Mayne City, Esmea

Nina just came out of a film studio and she was on her way to her car in the parking lot several meters away. Her father was an established film producer while her mother ran a literary agency. Although her parents were already separated, she had the chance to intern under her father's care and also her mother's a few years ago. This was why representing as her best friend Angela's literary agent was both a challenge and a breeze since she already had connections.

Approaching her parked car, she rummaged for her car keys in her purse. It was already half past ten in the evening and there weren't a lot of people around anymore. Just as she found the keys to her car, heavy footsteps sounded from the side. She turned her head to look and she gasped when she saw the man whom she didn't want to see.

"Evan... What are you doing here?" she muttered, tightly clutching the keys in her hand.

"Nina. It's nice to see you," Evan replied with an unreadable expression.

"I can't say the same. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be."

She turned to her car, unlocked it, and opened the door. However, a large hand slammed the door shut and she jumped in surprise. "What—"

"I just want to talk," he said.

"Sucks for you, because I don't want to. Now, go away!" She tried to push his arm that was still blocking the door but it did not budge.

"Where's Angela?" he asked, a question that he had asked a hundred times already.

Crossing her arms, Nina rolled her eyes and faced Evan. "Do you think I will tell you just because you asked? It's been three years, Evan. Are you always going to come by every time you take a break from your work?"

"After everything that you have done to her, you still think you're entitled to know her whereabouts?" She scoffed. She couldn't believe the nerve of this guy. "If you don't get out of my way, I will call the cops."

A wicked grin ghosted his handsome face and he crossed his arms, leaning towards her as he spoke in a cold tone, "You think I'm afraid of them?"

Knitting her brows together, she scowled at him and said, "I have a mace in my purse. And I would love to try using it on you."

His eyes landed on her hand that was inside her purse and his jaw clenched. He was almost twice bigger than her and he could easily restrain her, but he backed away, raising his hands in the air as if to surrender.

She gave him an eye and then turned to open her car. She was fuming and she wanted to get out of there as soon as she could. Without thinking much, she blurted, "You should stop, Evan. Angela is already getting married."

Stunned, Evan roughly bit out, "I don't believe that."

"Suit yourself. You're not invited anyway. I'm telling Oliver about tonight. You better not come to me anymore." With that, Nina got inside her car and sped off into the main road, leaving Evan confused and frustrated in the parking lot.

While she was on the way home, the rain started falling and she slowed down. Pressing a few buttons on her dashboard, a ring sounded through her speakers. After four rings, Oliver's voice came through. She called to tell him about what just happened back at the parking lot outside of her father's film studio.

…

SDC Resort—Hillberry Isle

Gael didn't know how long he had stared at Angela that night. At one point, he saw her shiver under the blanket and he realized that he had left one panel of the window by the balcony open to let air in earlier. But now, it was already freezing cold. He went to close it and went back to bed after.

He couldn't easily fall asleep—what with her being there with him. As he stared at her sleeping state like a creep, he muttered, "How could you just sleep like this with a man in the room—on the same bed? Are you not the least bit afraid that you'll get taken advantage of?"

Being the heavy sleeper that she was, obviously, Angela had no idea what was going on around her as she drifted to dreamland. Sometime later, Gael also fell asleep.

At midnight, Angela suddenly woke up. She fluttered her eyes open only to find Gael facing her. It seemed like the lights were still out because the room was still dark and she couldn't understand why but her eyelids were heavy. How could she be still so sleepy after already sleeping so many hours? She was like a typical sloth or a bear on hibernation.

But it was just so damn comfortable to sleep. Everything around her body felt so fluffy and cozy and warm...

A sudden realization hit her. She looked down at herself and saw that she was still wearing Gael's hoodie and the blanket covered her up to her shoulders. Everything on her smelled like him—manly and heavenly.

Her gaze drifted to the man sleeping in front of her who was wearing a thin shirt and joggers. He had his arms crossed, and although he didn't shiver, she could faintly see the hair on his arms standing from the harsh, cold weather.

Feeling her heart throb upon seeing his condition, she bit her bottom lip and whispered under her breath, "Idiot."

Then, she flung her arm up, tossing half of the blanket off her and onto him, shielding Gael's body from the cold. "Why would you suffer for me?" she mumbled as she stared at his features.

Unbeknownst to her, Gael was a light sleeper. Due to years of training under the De Luca's care, this was an occupational hazard. However, he kept his eyes closed the entire time and focused on his other senses. When he noticed the change in her breathing, he knew that she was already asleep.

Opening his lids, his gaze landed on her angelic face that was now less than a foot away. He softly chuckled. "You're the idiot," he murmured before closing his eyes again.

Unable to help himself, he wondered what tomorrow would be like after what happened tonight.