Present Day.

"Mom!!!...”

Bella jolts. The voice cuts through the hallway. It is Sophie's.

Her hand immediately goes to the scarf around her throat that now feels like a noose.

She had left Ethan in her suite minutes ago, bare-chested and hollow-eyed. She is sure he is still sitting on the bed they had ruined together. The way he called her name while she was leaving had followed her all the way to the hallway, heavy as sin. She told herself she would never see him again. Never speak to him again. Never breathe him again, only for her to drift into the sweet memories of how they met.

But reality has just dragged her back.

Sophie's voice.

Bella turns, her heart pounding. Sophie stands halfway down the corridor, barefoot, in her robe, and her hair is tousled from sleep. Her face is pale, and her eyes are rimmed red.

“Mom... thank God!. I was coming to your suite. Have you seen Ethan?”

Bella swallows, forcing her features into a shape that resembles calm. “Ethan?” Her voice is unsteady. “Why?”

“I woke up, and he wasn’t there.” Sophie hurries closer, gripping her phone. “His phone’s off. I thought maybe... maybe he came to ask you something. I don’t know.” She laughs nervously, eyes wide. “I’ve been checking the lobby, the café… I’m starting to freak out.”

Bella’s pulse rams against her ribs. "God!... He’s still in my room." But she shuts the voice up.

She smiles, too wide and too bright. “Sweetheart, slow down... I’m sure he’s fine. Maybe he went out for a walk.”

“At six in the morning?” Sophie says, exhaling shakily. “He didn’t even bring his wallet.”

Bella glances toward the elevator doors. "If he steps out now, it is over," her conscience warns. She exhales. “Come on,” she quickly says, wrapping an arm around Sophie’s shoulders. “Let’s go sit down. You look like you’re about to faint.”

Sophie leans into her, grateful for comfort. Even though the contact burns Bella, she lets her. She keeps her smile fixed, guiding Sophie toward their suite. Her palms are almost ice cold despite the heat rising under her scarf.

Inside, she closes the door with care. The air smells faintly of coffee and the perfume Sophie left on the dresser yesterday. Bella breathes it in like an antidote.

“Sit,” she says, pulling out a chair for Sophie. “I’ll make tea.”

Sophie obeys, running her hands through her hair. "I’m sorry, I just... it's just... he’s never done that." She shifts slightly on the chair. "I fell asleep with him by my side, and then I woke up alone... no note, nothing. What if something happened?”

Bella busies herself with the kettle, pretending not to hear the tremor in her own breathing. The spoon clinks too loudly against the mug.

“You worry too much,” she says, trying for lightness. “Maybe he just needed space.”

Sophie laughs shakily. “Yeah, maybe. He’s been acting weird lately, though. Distant sometimes. And last night...”

Bella’s hands become motionless. “Last night?”

Sophie shrugs. “Nothing bad. Just… quiet. He was tooooo quiet, Mom. He gets like that when he's tired, though. I just thought marriage would make him more talkative.”

Bella turns off the kettle before it whistles. “Men don’t change that quickly,” she says.

Sophie chuckles. “You’d know, right?”

The words pierce gently but deeply. Bella brings the mug to her daughter, smiling. Her hand trembles slightly as she sets it down. “Drink this... You’ll feel better.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Sophie sips, her eyes softening. “You always know what to do.”

Bella forces a laugh, eyes darting to the clock on the wall. It is 6:47 am; every second feels like a countdown to her.

Then the knock comes. Three soft raps.

Sophie shoots up from the chair, nearly spilling her tea. “That’s him!”

Bella’s body feels locked. “Wait...”

But Sophie is already at the door, pulling it open.

Ethan stands there.

Bella can see the stiffness in his shoulders and the shadow of exhaustion under his eyes. Their eyes meet for one second too long, and in a heartbeat, the whole night comes roaring back: his breath against her throat, his hand gripping her waist, and the low groan that had undone her.

“Ethan!” Sophie cries, relief spilling into her voice. She throws her arms around him. “Where have you been? I was so scared.”

He freezes for a fraction of a second before returning the hug. His arms fold around her like muscle memory, but his gaze is fixed on Bella.

Bella stands motionless, her arms crossed to hide their shaking.

“I’m sorry,” Ethan says finally, his voice rough. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Sophie pulls back, her eyes searching his face. “Then where were you?”

Ethan’s hesitation lasts just long enough for Bella to feel the floor tilt beneath her. Then his voice smooths out. Too smooth, like something rehearsed.

“I couldn’t sleep,” he says. “Went downstairs to clear my head. Ended up talking with the concierge about that power issue they had last night... remember when the lights flickered during dinner? We got stuck troubleshooting half the night. Didn’t want to wake you.”

Sophie exhales a long, relieved breath. “God, Ethan... you scared me. I thought something happened.” She smacks his chest lightly. “You could’ve texted.”

“I know.” He sheepishly smiles. “Phone died," showing her the dead phone. "See?"

Bella’s nails dig into her palms.

Sophie hugs him again. “Next time, just wake me up, okay?”

“I will,” he murmurs.

Bella refuses to look at them. She fixes her eyes on a stray thread on her sleeve. Her body feels like a fragile sculpture that could crack with one wrong movement.

Ethan glances over Sophie’s shoulder. Bella looks up; his gaze meets hers again, fleeting but electric. Guilt, apology, longing; everything she refuses to allow herself to see flickers there before he looks away.

Sophie turns to her mother, smiling in embarrassment. “Mom, you must think we’re ridiculous.”

Bella forces a laugh that sounds almost natural. “Newlywed drama,” she says softly. “It happens.”

Sophie giggles. “Yeah... Sorry for dragging you here and disrupting the beauty walk you were about to take, Mom.”

“It’s fine, sweetheart.” Bella’s voice trembles once and then steadies.

She feels Ethan’s eyes on her, just for a moment, as she moves to tidy the empty mugs. The movement gives her something to do, something other than screaming.

Sophie reaches for Ethan’s hand. “Let’s go get breakfast. You must be starving.”

“Sure,” he says, clearing his throat. “Let me grab my wallet first.”

Bella turns, pretending to look for something in her purse.

The scent of him still clings to her skin, beneath her perfume and beneath the soap she used to scrub herself clean. His touch still lingers along her waist, her throat, her breasts, and every delicate part of her body. She shakes her head to wipe the thoughts away, but her body betrays her, every nerve remembering what her mind is trying to erase.

“Mom?” Sophie’s voice breaks through.

Bella blinks, realizing she has been staring at the floor. “Yes?”

“Are you well? You look pale.”

Bella smiles faintly. “Just didn’t sleep much.”

“You need rest then,” Sophie says warmly. “But let's all go get breakfast first.”

Bella nods. “That’s sweet of you.”

They move toward the door. Ethan opens it for Sophie, his hand brushing against Bella’s as she passes. A brief contact that ignites everything she is trying to bury.

She steps back quickly. “I'll join you guys soon,” she says.

Sophie waves, radiant again now that her world is right-side-up. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you too.” Bella replies.

The door closes, and silence takes over the suite.

Bella stands there, her heart pounding, the sound too loud in the quiet room. She presses her palms to her scarf. The fabric still smells faintly of him.

She exhales, slow and uneven.

She tries to smile. The corners of her mouth twitch, lift, and tremble.

“Get it together, Bella!” she almost yells to the empty room.

But her pulse refuses to calm as the air feels heavy with the night that refuses to die.

Bella straightens her shoulders, wipes at her eyes that are not quite wet, and turns toward the window. The morning outside is blindingly bright.

Her reflection in the glass smiles back, brittle, beautiful, and broken. Then a whiff of the scent of Ethan again, stuck on her skin like a secret she will never wash away, sweeps through.

She shudders and walks away from the glass. Opens the door and makes her way to the breakfast table.