Arianna Stone couldn't help but admire his thoughtfulness. Maxwell King had always been like this, even back in their college days. He wasn't one for grand declarations; instead, he woven his consideration into the fabric of everyday life.

Arianna also noticed that the supplements in Maxwell’s shopping cart were carefully curated. Several of them were ones she had spent hours researching online to buy for her grandmother—items that store clerks never usually recommended. It was clear he had done his own "homework" late last night.

Once they finished at the checkout, they headed up the escalator to the second floor.

"I’m paying this time," Arianna said, setting a firm boundary. "You’re not allowed to fight me on it."

Maxwell smiled, his eyes softening with that familiar, indulgent warmth. "Fine. You pay."

The dessert shop was expansive, with high-ceilinged glass windows where chefs in tall hats carefully crafted tarts. Beyond the main dining area, there was a spacious terrace lined with round wooden tables and rows of plush sofas. The air was thick with the scent of sugar and baked goods—a sweetness that felt like melting cotton candy on the tongue, seeping deep into the bone.

Arianna and Maxwell each grabbed a tray, strolling leisurely through the sugar-free section. Arianna picked out a few new items to bring to her grandmother.

On the terrace, Cameron Hughes sat on a sofa, mindlessly tapping at his phone. Alexis Morgan sat to his left, while Noah Carter and a few other friends occupied the seats to his right. Alexis was holding a tart, trying to coax Cameron’s young niece. "Call me 'big sister,' and I'll give you this tart. Deal?"

Cameron frowned, his expression dark. Anyone could tell he was in a foul mood. He had always hated dessert shops, viewing them as places meant for women, not for a group of grown men. If his niece hadn’t insisted on coming, he probably never would have stepped foot in a place like this in his life.

"Sweetie, be good," Alexis said, her tone honey-sweet. "Finish that tart first, and then I’ll give you the rest. No wasting food."

Noah Carter looked at her, his eyes wide. "Whoa, Alexis, what is wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"When did you change your personality? Stop talking like that, you’re giving me the creeps!"

"Get lost!"

Amidst the laughter and banter, a memory flickered in Cameron’s mind. Back in college, there were a few stray cats on campus that the students had turned into pampered royalty. They were plump, their fur sleek and shiny, and they wandered the grounds with zero fear of humans.

Arianna used to feed those cats. Cameron had been reluctant to join, but he’d tag along anyway. He remembered her under the streetlights, crouching down, peeling the plastic off a hot dog, her voice soft and sweet. "Kitty, come here, big sister has something yummy for you."

Moths circled the streetlights relentlessly, and Cameron would stand on the side, checking his phone, his face masked in impatience. Every now and then, he’d glance at her. She was wearing a loose T-shirt, her slender arms exposed, her skin looking luminous in the harsh light. She was thin—scarily so, like a strong breeze could carry her away. Yet, her features were stunning, especially those eyes that seemed to hide an entire galaxy, capable of pulling anyone in.

The way she crouched outlined her frame—delicate, yet unmistakably feminine. Cameron caught a glimpse of her collarbone, a graceful, sharp curve beneath her shirt.

Arianna, oblivious to his gaze, kept her head down, focused entirely on the cats. She would smile, her eyes curving into crescents as she reached out to scratch a kitten under the chin. The kitten, purring in ecstasy, would roll onto its back, exposing a round belly, completely defenseless.

"Kitty, do you like the fish sausage? Should I buy you more next time?"

"Kitty, why are you so fat?"

"Little fatty."

The cat seemed to understand her, its soft paw patting her foot before it stood up, wiggled its tail, and strutted away as if the service hadn't been up to par.

On the way back that night, they had run into Maxwell. He was holding a bag of cat food and some jerky, asking if they wanted to join him to feed the strays. Cameron hadn't understood the point. Just a few cats—was it really worth the effort? Wouldn't it be more comfortable back in the dorms with the AC? So, he had declined without hesitation.

In the end, Arianna and Maxwell had gone together. From then on, they seemed to go together often.

***

Inside the dessert shop, Miles Young sat across from Cameron, leaning back with a cup of iced coffee. Alexis and Noah were still bickering. Alexis finally lost her patience and shoved Noah. "Are you looking for a fight? Who gave you the guts to talk back to me?"

Noah laughed, dodging away.

Cameron, sitting in the middle of them, remained grim-faced, his eyes glued to his phone. Miles leaned in, catching a glimpse of the screen. It was an iMessage thread with Arianna. He couldn't see what message Cameron had sent, but there, next to the long string of texts, was a glaring red exclamation point.

Arianna had blocked him.

Miles’s frown eased slightly. He took a sip of his coffee and looked away, pretending to be unbothered. But a second later, his gaze froze.

Just a few yards away, Arianna was standing by the shelves, tongs in hand, carefully placing pastries onto her tray. She looked focused, a few stray hairs falling against her pale cheek. Miles was mesmerized.

Suddenly, a hand—long, lean, and elegant—reached out. The fingers brushed against her hair, gently tucking the loose strands behind her ear.

Miles followed the arm up and found himself looking at Maxwell King’s handsome, composed face.

Maxwell? Why was he here?

Even more shocking was that Arianna didn't recoil from the touch. Instead, she turned her head, smiling as she said something to him. It all looked so natural, so domestic.

A thought flickered through Miles’s mind, unbidden. It looked exactly like they were dating.

Maxwell stood tall, his features sharp and refined, creating a gravitational pull that drew stares from everyone nearby. But he was oblivious to the crowd, his eyes fixed solely on Arianna. She was busy picking out cakes, and he was busy watching her.

The scene felt eerily familiar. Miles was pulled back to a summer several years ago.

He and Cameron had been friends since they were kids. During college, they went to different schools, so Miles would often stop by Cameron’s campus to hang out. One afternoon, Miles had called Cameron, bragging that he’d met a pretty girl and wanted to borrow Cameron’s flashy sports car to take her for a drive, hoping to win her over.

Cameron had been obsessed with that car. Miles had to beg him for the longest time before he finally agreed.

Excited and fearing Cameron might change his mind, Miles had rushed to campus, navigating his way toward the dorms. On his way, he passed a path lined with sycamore trees.

In the shade, a man and a woman were sitting together.