That Evening

  The moment Sana received the guardhouse text confirming Seven had just left The Cliffs, she sprang into action. The wind carried a crisp chill as she hurried toward her newly arrived Purosangue. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she started the engine and steered toward Bellview. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The distance was just over a mile, yet it seemed unbearably long.

  She was slightly winded as she pulled up outside his house. The garage door was shut; there was no movement beyond the windows. The silence pressed heavier than the biting night air. Swallowing hard, she jogged to the front door and entered the passcode Katherine had given her. The lock clicked, followed by a brief melodic chime, an unassuming welcome into unfamiliar territory.

  Inside, darkness cloaked the space. She flicked on her phone’s flashlight, the narrow beam casting faint shadows along the minimally decorated walls. The house felt abandoned, yet not empty, as if it was holding its breath. Blood rushed to her ears as she climbed the stairs, the wooden planks muffling her cautious steps.

  On the landing, the hushed stillness reigned, broken only by the soft trickle of water coming from somewhere down the hall. Seven’s bedroom door stood slightly ajar, light spilling through the crack.

  Her pulse stuttered. She raised a fist to knock, hesitated, then whispered, “Sweets?”

  No response.

  Frowning, she nudged the door open further.

  The room was stark, devoid of personal clutter, as though untouched by the person who lived there. The bed was neatly made, the desk bare. And no Seven.

  Then, the water quietly stopped, and after a brief moment, the bathroom door eased open, steam curling into the hallway.

  Seven appeared, his presence filling the space in an instant. Droplets trailed down his damp skin, glistening under the bathroom light before disappearing beneath the towel slung low on his hips. Wet strands clung to his forehead and neck, his sharp gaze locking on Sana the moment he noticed her.

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  “Sana?” His voice hitched. “What are you doing here?”

  Her throat constricted. She had rehearsed her words a hundred times, but standing here, exposed in a way that wasn’t just physical, her mind went blank.

  “Sweets…” she gulped. “I… I saw the footage. Kas told me everything.”

  His brows drew together, tension rippling through him. Before he could respond, she surged forward, eyes shining with unshed tears. She threw her arms around him, clutching as though he might slip away. He stiffened, then slowly enfolded her, his warmth anchoring her frayed nerves.

  “Sana,” he murmured against her hair, “I’m all wet. You’re going to soak through.”

  “I don’t care.” She clung even tighter, as if he might vanish if she didn’t. “I’m sorry for breaking up with you. Please, forgive me.”

  His jaw tightened, a war waging behind his eyes. “Sana, from now on, you have to believe me: there’s no one else. Only you.”

  Her lips trembled. “Okay.”

  He exhaled softly, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Now get off me. You’ll catch a cold, and—” his gaze swept over her, darkening. “You lost weight, all the weight I worked so hard to put on you.”

  She peeked up at him, guilt flickering across her face. “It’s fine—”

  “No, it’s not.” His tone was firm but edged with concern. “Why did you sneak out so late? You didn’t even bring security with you?”

  She sniffled, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips. “I wanted to surprise you.”

  Seven sighed, shaking his head helplessly. “Your clothes are wet. Change into mine before you get sick.”

  She nodded obediently, watching as he rifled through his drawer before tossing her a pullover. Shrugging off her damp sweater, she slipped it on, the fabric swallowing her petite frame, the hem brushing her thighs.

  Seven wiped himself down absently, pulled up a pair of boxers, and slipped on sweatpants. Still shirtless, he ran the towel through his damp hair, oblivious to the way her gaze lingered over his sculpted torso, heat coloring her cheeks.

  When he turned back, she looked him squarely in the eyes. “Come back to The Cliffs with me.”

  “Sana—”

  “Please.”

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