Kimi’s shoulders sagged the moment Sergio left. He just stood there, his usual confidence stripped away, replaced by vulnerability and fatigue. Seeing him so undone, Katherine felt a strange relief that she’d come over.

  “Katherine,” he called, snapping her out of her reverie. “Last night, I—” He faltered, dragging a hand through his hair as though searching for the right words. “I’m sorry. I’ll never… I won’t do that again.”

  His dark eyes locked onto hers, filled with remorse. Katherine studied him, the sharpness in her features softening under the weight of his contrition. “Kimi, I appreciate you saying that. But we need to talk about us.”

  Panic flared. *Was she going to end things?* But then he heard her say, “I owe you an apology. I overreacted. We agreed that you could make suggestions, yet I—”

  She stopped herself and did the only thing that made sense: she leaned in and kissed him. It was just a fleeting peck, but it carried a reassurance she couldn’t articulate.

  Kimi, on the other hand, was dumbstruck, as if that delicate brush against his lips had stolen his ability to speak.

  “And thank you for the roses,” she suddenly said. “They’re beautiful.”

  The stuffiness in his chest eased… until she broached the next matter. “By the way, your mom told me you have peptic ulcer disease,” she murmured, studying him closely. “She’s worried sick. She mentioned that when you get so consumed by work, you’d forget everything else and end up in the ER.”

  She hesitated, torn between frustration and concern. Their relationship was still new, barely a few days old, but she found herself caring more than she expected. The trouble was, he didn’t seem to care enough about himself.

  “This isn’t sustainable,” she spat. “If you don’t stop pushing yourself to the brink, I don’t know if I can just stand by and watch you run yourself into the ground.”

  Her words hung in the air, unvarnished. She didn’t want to sound as though she was issuing an ultimatum, not this early into their relationship, but she had to draw the line. If he couldn’t prioritize his well-being, how could she trust he’d have room to nurture what they were building?

  He flinched, his jaw tightening. Before he could respond, a knock interrupted them.

  “Come in.”

  Sergio entered with a cart, instantly sensing the tension. He set the table, offered a polite “Bon appétit,” and excused himself.

  Once the door clicked shut, Kimi’s uneasy posture returned, this time mixed with something raw and unguarded.

  “Katherine, I don’t want to lose you. I’m terrified I’ll mess up again. But please,” he stammered, “give me another chance. I’ll do anything to make this work.”

  As his plea reached her ears, the scene where he’d introduced her to Sergio replayed in her mind. She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she asked, “Why did you tell Sergio that I’m your wife?”

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  The question caught him completely off guard. He looked almost bashful, a rare, disarming sight.

  “Because it felt right,” he confessed quietly.

  Her brows knitted. “Right?”

  He nodded as he reached out for her hand, clasping it firmly. “From the moment I saw you, I knew you were the one. Something just… clicked. Like I’d been missing a piece of myself… and that missing piece was you.”

  The sincerity in his proclamation left her speechless. She opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out. She hadn’t expected this.

  “I know it sounds crazy,” he added, “but whenever I’m with you, I feel whole.”

  Her pulse skyrocketed as she absorbed his admission. She searched his face for any trace of pretense, but all she saw was honesty.

  “That’s… a lot to take in,” she managed.

  “I know,” he murmured earnestly. “I know this is all new. I don’t want to scare you off. But I can’t hide how I feel. You mean more to me than I can put into words.”

  A swirl of emotions flooded her. Should she embrace his intensity or protect herself from the risk of heartbreak? But he hadn’t done anything to deserve her doubt, had he?

  Finally, she released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding. “Kimi, you have a way of saying things that completely throw me off balance.”

  Uncertainty clouded his mien. “Is that good or bad?”

  “I’m not sure yet,” she mused. “I guess we’ll figure it out together.”

  The tension between them ebbed. Though she didn’t say it, he sensed she wasn’t pushing him away. For now, that was enough.

  “Let’s have dinner first,” she managed, steering them toward the table.

  They settled in, and he balked at the two bowls of oatmeal placed before them. “Have my parents gone broke? Oatmeal? Unbelievable!” he scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

  A laugh bubbled from her throat, amused. “Sev said people with ulcers should stick to bland foods.” She gave him a pointed look. “Your mom had the kitchen prepare dinner while I went to pack an overnight bag, in case I couldn’t convince you to go home.” Scanning the room, she conceded, “But I didn’t think this through. There’s only a couch here. No biggie, I’ll head back to The Cliffs after dinner.”

  A knowing grin tugged at his lips. “Hold that thought,” he said, his voice taking on a mysterious lilt. “I’ve got a surprise for you. I'll show you after dinner.”

  She nodded, and they ate in companionable silence. When they finished, she texted Ami to let her know he’d eaten. Then she turned to him, a hint of expectation in her eyes.

  “Kimi, I’m ready for my surprise.”

  He rose and took her hand, leading her to the far end of a wall lined with shelves. A soft click echoed as a hidden door swung open, revealing a private lounge. The space, equipped with a California King, ensuite, and walk-in closet, was a study in understated luxury.

  Her gaze wandered around the room as he watched her, gauging every reaction. “I crash here when deadlines pile up. You can take the bed; I’ll sleep on the couch outside.”

  And there it was, the instinct to pull back, to avoid moving too fast, too soon. But she also knew he needed proper rest, not a night of self-imposed penance on a sofa.

  “That won’t work,” she blurted. “We’ll share the bed. You need decent sleep if you’re going to function.”

  He blinked, surprised by her quiet insistence. “Katherine, I’d love nothing more than to fall asleep beside you,” he admitted, a hint of defeat in his tone. “But from experience, it took everything to keep my distance. I can’t bear to see that disgust in your eyes again. And with deadlines looming, I can’t afford another sleepless night.”

  Her chest tightened at his confession; last night’s misunderstanding had cut deeper than she realized. Guilt tugged at her as she searched for a way to bridge the chasm between them. Thinking back to when he introduced her as his wife, she wondered if he’d skipped every relationship phase because, in his heart, he already saw her as one.

  “Kimi, my mother left this world before I could even grasp the concept of romantic love. Compared to you, I’m a blank canvas.”

  She looped her arms around his neck and drew him close. Taking a steadying breath, she cooed, “I want you to know… I’m falling for you.”

  Then, she pressed a tender kiss to his chin. “I’m ready, Kimi… I’m ready to take this to the next level.”