Page 109 of The Bittersweet Bond

With a deep breath, a quick adjustment in his jeans, and a push of the door handle, he stepped out and walked toward her.

“I was starting to think you wanted to learn how to do pirouettes,” Evin teased.

Bas’s stomach tightened.

Fuck.

__________

Evin

Adele’s voice drifted across the empty parking lot as Evin clung to Bas.

The pain in her chest was crushing—not because of him, but because of the shame that never left her.

She felt it—the memories of Sergej creeping back in, burned into her skin like scars.

She wanted to forget.

But the weight of her failure pressed her down.

Bas’s hands pulled her closer, his warmth both comforting and unbearable.

He didn’t know.

He knew nothing.

Nothing about what had happened.

She closed her eyes, hoping the darkness would cover her guilt.

But deep down, she knew—she shouldn’t be here.

She wasn’t the same anymore.

How could he ever look at me the way he used to?

The thought struck her as he gently pulled her in.

The moment felt wrong, even though she wished it was right.

Her fingers dug into his broad shoulders as the last notes of the song faded.

She lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes.

He looked at her as if everything was fine.

As if she was still the same Evin.

And yet—in this moment, wrapped in his arms, she felt more right than ever before.

Shewas exactly where she had always wanted to be.

Above them, the first New Year's fireworks exploded across the sky—as if signaling the end of a chapter.

For just a second, she wished her thoughts could disappear like those sparks in the sky.

Fading into nothing.

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