Chapter 5

The night had been chaotic and absurd.

When I woke up in the morning, the other side of the bed was empty.

I buried my face into the pillow, memories of the night before flooding back.

Kevin had never been one to care for others, let alone… act like that.

It was as if he'd become a completely different person.

Dragging my tired body out of bed, I opened the door to find him sitting by the window, conducting a video meeting.

The rising sun cast a warm, golden glow across his profile, making him look almost ethereal.

Hearing the door open, he turned to glance at me.

"You're awake? Breakfast is on the table," he said, his tone calm and composed.

For some reason, the effortless distance in his voice made me freeze.

"Kevin, let's break up," I blurted out.

The air instantly grew heavy with silence.

From the other side of the computer, I heard muffled coughing and awkward whispers.

"Mr. Gray… we'll continue this later."

"We'll send you the meeting notes shortly."

I froze. Kevin had always said I wasn't good enough to be seen with him. Yet just now, in front of his company's board members, he hadn't even bothered to mute his mic.

I braced myself, expecting cruel sarcasm or mockery.

Instead, after a brief pause, Kevin smiled faintly.

"Alright. Finish your breakfast, and I'll help you pack your things."

Half an hour later, I followed Kevin downstairs.

His assistant approached nervously. "Mr. Gray, there's an important meeting today—"

"Cancel it," Kevin said, his tone steady and firm.

I couldn't help but feel disoriented. Was he being patient with me just because I was leaving?

The back of my eyes stung as I climbed into the car. But the moment I stepped inside, the old injury in my knee flared up. My leg gave out, and I collapsed onto Kevin's lap, my face pale from the pain.

Kevin caught me by the waist without a word.

"Take your time," he said softly.

His calm reassurances helped me steady myself.

The assistant handed me my phone, saying, "Miss Ayla, your phone's fully charged."

"Thank you…"

As I shifted into my seat, the faint, familiar scent of sandalwood on Kevin's body brought back memories of the night before.

Frowning, I moved further away from him.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed.

Notification after notification flooded the screen, followed by an incoming call.

The name "Kevin Gray" lit up on the screen.

Stunned, I instinctively answered.

A cold, menacing voice came through the line.

"Ayla, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

I froze, lifting my head to look at the man sitting in front of me.

He was lounging lazily in his seat, lips unmoving, raising an eyebrow at me with a hint of amusement.

I turned my gaze to the street outside, where another Kevin stood on the opposite sidewalk, pale as a ghost, clutching a phone.

He shouted, his voice nearly hysterical.

"Ayla, get away from my brother!"