Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

The man nestled his forehead against the curve of her neck, breathing in her soft scent, as if all his worries could just melt away in this moment. His voice, unusually gentle in the stillness of the night, murmured softly. He gave a quiet nod.

Selena went silent again. After their last awkward encounter at the gala where they parted on bad terms, he hadn't shown up for a while. She'd begun to think their relationship might just quietly fade away. Maybe that was for the best, she thought. If they didn't see each other, there'd be no fights, no heartache. If he found happiness elsewhere and no longer yearned for her, they could simply drift apart without any drama.

But here he was again...noveldrama

Selena wasn't used to this kind of closeness anymore. If he was just there to satisfy some physical urge, she'd rather he be upfront about it, get on with it, and leave. Better that than pretending there was still some tenderness between them.

Feeling the tension in the woman nestled against him, her silent resistance, Everett would've once felt rejected and gotten angry. But now, there was an unfamiliar ache in his chest. Was this what they called... heartache?

He pulled Selena closer, refusing to let her pull away, as though he wanted to fuse her into his very being. His lips brushed against her ear, whispering, "Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

Sick...

Selena was momentarily caught off guard but quickly regained her cool. She hadn't purposely kept her illness a secret; if he knew, well, then he knew. She replied with a hint of indifference, "There wasn't anything to discuss."

If he were still the Everett who loved and cared for her, she would've shared. But his current indifference made it seem pointless. It would only be humiliating.

Even though Everett had resolved to be more understanding, her words still sparked a flicker of irritation. More than anything, it was jealousy. Jealous of the man he used to be. It drove him nuts. How could he compete with his own past self?

With a mix of frustration and playfulness, he nipped at her neck. "You're always pushing me away. How can I not be frustrated?"

She was turning him into someone he hardly recognized.

Selena sighed to herself. She couldn't quite figure out why Everett was here tonight. Not for a sleepover, and yet here they were, going around in circles?

Turning to face him, she saw him silhouetted by the soft moonlight streaming through the window. His deep eyes and striking features still had the power to stir something within her. Sometimes, she mused, beauty can truly be a curse. If she hadn't been drawn in by that face years ago, she wouldn't have started this entanglement that stretched over the years without resolution.

Maybe it was the late hour that brought out her melancholy. Unprompted, she voiced a truth from deep within, "Everett, it was you who shut me out first."

Her heart was heavy with grievances she'd never normally speak of. But tonight, with him lying quietly beside her, his usual defenses down, she felt she'd held back long enough. Her voice wavered slightly, though She stayed composed. "You don't

want to commit to a future with me but you expect me to hand over my heart for you to toy with. And when you're done, will you just toss it aside, stomp on it, and push me away?"