In the underground parking lot, a tense air lingered around Quentin.

He slid into the passenger seat of the Cullinan and settled in. “Stephen, everything’s done. Tessa’s taken the car and the bags.”

Stephen’s fingers gripped the steering wheel, his throat tightening slightly as he asked, “Did she suspect anything?”

Quentin responded honestly, “Yes, she did ask whether the car was bought by you. But I covered it up with Naomi’s help. Tessa really trusts Naomi, so I don’t think she’ll think much of it.”

“Okay,” came Stephen’s low, almost inaudible response.

For a moment, Quentin couldn’t think of anything to say. Stephen stared blankly into the distance, his expression empty. The only sound in the car was the soft hum of the heater.

Quentin knew Stephen was thinking about Tessa again, so he wisely stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt.

After what felt like an eternity, Stephen finally broke the silence. “I really want to see her.”

Quentin blinked in surprise. “Hold on,” he said, pulling out his phone. “I’ll figure something out for you.”

He quickly dialed Naomi’s number.

“Hey, Naomi, I just dropped off the car for Tessa, and she seemed really down. She looked completely drained. I think she’s still carrying a lot of pain, and I’m worried she’s hiding it all.

“Since tomorrow’s Saturday and she’s not working, maybe you could take her out tonight and try to cheer her up?”

Naomi’s voice came through, full of frustration. “Tessa loved Stephen so much. How is she supposed to just move on after everything?

“Why does she have to suffer while Stephen just walks away like it’s nothing, happily parading around with some actress? You men are all cold-hearted!”

Quentin instinctively glanced over at Stephen, who had recently and noticeably lost weight.

Dark circles had appeared under his eyes, a clear sign that he hadn’t been sleeping well for several nights.

Quentin could see just how much Stephen cared for Tessa, even if no one else seemed to notice.

After all these years, this was the first time he had seen Stephen so shaken by a

woman.

The calm, composed man he once knew was now barely holding himself together, visibly crushed by the aftermath of their breakup.

Despite being a hopeless romantic at heart, Stephen had somehow earned the label of a “heartless jerk” and “scumbag.”

Even from an outsider’s perspective, Quentin couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated on Stephen’s behalf.

After some more back-and-forth, Naomi eventually agreed to take Tessa out for drinks.

“Which bar are you going to?” Quentin asked, keeping his tone casual. “I’ll come pick you up later.”

Unaware of his intentions, Naomi quickly told him the name of the bar.

“Alright, just make sure you look

after Tessa. I’ll pick you up later. And don’t drink too much, or you’ll be

dealing with a headache and stomach issues tomorrow,” he

advised.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Stop being so overbearing,” she replied.

After they hung up, Quentin shrugged. “All set. We leave for Phantom Bar in 20 minutes.”

…

Tessa hadn’t planned anything for

the evening. She had meant to enjoy

a quiet dinner and binge-watch her favorite shows before calling it a night. .

However, just after finishing her meal, she got a call from Naomi, inviting her out for drinks.

Earlier in the day, Tessa had immersed herself in work, trying to keep her mind occupied and avoid thinking about Stephen.

But as the night settled in, the longing took over, and the ache in her chest grew unbearable.

A breakup felt like an affliction-something no medicine could heal. The only way

to cope was to numb herself with alcohol.

Tessa needed an outlet for her emotions.

The white McLaren cut through the winter fog like a ghost.

The parking lot at Phantom Bar was filled with high-end cars.

Tessa handed her keys to the valet and stepped toward the entrance, the sharp

click of her leather heels echoing in the night.

filled

At 11:00 pm, the bar was alive with energy. The space was packed, with flashing lights and the thump of music that vibrated through the air.

On the dance floor, bodies intertwined in a chaotic dance-men and women

moving together, losing themselves to the rhythm of the night.