mango_latte

When Jasmine’s car collides with Antonio’s, she expects nothing more than an accident report and a headache. But from the moment he lays eyes on her, Antonio is captivated—her beauty, her presence, the quiet fire in her eyes. She’s been hurt before, and love is not something she’s searching for. All she wants is peace, warmth, and a place where she feels safe.

But Antonio is not a man who walks away from what he wants. And from the moment he sees her, he knows—he wants her.

HIS ENDEAVORS

Jasmine left the event with an uneasy feeling settled deep in her chest. Isabella's words played over in her mind like a riddle she couldn't quite solve.

"Be careful with Antonio. He's not a man who does things without reason."

What did that mean? Was it a warning? A test? A piece of advice from a woman who had once been close to him and knew something Jasmine didn't?

She didn't know, and honestly, she wasn't sure she wanted to.

By the time she got home, exhaustion had set in, but her mind refused to quiet down. She went through her usual nighttime routine—washing her face, changing into an oversized shirt—but even as she crawled into bed, sleep wouldn't come easily.

Her thoughts kept circling back to Antonio. To Isabella. To the way Antonio had looked at her with that quiet intensity, as if he was waiting for something.

And more importantly, to the way Isabella had spoken about him.

We were once inseparable, but things change.

Jasmine had spent years helping people untangle their emotions, but when it came to understanding Antonio Romano and his past, she felt like she was standing at the edge of something unknown.

But she wasn't going to fall into that trap.

She had a life, a job, a purpose that didn't involve getting tangled in the affairs of a man like Antonio.

She would forget about the event. About Isabella. About Antonio.

Tomorrow, she would wake up, go to work, and focus on what truly mattered—helping people.

And that was exactly what she did.

The next morning, Jasmine arrived at the clinic early. The moment she stepped inside, the familiar routine settled her nerves.

Lana, the receptionist, gave her a bright smile as she checked the schedule. "Busy day ahead," she said cheerfully. "You've got two new clients back-to-back."

Jasmine nodded, feeling relieved to have something to focus on. "That's good. Who are they?"

Lana glanced at the screen. "First one is a man named Simon Reed. His wife called in, said he's been struggling with severe stress and anger issues."

Jasmine made a mental note, already thinking of ways to approach the session. "And the second?"

Lana hesitated for a second before saying, "Isabella De Luca."

Her eyes snapped up to Lana's, searching for any sign that this was a joke. But Lana looked unbothered, completely unaware of the significance of the name she had just said.

Jasmine's grip tightened around the edge of the reception desk. "She... made an appointment?"

Lana nodded. "Late last night. Booked a private session, didn't give much detail, but she specifically asked for you."

Of all the people who could have walked into her office, Isabella was the last one she expected.

Was this a coincidence? Or something else entirely?

One thing was clear—Jasmine wasn't as far from Antonio's world as she had hoped to be.

And now, she was about to find out exactly what Isabella De Luca wanted.

Chapter Nine