Chapter: 1035

His behavior didn't suggest a desire to reconnect with Siena. Maybe his friends had urged him to look after her?

And perhaps Nikolas had turned off his phone because he feared her reaction?

With these thoughts swirling in her head, Aimee felt overwhelmed by the complexity of their situation.

Upon seeing Nikolas again after only a few hours, she noticed he appeared worn down. He leaned against his car, not as vibrant as before, with a cigarette dangling from his fingers, looking somewhat defeated.

Yet, he still caught the attention of several passing women.

Aimee sighed.

Such attention partly explained Nikolas' behavior; it seemed he was never short of admirers, which perhaps led him to take relationships Lightly.

Gilda hadn't exaggerated. Nikolas' hands were bandaged and blood- stained. Clearly, he had been lashing out physically since their split.

Nikolas had always been volatile.

Upon spotting Aimee, he quickly stood up, discarded his cigarette, and stamped it out.

Aimee found it surreal that they had broken up that morning only to meet again so soon. She felt awkward.

“Did you... Did you come here to see your cousin?"

“How did you know?"

"I called your father. He told me." Nikolas lowered his gaze, avoiding Aimee's eyes.

Aimee frowned but remained silent.

A tense silence fell between them, each lost in thought.

Growing impatient with Nikolas' silence, Aimee pressed him. “Aren't you going to say something? Why are you so quiet?"

Nikolas kept his head down.

“I'm not sure how to start..."

"If it's that difficult, maybe you shouldn't say it at all." Aimee still suspected that Nikolas’ hesitance stemmed from wanting to reconcile.

His reluctance only fueled her frustration.

If he was so undecided, why had he asked to meet?

Aimee turned to leave, but Nikolas quickly grabbed her wrist. "Aimee, wait! Give me a moment to figure out how to say this."

“You don't need to. If you can't be straightforward, there's no point in continuing this conversation - or our friendship."