast waiting on the table beside the bed.Zoe wasn’t in the room, so I quickly got up and went to freshen up.Today, I planned to visit my father and finally sort things out with him. I just prayed it would work out in my favor.I walked out of the bathroom with damp hair, wrapped in a white towel. Zoe stood in front of the mirror adjusting her wristwatch.“Good morning, babe,” I greeted as I walked in.“Good morning, sweetheart,” she replied, not sparing me a glance, but I could see the smile on her face through the mirror.“I’m already late for work,” she said, turning in my direction.I was applying lotion to my skin while listening to her. She walked toward me and gently patted my shoulder. “Make sure you work things out with your father,” she said while picking up her handb

Chapter Six

**Nina**“That’s not hers. How could she possibly afford something like this?” Liana rushed forward and snatched the necklace from the maid’s hand. The maid only bowed slightly before leaving.I didn’t bother turning back or checking if the necklace belonged to me. I was done.I walked out of the house and immediately boarded a taxi back to my apartment. It had been over three days since I left, and I needed to get my belongings.Within twenty minutes, the taxi stopped in front of my apartment building. One of my neighbors noticed me and quickly walked over. We exchanged greetings.“A man has been coming here looking for you,” she said. She paused, trying to remember something.“Ah, I think his name was Nolan.”My hand froze for a second.“Oh… when was the last time he came?” I asked while trying to unlock my door.“He came yesterday, but I haven’t seen him today,” she replied.Of course. This was the only place he would look for me. He wouldn’t dare go to Zoe’s place. He knew very we