Page 17 of The Bittersweet Bond

"Waiting for you to finally give me a little bit of your time," he said, almost playfully—but with a hint of something real.

Milka stood a few steps ahead, waving frantically at Evin, but before she could join her friend, Ben stepped closer again, placing a hand on her hip, making her pause.

"So, what are we doing about that drink you owe me?"

His gaze grew more intense, and a slight tingling spread through Evin’s body.

"Right now?" she asked, grinning, even though she could feel the situation shifting in a direction she hadn’t planned for.

Her eyes briefly searched for Milka, who had already disappeared into the bathroom. Behind her, she felt the light pressure of Ben’s hand, as if he were subtly guiding her toward a quieter spot.

Before Evin could react, he subtly guided her into a narrow hallway near the bathrooms, where the party noise was muffled.

"I think we can postpone that drink," he said, his face mere inches from hers. "I have something better in mind right now."

Evin was about to respond, to make it clear she wasn’t interested in whatever he was implying, when she suddenly caught movement from the corner of her eye.

Her breath hitched as she spotted Bas at the end of the hallway, his gaze unbearably intense.

He had seen everything.

Ben’s fingers skimmed almost casually over her arm. "You seem nervous. Everything okay?" he asked with a soft smile, leaning in even closer.

With his arms crossed, Bas stood against the wall, watching them directly.

His jaw tightened, and though he didn’t speak, his expression said everything. A brief twitch in his jaw gave away all the words he wasn’t saying.

Slowly, he started walking toward them, his steps controlled and deliberate. He paused briefly in front of Evin, letting his gaze flick from Ben to her.

"That was fast."

His voice was steady, and the tension between them was impossible to miss.

"So they were right after all." His words sounded as if he was trying to convince himself that he didn’t care. His eyes pierced through her, his breathing shallow but controlled, his façade still unshaken.

Evin opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Bas leaned in closer, his voice dropping just enough so only she could hear him.

"Are you playing games with me, Evin? After what just happened?"

Ben, who couldn’t ignore the tension between them, stepped in. "Hey, man, we were just talking. No need to overreact."

Bas briefly tore his gaze away from Evin to glance at Ben before turning back to her.

"Talking…" he repeated quietly, but his tone was razor-sharp. A slow, dismissive once-over swept over Evin.

"Is that what you’re looking for, Evin? Just talking?"

The fire in his eyes was impossible to ignore, but Bas struggled to keep his composure as his heart pounded and his jealousy fought to break through the icy exterior.

Bas stood still, his expression unreadable. His face hardened, his jaw muscles tensing beneath the surface as he looked at her like he could shatter her in that moment.

"You know what?" His voice was low, dark. "I thought I was different to you."

Ben shifted further back, and Evin felt her heart race.

"Bas, it’s not what you think—"

But before she could finish, Bas lifted a hand, silencing her. A bitter laugh escaped him—short and sharp.

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