Page 106 of The Bittersweet Bond

Bas wasn’t sure.

But she followed him in silence.

And somehow, that thought alone gave him peace.

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Moments later, they were in his car, rolling through the empty streets. Just a few minutes passed before they pulled up in front of the ballet school, and Bas saw recognition flash in her eyes.

Her gaze widened, and he knew exactly what she was about to ask.

"How... did you know where I train?" Her voice was cautious, almost wary.

Bas didn’t answer right away.

The warm air flowed softly from the vents, wrapping around them like a fragile shield.

He knew she wouldn’t leave—not yet.

Just like always, she stayed.

He kept his eyes on the windshield, watching the faint fog dissolve—but his thoughts were entirely on her.

Bas couldn’t stay silent anymore.

"I... came here a lot," he admitted, voice quiet, almost like a confession. "Watched you."

Evin froze.

For a second, she didn’t seem to know how to react.

"What?" Her voice held something—understanding, maybe. But also disbelief.

Bas let his fingers graze over her arm—just a fleeting touch, a hint of the closeness he had craved for so long.

"It calmed me down. Watching you dance," he said. "It was the only thing that kept me from losing my mind."

Evin didn’t move, but he saw it—the way his words hit her.

A flush spread across her cheeks, and Bas wondered if it was the alcohol or something else entirely.

"You stalked me?" Her words were meant to be sharp—but instead, they came out teasing.

Bas shrugged, lips curving into a mischievous grin.

"Stalking might be the wrong word," he mused. "But yeah. I was there."

He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes dropping for a second.

Saying it out loud brought an odd sense of relief—like he’d stopped pretending.

"Watching you dance… it helped clear my head. It was the only thing stopping me from going completely insane."

His truth lay openly between them now, and for a fleeting moment, he wondered if he had said too much.

But the relief he felt—the weight that lifted off his chest—was stronger than the fear of her misunderstanding him.

Evin took a slow breath, like she wanted to be mad at him.

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