Page 137 of The Bittersweet Bond

A brief silence settled over the table. Cat’s smile remained frozen, but her eyes flickered as if she had just felt a sharp sting. Mr. Sinclair blinked, then gave a pleased nod. “The Hayes family? I’ve met them before—good people. Hardworking, well-regarded in their circles."

“They are—in any circle,” Bas agreed, his gaze still locked onto his father’s.

His father leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. His expression remained unreadable, but the coldness in his eyes was undeniable. He said nothing. Not even a dismissive farewell.

Bas didn’t let it rattle him. Not the weight in his chest at seeing his father’s reaction, not the tension settling in the air.

“Thank you again. It was truly an enlightening afternoon,” he said, his voice composed.

He turned to Cat with a composed nod, his tone as courteous as ever.“Cat, I’ll see you around.”

Bas’ father remained still, his expression unreadable. Then, just as Bas turned to leave, his father finally moved—adjusting his cufflink with slow, deliberate precision. A meaningless gesture to anyone else. But Bas understood. This wasn’t over.

Not that it mattered.

Because as Bas walked out, head held high, the tension stayed behind, like the final strike of a drum.

__________

Evin

The doorbell rang, cutting through the silence like an unexpected clap of thunder. For a moment, Evin stood frozen in the hallway, her fingers nervously tugging at the hem of her T-shirt. She hadn’t dressed up, just a pair of joggers and a simple tee—perfect for a relaxed evening. But the gold hoops in her ears and the delicate, layered necklaces resting against her collarbone gave her look a touch of effortless elegance. Her hair lay sleek and glossy over her shoulders, as if she had somehow managed to get it perfect without even trying—though inside, she felt anything but calm.

Maybe she should’ve made more of an effort. Or was it better that she looked like she hadn’t thought about it at all?

"It’s just Bas," she murmured to herself, taking a deep breath before opening the door. So she tried not to let it show that her heart was beating just a little faster.

"And there he was—standing on her doorstep, looking completely different than usual. A polo shirt and chino pants, his signature smirk in place, making him look straight out of a movie scene. His hair was neatly combed and styled. Still hot—but different.

Her heart skipped a beat.

He didn’t belong here. Not in her neighborhood. And somehow, that only made her more nervous.

It was the first time he was coming over, and even though she knew he probably hadn’t expected anything specific, she still felt a twinge of embarrassment. There was no hiding the fact that they had just a normal house. Theirentire home could probably fit into the garden of his estate—and still leave room for a tennis court.

"Hey," he said, his voice low, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Hey," she breathed. "Come in."

Bas stepped inside, letting his gaze wander through the living room, which was both cozy and—like always—a little messy. Board games stacked on the coffee table, a throw blanket draped over the couch. His eyes lingered on a few details, and her throat went dry as she tried to read his expression.

"You’re kidding, right?" Bas muttered, his eyes landing on the small deck of cards on the table.

Evin followed his gaze—and instantly turned red.

"What? That? That’s not for you. I just... I play it sometimes to distract myself."

"UNO?" Bas raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening as he sat down on the couch, looking way too comfortable. "Alone?"

Evin let out a laugh. Okay, that was possibly the worst excuse she could have come up with.

"To keep us from getting any dumb ideas," she admitted, feeling her cheeks grow warmer.

"You don’t need to justify it." Bas reached for the cards, shuffling them with casual ease. "I mean, there are worse ways to spend time together."

Evin grinned. "Just wait until you lose."

Bas cocked an eyebrow. "Challenge accepted. But let’s make it interesting. We play with stakes. The winner gets to make a demand."

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