Chapter 3

It wasn't until that moment that Zachary seemed to realize Tessa was still there. As if snapping out of a daze, he quickly withdrew his arm from around Wendy's waist and stepped back, distancing himself by a couple of paces.

Noticing the shift in his gaze, Zachary's friends finally registered Tessa's presence. They jumped in quickly, eager to defuse the growing tension.

"Alright, let's keep going. Wendy, if your stomach's acting up, you don't have to drink. If you lose, we'll switch to Truth or Dare instead."

"Great idea. Truth or Dare, it is!"

After steadying himself, Zachary returned to the couch.

He was expecting Tessa to react-perhaps show some jealousy or make a scene, but to his surprise, she said nothing.

Her indifference unsettled him, a nagging unease creeping into his mind.

He couldn't shake the feeling that Tessa was somehow different from how she used to be.

An uncomfortable silence settled between them.

Just as Zachary was about to say something, the teasing voices from across the room interrupted him. "Wendy, you lost again! Truth or dare?"

Zachary's attention snapped back to Wendy, his eyes locking onto hers.

"I choose Dare."

Wendy turned to face him, her gaze meeting his as she flashed a playful, enigmatic smile.

"Alright, here are the dares," someone called out, holding up a stack of paper slips. "Go ahead and pick one!"

Wendy casually grabbed a slip, and as the person unfolded it, his eyes widened in disbelief.

He shot a nervous glance between Wendy, Zachary, and Tessa.

A curious woman leaned in to take a look. "What does it say? Let me see!"

She gasped loudly, clearly shocked by what was written on the note.

A wave of curiosity spread through the group.

"What did it say?"

"Come on, tell us! What's on the note?"

"Randomly choose someone of the opposite sex and kiss them," the man read aloud, his eyes darting toward Zachary.

The moment Zachary heard those words, his face froze.

A chill seemed to fall over the room as if the temperature had dropped.

carefree smile, she

would you mind if I

twisted in a storm of anger. He froze, barely daring to

her arms around

voice

stormed out of the room, pulling her

smile. "What are you all staring at?" The others quickly turned away, pretending to focus on their drinks or conversations, acting as if nothing had

coldness settled in her heart with

ever disturb him. This

stood up and

hear the voices of several women chatting

it! I can't believe he left his girlfriend here and took off

the one

When Wendy was about

to watch her boyfriend fall apart over another

just there to

way out. It's pretty

reflection as she stepped out of one

word, they

mirror, washing her hands with an air of composure. Indeed, she and

he had decided it,

because she didn't love him anymore and because

...

to Zachary's

quick shower, she crawled into bed and fell asleep almost instantly. Zachary didn't come home

sprawled open on the floor. "What's

peeked out from behind the wardrobe. "You're back. I'm planning to head home for a

past two years, she had collected quite a bit-clothes, shoes, and various odds and ends. While some things weren't worth taking back to

the time she left, there would be

She paused for a moment, then quickly averted her eyes, pretending she hadn't seen

he did with anyone else didn't matter to her

the sudden urge to go back home? Are you

miss my parents

response. "I guess going home for a visit

they'd been together,

the holidays, she

family to be with her, nor had

never accept a woman without a solid family background. After a brief pause, he spoke again. "I've been really busy lately, so I won't be able to go with you. When's your flight? I'll have the chauffeur take you to the

clothes and laid them neatly on the bed. She folded each

okay. I'll call a ride. Someone will be there to

help but let out a quiet sigh of

worried she might ask him to go with

now, and for most couples, it would be

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