"Tessa gave a small nod. "Yeah."

"My family has the same idea. But you can rx. I have no intention ofing

between you and Stephen. I''m just here to y along," Torin replied with a

helpless smile.

"That makes things easier."

"I heard you started your ownw firm," Torin continued. I thought we could

connect and maybe be friends. Thest time we met was a bit rushed. I did

not get the chance to add you on WhatsApp."

It was a reasonable request. Tessa had no reason to refuse. They moved in the

same circle, and adding each other was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Sure."

After they exchanged contact information and she tucked her phone away, Torin

suddenly asked, "Ms. Yates, if you don''t mind me asking... is your friend Sienna

single?"

Tessa blinked in surprise. The shift in the conversation caught her off guard. Why

was he suddenly asking about Sienna?

"She''s single," Tessa answered.

Torin let out a soft breath of relief, the corners of his lips lifting into a smile.

Tessa eyed him curiously. "Are you interested in Sienna?"

"I actually met her years ago, back when I was in university," Torin replied.

The mention of Sienna softened his expression. Even his voice grew gentler.

"There was this one time when I went with Quentin to visit Henry. She had just

gotten home from school. To be honest, I liked her from the moment I saw her. But

she was still in high school then, so I kept those feelings to myself."

Tessa raised her brows, clearly surprised. "Love at first sight?"

Torin gave a small nod. "You could call it that. But I never confessed. She was too

young back then, and it was not the right time. Now that I have returned and she''s

still single, I would like to give it a try."

Tessa looked skeptical. "I did not get the impression that you were interested in

her at that dinnerst time."

Torin chuckled softly. "It has been years since Ist saw her. I might have looked

calm on the outside, but honestly, I was nervous."

"Does she know how you feel?" Tessa asked.

Torin shook his head. "She has no

idea. I was not even sure if she was

single. And when we met again, it

seemed like she did not remember

me at all. Jumping in with a sudden

confession would feel too abrupt. I

was hoping to get to know her first

and take things slow."

Tessa lowered her gaze, her expression thoughtful.

Torin noticed and asked, "Is there a problem?"

Tessa lifted her eyes and looked at

him directly. I know this might seem

impolite, but as one of Sienna''s

closest friends, I feel I should at

least ask. How many rtionships

have you been in? And this might be

personal, but I mean serious ones,

not casual dating. How many have

you been physically intimate with?"

Torin froze for a moment. It was a direct question, more blunt than he had

expected.

Tessa''s tone remained calm as she exined, "Sienna ispletely innocent

when ites to rtionships. She has never been with anyone before. If you

have a long list of exes, I honestly do not think you are the right person for her."

Torin''s eyebrows drew together slightly, though his tone stayedposed.

"You don''t need to worry. I am not that kind of man. In all these years, I have only

had one serious girlfriend."

Tessa''s brows knitted faintly. "So let me get this straight. You had feelings for

Sienna back then, but still managed to date someone else?"

"You are misunderstanding me, Ms. Yates," Torin replied patiently.

"I did like Sienna back then, but as I

said, she was too young, and we did

not see each other again for a long

time. Over time, those feelings

faded. When I met my ex, I was fully

anyone else in my heart."

His tone was steady and sincere. "Ms. Yates, I am not the kind of man who ys

games. I do not take rtionships lightly."

Tessa''s voice remained calm. "I was only asking. In the end, how Sienna feels is

up to her. It is not my ce to decide."