A week later
The winter air in London was crisp and biting, but Sophia barely noticed as she strolled through Hyde Park, her heels crunching against the frost-laden pathways. The soft glow of the city’s streetlights illuminated her path, but her mind was elsewhere—on Sebastian, of course. He hadn’t called, hadn’t sent a single message since the day they last spoke. True to his word, he’d stayed away, keeping his distance.
And yet, he lingered.
Sophia couldn’t shake him from her thoughts. His face haunted her dreams, his words echoed in her mind during the quiet moments. And just when she thought she might be free of him, an article appeared. A photograph of Sebastian and Georgia, arm in arm, stepping out of an exclusive restaurant. A date, the headline teased, though the smile Georgia wore felt more calculated than genuine.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts.