“What is ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) that bastard doing here?”My mind, momentarily empty, roared back to life. No need to overthink—there was only one answer: get out of here. I absolutely could not run into him again. He might not recognize me in a place like this, but even the slightest hint of my presence was unbearable. No one needed to broadcast their sexual tastes like this—least of all in front of him.“Where are you looking, you fucking bastard—”I didn’t hesitate. I pummeled his face with a fist. He let out a short shriek and stumbled back. Seizing the moment his grip loosened, I wrenched free and pushed through the crowd.“Excuse me, pardon me, please move, sorry—”I repeated myself as I barreled past the bar, shoving roughly. They grumbled, then resumed their own business. All I could think was get away, get away, so he couldn’t spot me again.I rushed to the back door, fumbled it open, and tumbled into the alley with a long exhale. The raucous noise was muffled behind the closed door; here, everything was silent. No acrid smoke lingered—only the foul stench of refuse that made me wrinkle my nose.Why on earth was he here?The more I thought, the more absurd it seemed. Who could have imagined meeting him here, at this hour, of all places?I sighed again, glanced at my watch—and cursed aloud. It was well past midnight. There was no chance now of finding anyone else in another club.“Damn it, fucking hell—”I kicked the filthy wall, screaming curses into the night. Only after I’d vented enough fury did I catch my breath. There was no choice but to go home.I headed toward the main street to hail a cab, muttering curses under my breath. There wouldn’t be another chance like this until after the trial. That was why I came tonight—yet the only man I’d managed to pick turned out to be a married man with three kids, and on top of that, I ran into Nathaniel Miller.“Shit.”I kicked at the ground when I heard a door swing behind me—then quick footsteps. I turned, and someone grabbed my arm. I slammed into the wall, dazed, blinking until a rough voice reached me.“You little coward—where do you think you’re going? We haven’t finished!”I focused enough to recognize him and groaned. His face was flushed red as he glared.“Seriously…”I straightened and brushed hair from my face.“Didn’t you hear me? I said I don’t do people with partners! Stop wasting time and go find someone else. Apparently a lot of trash will fuck anyone—just like you.”I left it at that. I was in too foul a mood to hold back. His anger-flushed face only made me turn away—but he wouldn’t let me go.“You fucking bitch!”He threw a punch. I tried to dodge, but my reflexes failed. I barely avoided a direct hit to the jaw, only to have my cheek slammed into the wall.“Ugh…”I groaned as dizziness swept over me. I blinked to clear my head—then another punch landed squarely. I crumpled to the ground.“Ugh…”Through blurred vision, I saw him unzip his pants to pull something out. He lunged to strip me, arousal bobbing as he yanked at my trousers.He cared only for one thing—and thought me helpless. But I wouldn’t let that happen. As he leaned in, I kicked that filthy appendage hard.“O—ugh…”He choked out a noise and fell face-first. I scrambled up and kicked him relentlessly—rolled his body half over, then stomped his exposed arousal again. I heard his sobbing scream, but felt no remorse.“Ugh… ugh…”He staggered away down the alley, tears, snot, and spit streaking his face as he ran clutching himself like a terrified animal.Three kids already—he doesn’t need more.I spit on the ground and frowned at the pool of blood on the broken pavement. Then I smelled it: that faint sweetness mixed with tobacco smoke.A shiver ran down my spine. My hair stood on end. My eyes flew open.…No way.I didn’t want to believe it—but instinct already knew. That unpleasant scent, that ghost of sweetness, proved it. I’d smelled it before.It took immense courage to look. Battling the part of me that wanted to pretend otherwise, I slowly turned my head. In the dimly lit alley—few bulbs were working, but the clouds parted to let pale moonlight through—I saw a shadow.Not far away, a massive figure out of place in this run-down backstreet. The one I’d most tried to avoid, looming above me. I gasped a low, strained sound.THANK GOD1｜We stared at each other in silence. Nathaniel Miller, as I last saw him, still leaned on his cane, a cigarette clamped between his lips. His deep violet eyes fixed on me, the sweet note in his smoke unchanged. Even that hint of mocking cynicism remained.

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