The bar was dark, filled with the faint scent of smoke and the low hum of conversation. It wasn't the kind of place she usually visited, but right now, nothing in her life felt normal. Liza was numb as she sat at the bar, staring at the glass of whiskey in front of her, untouched. The ice had long since melted.Every now and then, her phone buzzed in her purse—messages from her aunt, friends, and even Christoph. She ignored them all.She downed the drink in one go, wincing as the liquid burned its way down her throat. It wasn't enough. The pain was too raw, too deep. Another drink. And then another."Looks like someone's having a rough night."The voice was smooth, laced with an accent she couldn't place. She glanced to her left, where a man was leaning casually against the bar. His blonde hair was messy but artfully so, and his blue eyes gleamed with a sharp intensity that seemed to cut right through her haze."Why does it matter?" she muttered, turning back to her drink. She wasn't in the mood for company, especially not from a stranger.He didn't leave. Instead, he moved closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "Because," he said softly, his voice laced with a dangerous undertone, "it's not often I see a woman like you sitting alone, looking like she's ready to set the world on fire."Liza felt a chill run down her spine. She turned to look at him again, really look at him this time. He wasn't just attractive—he was magnetic, the kind of man who commanded attention without even trying. There was something unsettling about him, something dark."Maybe I am," she said, her voice sharper than intended.He smiled, a slow, predatory grin. "I like fire."She opened her mouth to snap back, but the words died on her lips. There was something about him that was impossible to ignore. The intensity in his gaze, the quiet confidence in his stance—it all screamed danger. And in that moment, danger was exactly what she craved. Anything to drown out the pain."What's your name?" she asked, her voice softer now."Viktor," he said simply, his eyes never wavering from hers. "And you?""Liza," she replied, feeling the first flicker of curiosity in her chest."Tell me, Liza," Viktor said, his voice low and smooth, "what's a pretty girl like you doing drinking alone in a place like this?"She hesitated for a moment, the bitter memory of Christoph and Kylie still fresh in her mind. The last thing she wanted was to spill her personal drama to a stranger. But something about Viktor—his cool detachment, the way he looked at her like he already knew her darkest secrets—made her want to talk."I'm trying to forget," she said finally.Viktor nodded slowly, as if he understood far more than she was saying. "Well," he said, motioning for the bartender to pour them another round, "I think I can help with that."