Passersby couldn''t help but do a double-take, some even pulling out their phones to snap a picture. At that moment, his good looks were overshadowed by a dark cloud. His eyes were intense and prating as he zeroed in on her, exuding a dangerous vibe as he approached. Clearly, he had overheard everything she just said. Selena''s heart skipped a beat, feeling like she''d been caught gossiping behind someone''s back. But then, she thought, did she really say anything wrong? Was there anything to feel guilty about?


    So, she stood her ground confidently, meeting his gaze with her head held high. She even wondered if he was here shopping with a new me. He''d never gone shopping with her, so maybe he had a new spark of interest.


    What about Margot? How was he going to exin this one? Everett studied Selena. Theirst encounter ended on a sour note, and now, with his rumored new love interest challenging him, here she was. Seeing her calm and seemingly unfazed, his anger bubbled up, his stare bing more intense.


    As the crowd around them thickened, Selena, not wanting to be the center of attention, grabbed the already-nervous Joy and slipped out through another exit. Everett watched her leave without a nce back, as if he were a stranger, and he let out an incredulousugh. He clenched his jaw. "Touché, Mrs. Bet!" Just then, Derick rushed over, wiping sweat from his brow, and said, "Mr. Bet, the mall execs are here; we can start our walkthrough now." Everett pressed his lips together, managing to swallow his fury, and nodded. "Let''s go."


    ...


    In the café, Joy gulped down more than half a cup of strong ck coffee beforeing to her senses. She gazed at Selena, eyes wide with admiration. "Girl, you''ve got some serious guts!"


    Selena''s actions had been the definition of a modern, empowered woman! Selena stirred hertte gently, offering a quiet smile. "But aren''t you at all bothered by Nadia?" Joy asked out of curiosity. She had seen how deeply Selena had once loved Everett and could not bear another woman in his life.


    "She''s just a passing phase; nothing to lose sleep over." Selena took a sip of hertte, then added, "Besides, she won''t be Everett''sst, and neither will I." Margot would always be the one.


    The rest of the women were just temporary distractions, passersby in his life. It was a harsh truth but one she had to face. Selena picked up some clothes for her uncle and Ricky, then hit up a spa with Joy to unwind before heading home.


    Later that night, after a bath and a meticulous skincare routine, she crawled into bed for some beauty sleep. As she drifted into slumber, she suddenly felt a weight on top of her, followed by intense kisses, each one a form of punishment.


    His hands slipped under her


    nightgown, wrapped her long legs around his waist, and explored with abandon Selena snapped awake, eyes flying open. His features were blurred in the darkness, but she could make out his chiseled jawline, récognizing him immediately.


    Her heartbeat, which had been


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    pounding like a drum, eased a bit, but she caught the strong scent of alcohol mingled with a hint of women''s perfume on him, and his rough touch made her uneasy Instinctively, Selena pushed him away. Her voice softened, and she suggested, "Maybe you should take a shower first."