Immediately, Maria got out of the car, practically sprinting to catch up with Cole. She paused by his side, catching her breath.“The house is just… the best. If you hadn’t bought it that day, I bet someone else would have,” Maria said, acting like she and Cole were the best of friends.“I still stand by what I told you last night. I’m married to Amanda, and I’m not going to give you any chance in the nearest future,” Cole said, like he hadn’t even heard her.Maria glanced back, just to make sure Amanda and Cole’s sister hadn’t heard how casually he dismissed her.“You kind of gave some green lights in the car,” she said quickly, trying to keep the hurt out of her tone.“Whatever married man gives you a green light in front of his wife?” Cole asked, cold.“That… that’s nice, right?” she said with a light chuckle, even though she didn’t know why she was laughing. “I mean, really… well, you’re a great husband. But I bet Amanda can’t be the same wife to you.”Cole didn’t respond. He simp

Amanda brought the car to a halt in front of the hospital. She scanned the surroundings, making sure there were no cameras close enough to matter, then stepped out.She had to shove her fear to the back of her mind and focus. This wasn’t about pride. This wasn’t even about her relationship with Cole’s mother—God knew they were not on friendly terms. But the woman, at the very least, deserved to know what was really going on with her son.And if she had even half a heart, she’d pick up the phone, call Cole, and knock some sense into that stubborn head of his.At the end of the day, the reason Cole was losing his mind… was her.After several minutes of back-and-forth at the reception—with the nurse on duty acting like she’d never seen Amanda before, hiding behind some “work ethics” nonsense—Cole’s mother’s personal doctor finally intervened and ordered the nurse to let her in.If what Amanda came to do wasn’t Important-with-a-capital-I, she would’ve given that nurse a verbal beating she

“If you had told me about Maria on the phone—every creepy thing she does—I wouldn’t have believed you,” Bella said, watching Maria through the glass window as Amanda walked back with two parfaits. “But seeing her up close? Yeah. She’s exactly the kind of woman we should keep Cole away from.”Amanda slid the parfaits onto the table and sat opposite her.They picked a corner of the store—the kind people chose when they didn’t want to be overheard but still wanted to feel normal.“On the ride here,” Bella said slowly, stirring her spoon, “something just…clicked in my head.”Amanda didn’t rush her. “What?”Bella leaned in, lowering her voice like she was about to confess to a crime. “There’s something that has always worked on men. No matter how tough, logical, or emotionally constipated they pretend to be.”Amanda hummed. “Go on.”“Guess.”Amanda didn’t even think twice. “Jealousy.”Bella’s face lit up like she’d just cracked a code. “Exactly!”They stared at each other for a beat—two wo

Cole’s back was completely sore by the time the whole house decoration was done. He had single-handedly done everything himself, calling the ring as a company, using them to lift everything, supervise, move things around.Well, it’s a big problem when you have three women in your life—your mother apart—and when you need them the most, all of them are gone. Because each one wants you to themselves. Like you’re some kind of trophy.Damn.By the time he was finally done, it was already 5:00 p.m. He could’ve called professional help from the start, but being the paranoid man that he was, he didn’t want strangers around. Not here. Not with everything that could go wrong.Once his mother moved in, he wanted this place to feel like paradise to her. Sure, it would never be like their former home, but at least… at least it was more comfortable. They could start again. New memories. Less pain.He checked his phone.Empty.No new messages. The only ones he’d received in the last two hours were f

Amanda had on oversized sunglasses—big enough to shield her face from fans. Not that it mattered much. She’d tried to dress down, nothing flashy, but let’s be honest: even if she showed up in rags, brands would still line up to beg her for collaborations.That was the curse of looking good in anything.Effortlessly.Heavy emphasis on effortlessly.She scanned the park slowly, deliberately. Then she saw him.Two cans of soda in his hands.And just like that, their eyes met at the same time.She walked over, brisk and confident.“You’re right on time,” he said, flashing a quick smile—tight, controlled. Like smiling cost him money.“I hate it when people don’t keep to time,” Amanda replied, smiling back.He handed her one of the cans.“Here.”“Thanks.” She took it—but didn’t open it.Rule number one: you don’t casually drink from strangers’ cans, no matter how harmless they look.He noticed. Of course he did. His eyes flicked to the unopened tab, a silent question on his face. He didn’t