At that moment, as Sidney looked at Maria's radiant smile, his thoughts briefly drifted.

That afternoon, she had been out having dinner with another man.

She'd returned without letting him know.

And yet...

Sidney stopped himself from spiraling further into speculation. His tone was calm as he spoke, "I came to update you on the recent situation at the studio."

"Oh?" Maria raised a surprised brow, clearly not expecting such an excuse from him.

Nonetheless, she opened the door and said, "Come in, then."

After changing her shoes, Maria added, "Make yourself comfortable. I'm going to take a shower first."

Having spent the day out, she felt uncomfortable with the mix of lingering scents on her, especially after being grabbed by Tracy and Gorden earlier-it made her feel unclean.

Sidney didn't respond, simply stepping inside and taking a quick look around. The place was spotless, and there were no signs of anyone else being there.

She hadn't had other visitors.

Sidney sat down on the sofa.

As dusk slowly turned into evening, Maria finally emerged from her room after about thirty minutes. She was dressed in simple sleepwear, her long hair wrapped in a towel, and her cheeks were slightly flushed from the steam of her shower. Sidney's gaze lingered on her, his eyes darkening almost imperceptibly.

Maria pulled a drink from the fridge and glanced at him, asking, "Want one?"

Sidney nodded. "Sure."

grabbed another bottle, setting it down in front of him before settling into the

for just a moment. She hadn't

ahead," Maria prompted, opening her drink when Sidney still

his throat, nodded,

the report he had prepared, he placed it in front of her and began explaining the recent developments at the

listened, she quickly realized that Sidney

talented designers. Her decision to let him take a stake in the studio and manage it seemed to

it shifted to his

like a gentle stream in

thought crossed her mind: If this voice ever softly called someone "dear," it would probably be

in her chair, Maria's gaze landed on

focused on the tablet, speaking as if he had a

softened after a sip of

smoother, more soothing, as his Adam's apple bobbed

fleeting moment, Maria felt the urge

But she held back.

the image of Sidney and that girl having dinner

was probably

Hmph.

She

the idea

together, he'd

trying

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