205Darius felt a mixture of nervousness and anticipation as he watched Leslie sip her coffee. He cleared his throat, trying to muster the courage to broach the subject. “Leslie, I was thinking… how about we go to Elena Castro's Cosmetic together for relaxation?”Leslie’s eyes widened in shock, near
206Meanwhile, behind the counter, Emily watched them through teary eyes, her heart aching with unspoken feelings. She dried her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to keep her emotions in check. The café had always been a place of comfort for her, but now it felt like a battleground. Seeing Dari
207As Darius and Leslie finished their meal, the tension at their table had settled into a heavy, uncomfortable silence. Darius glanced at his watch, realizing it was already late. The thought of visiting Elena's Castro Cosmetics today was no longer feasible, but he felt a strange mix of relief and
208The next day, Darius dressed in simple attire—a plain white shirt and dark jeans. He wasn't one for flashy clothes, preferring comfort over style. As he climbed into his Eclipse, he couldn't shake the tension that had built up from the previous night. The argument with Leslie still lingered in h
209Darius’s jaw clenched at the question, his fists tightening at his sides as he tried to keep his composure. He could feel the heat rising in his face, a mix of embarrassment and anger bubbling beneath the surface. The woman’s tone was enough to make his blood boil, but he bit back the retort tha
210The brunette leaned in again, her voice dripping with condescension. “Maybe you’d be more comfortable somewhere else? Perhaps a nice barber shop down the street? I’m sure they could give you a good trim.”Darius felt his fists clench even tighter, the tension in his muscles making his arms tremb
211Darius’s jaw tightened as he felt the sting of the man’s silent judgment. He could practically hear the unspoken words: 'You don’t belong here.' His anger flared, but he forced himself to remain still, his fists clenching tighter.“Who’s this?” the woman beside Mr. Blackwell asked, her voice dri
212The blonde woman sauntered over, her hips swaying with a practiced grace, as if she owned the room. Her manicured hand, nails gleaming with fresh polish, landed lightly on Mr. Blackwell’s arm. She kept her gaze fixed on Darius, her lips curling into a cold smile that didn’t reach her eyes.“Oh,