At that moment Summer’s jaw clenched tightly as she stepped closer to her sister, her hands balled into fists. “You better not say anything stupid to Jason,” she muttered, her voice low but brimming with warning.Her sister, however, leaned against the doorframe with that same smug smile dancing on her lips, arms folded like a victor at war. “Too late,” she said, tilting her head mockingly. “I heard everything. Every word. ‘Why can’t he just see I have feelings for him?’” She even mimicked the tone, fluttering her eyelashes with exaggerated sweetness. “Poor Jason… so clueless.”Summer’s eyes widened in embarrassment, heat rising up her neck. “You were spying on me?”“I wasn’t spying,” her sister replied, laughing. “You were screaming loud enough for the whole street to hear. Should I play it back?” She tapped her phone playfully.Summer stepped forward, her tone low and sharp. “Delete that or I swear—”“Oh, please,” her sister snapped. “You're always acting like you're in control, but

Camilla sat beside her grandfather in the garden behind the estate. The quiet hum of the fountain nearby was the only sound between them. Her grandfather’s face had that thoughtful crease again—one she’d come to recognize when something serious was weighing on him.“So,” he said slowly, his eyes still fixed on the koi fish swimming in circles, “this Jason... The person who introduced him to you... was it a guy or a lady?”Camilla didn’t look up right away. She picked at the edge of her sleeve, trying to act normal, though her chest was already tightening with anticipation. “A lady,” she replied.Her grandfather finally turned to face her, his tone unreadable. “A lady?”There was a long pause.Bit by bit, something began to settle in the old man’s heart. Something he couldn’t quite place. His fingers tapped his cane lightly. The first bit—doubt.He wasn’t sure he liked this. Not because Jason wasn’t remarkable. No, that was clear. The young man had done more than enough to prove himsel

when Summer heard what Camilla just said, there was a sharp stillness on her end of the call. Her hand clenched unconsciously at her side, and for a few seconds, she said nothing. Her heart thumped like a drum against her chest, but her voice—when it came—was calm, even a little cheerful.“Oh… wow,” Summer said, forcing out a laugh. “That’s… that’s great, Camilla. I mean, truly. I’m happy for both of you.”Camilla didn’t catch the falter in her tone. Summer had trained herself well to hide things like this.“Thanks, Summer. I knew you’d understand,” Camilla said warmly. “That’s why I called you. Because I know how close you and Jason are.”Summer’s throat tightened. She bit her lower lip so hard she nearly broke the skin. “Yeah,” she replied quietly. “Anything you both want to do, I’m fully in support of it. Anything at all.”But even as she spoke, her chest was burning.She was trying to be strong—trying to say the right things—but her thoughts were racing in all the wrong directions

Jason sat in his car for a moment, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel. The anticipation gnawed at him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with Soma. He had tried to brush it off, but the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became.He turned the engine over and drove to the place where he was supposed to meet her. The drive seemed to stretch longer than usual, as if the roads themselves were teasing him, making him question what was coming next.When he arrived, Soma was already seated. Her back was straight, her arms crossed, and her eyes were fixed on the ground, but the tension in her posture was unmistakable. The slight furrow of her brow, the clenching of her jaw—it all painted a picture of frustration. But it was the mix of emotions in her eyes that threw him off. There was anger, yes, but there was also something else. Something softer, yet heavy with worry.Jason walked toward her, his steps deliberate. As he stood before her, he couldn’t

The silence in the restaurant seemed to stretch for an eternity. Summer's coffee cup froze halfway to her lips, her eyes widening as Jason's words hung in the air between them."What did you just say?" Summer's voice came out barely above a whisper. The background chatter of the café faded away, leaving only the thundering of her heartbeat in her ears.Jason leaned back in his chair, his expression far too casual for the bomb he'd just dropped. "I said I think you're only hanging around because you feel sorry for me."Summer's cup clattered against the saucer as she set it down with trembling hands. Heat rushed to her face – not embarrassment, but indignation."That's what you think?" She gripped the edge of the table. "That I spend all this time with you out of... what? Pity?"Jason shrugged, but there was something guarded in his eyes. "You're always checking up on me, making sure I've eaten, asking if I've taken my medication. You practically invited yourself to my doctor's appoint