DORA’S POV

+20

My foot tapped impatiently against the sidewalk as I nced down at my wristwatch for what had to be the tenth time. The numbers seemed to mock me. I had been standing outside the hotel for nearly an hour now, and there was still no sign of Jessica. This—this right here was exactly what I hated about her. If she knew she was going to bete, why on earth did she ask me toe out here forty–five minutes ago?

The early evening breeze brushed past me, bringing along the sounds of passing cars and distant chatter, but none of it distracted me from how irritated I was getting. If she’s not here in the next ten minutes, I’m leaving. I mean it.

Just as that thought settled in my mind, a yellow taxi pulled up in front of me. The door creaked open, and there she was–Jessica, stepping out like she hadn’t just left me waiting in public like an abandoned suitcase.

She looked at me and immediately knew. She always knew when I was mad. And honestly, this wasn’t even the first time she had done something like this.

“Dora, I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting,” she said quickly, trying to sound sincere as she hurried over. “I couldn’t find a taxi anywhere. I swear, tried everything.”

I crossed my arms and arched a brow. “For forty–five minutes? You couldn’t find a taxi for that long? Really?”

Her expression shifted into a dramatic pout. “Come on, are you really going to be mad at me for that? I said I was sorry!”

bI /bsighed and rolled my eyes, half–exasperated and half–amused. Alwayste. Always full of excuses. “I’ll let it slide this time, but I swear, this is thest time. I mean it, Jessb./bb” /b

“Fine, fine,” she mumbled, holding her hands up in mock surrender as she followed me toward the hotel entrance.

The grand ss doors of the hotel opened automatically as we approached, and we were weed by a st of cool, air–conditioned relief. The lobby was elegant, with polished marble floors, a chandelier that could probably light up a stadium, and soft music ying somewhere in the background.

We made our way to the reception desk, and within seconds, a few staff members came over to help with my bags. I was too tired to carry anything else anyway–my shoulders were still sore from the travel. Honestly, the vacation trip to Belgium had been exhausting. Fun, yes, but still exhausting. Between the long flights, theyovers, and the chaotic tourist schedule, I hadn’t had a proper moment to breathe. But I didn’t regret it. I needed that trip. I needed to escape after everything that had happenedtely.

So, why was I still in a hotel even after returning from vacation?

Simple. I knew my mom too well. If I had gone straight home, she would’ve begun with her disturbance the moment I stepped through the door. No rest. No peace. No time to unpack or even breathe. So instead, I decided to stay at a hotel for the night, just to steal a bit of quiet. A softnding after a whirlwind trip.

And of course, I invited Jessica to join me. Because even though she had a habit of showing upte, she was still one of the few people who knew how to help me unwind.

We finally igot /ito our hotel room, and the staff politely carried my luggage inside, setting it down neatly in the wardrobe. I nced around the room -soft lighting, clean white sheets, the quiet hum of the air conditioning–it felt like exactly the peace I’d been craving.

bJust /bas the staff turned to leave, I called out, “Bring me two cups of tea and some biscuits, pleaseb./b”

He paused, gave a respectful nod, and quietly closed the door behind him.

Jessica, never one to waste time, immediately jumped onto the bed, bouncing a little as she did. “So…” she began, stretching the word out like she bwas /babout to start gossiping. “How was your trip?”

I bent down and unzipped my bsuitcase/bb, /brummaging through it to find my nightgown. “Well, it was better than I expected. Honestly, I really needed ba /bbreak from all this. It felt good to be away, even if just for a little while.”

bJessica /bpropped herself up on her elbows. “Of course it was better than expected–just look at your skin, girl! You’re glowing!”

“Is it?” I asked, half–smiling bas /bI walked over to the mirror.

I studied my reflection for a second. My skin did look better. More rested, less tense. The bstress /bfrom the past few bweeks /bhadn’tpletely disappeared, but it was manageable now. “Well, I guess it does look better than thest time.”

My fingers gently brushed across my cheeks. That vacation had truly done its job.

A small knock interrupted us, and the same staff member returned, this time bncing a tray with two cups of steaming tea and a te stacked bwith /bbuttery biscuits.

b11:36 /bAM

+20

“Goodie!” Jessica said, already sitting up with excitement. “I’m starving.”

We sat at the small table in the corner of the room. I poured us both tea, and we evenly split the biscuits. The warmth from the cup feltforting in my hands as I took a sip.

Jessica took a bite and leaned back with a contented sigh. “A lot happened while you were gone, by the way.”

I paused, lowering my cup slowly. “What do you mean?”

“Well… one thing in particr,” she said cryptically, reaching into her purse and pulling out her phone. Her thumbs began scrolling quickly, like she was searching for something she couldn’t wait to show me.

“You wouldn’t believe who I saw on my way here,” she added, her gaze glued to her screen.

“Okay… who?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

She handed me her phone, and the moment I looked at the photo, my stomach dropped.

“I don’t know what the two of them were doing together,” Jessica said, shaking her head in disbelief. “But I literally saw theming out of the cinema today. Talking.”

My grip on her phone tightened instinctively. My jaw clenched.

“I thought he couldn’t stand her,” she continued. “So why is he suddenly out watching movies with her like they’re… friends? Or worse?”

There they were—Adrian and she–walking out of a cinema together, looking like they had just spent a cozy afternoon watching a movie.

I didn’t know when I started squeezing the phone harder, my knuckles whitening. Was this the same Adrian who had told me he needed space? The same Adrian I had given a break to–so we could both breathe, reflect, and figure things out?

I stepped away. I had walked away to give us time. And this is whates back and see? The very moment I’m out of the picture, she just slides in, thinking she can take what’s mine?

She’s highly mistaken. If she thinks I’m going to sit back and watch her creep into my ce, she’s got another thinging.