Maya's POV
The taxi crawled through downtown traffic as I pressed my forehead against the cool window. Nothing registered in my vision. My thoughts were stuck replaying that charged moment at the venue, when Sebastian stood so near I could sense his cologne and feel his breath.
"Because he deserved to know the truth. Because I couldn't let you handle this by yourself. Because..."
Because what exactly? What words would have followed if Valentina hadn't materialized at precisely that instant? The incomplete sentence circled through my head like a song missing its final note.
Everything changed when Valentina appeared. The way her face lit up when she spotted Sebastian was unmistakable. Worse yet, he returned her smile. Not his usual courteous expression reserved for business contacts, but something warmer, more personal.
The cab pulled up to my apartment building. I handed over the fare and trudged up three flights, my legs heavy as lead. Each step felt like I was hauling bricks.
