The beach stretched out in front of him, wrapping the shore with its rhythmic waves. Despite the warmth in the air, the breeze that swept in from the sea carried a chill, sending a shiver through Leonardo's bare chest. He stood at the entrance of the chalet, wearing only a pair of shorts, the fading sun casting a golden glow on his skin. The sunset painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, creating a breathtaking scene that might have inspired awe in someone else.
Leonardo exhaled deeply, his cigarette resting lightly between his fingers, the smoke curling up and disappearing into the twilight. His gaze wandered to the horizon, but his mind remained elsewhere. The sound of the waves was soothing, yet his thoughts churned like the restless sea before him.
He turned his head slightly at the sound of approaching footsteps. Hannah appeared, her smile wide and eager, running toward him like a child thrilled by the mere thought of his presence. He had called her earlier after a tense and draining conversation with Ariana, and Hannah, as always, had answered with enthusiasm, quick to drop everything and come running.
He couldn't deny that Hannah was beautiful. She had an effortless charm that so many other women in his life had tried to fake. But her eagerness, her constant availability, grated on him now. What once felt flattering now seemed shallow. She needed no seduction, no effort. She surrendered herself to him completely, without hesitation or limits, as had so many women before her. And yet, the thrill had faded.
Leonardo took another drag from his cigarette, pondering the emptiness within him. These women, their sweet words, their seductive attempts—they no longer stirred the passion or excitement they once had. Over the years, they all blurred together, faces and moments merging into a haze of fleeting encounters.
As Hannah reached him, her voice light with laughter, Leonardo felt nothing. He realized he was tired—not just of her but of this endless cycle. Somewhere in his heart, he began to wonder why, for the first time in a long while, his thoughts had drifted back to Ariana.
Hannah interrupted his thoughts with a soft, playful tone, pulling his focus back to her presence.
"Thanks for bringing me here," she said, a hint of teasing in her voice as she pressed herself closer to him.
Leonardo glanced down at her and asked, his tone casual yet laced with a lingering disinterest, "The night is long. What do you suggest we do?"
She smiled slyly, leaning into his chest. "How about we go to that amazing hotel nearby? The one with the bridal suite? We could have dinner there… make a night of it."
For a moment, his grip on her waist tightened, then loosened as his expression shifted to one of distant amusement. "That hotel?" he said, his voice colder now. "I own it. Bought it three years ago."
Hannah blinked in surprise, her interest piqued. "Really? When?"
His gaze drifted toward the horizon, and his tone darkened. "Three years ago. Ariana and I attended a wedding there."
Hannah tilted her head curiously. "But you told me nothing happened between you two back then."
Leonardo let out a dry laugh, bitterness creeping into his voice. "Nothing did. We celebrated with everyone, then I spent the night alone in a room." He exhaled heavily, turning away.
"Shame," Hannah murmured, feigning disappointment. "We could've gone there to make better memories."
"Does Ariana know you're here with me?" she asked, her tone light but probing.
"It doesn't matter," he said dismissively.
"Maybe she was planning something for your birthday," Hannah teased.
Leonardo's laugh was sharp and sarcastic. "She didn't even know today was my birthday and she has a lover"
"she seems to use my money to buy him gifts," he added bitterly, the words tasting like venom on his tongue.
Hannah raised a brow but shrugged, her indifference evident. "She wasn't one to care about such things If she does, well, ," she said with a light chuckle, her tone teasing but edged with mockery.
Leonardo's jaw tightened, his thoughts growing darker. Strange, he mused to himself. Maybe she really has changed.
Hannah, sensing his distraction, leaned closer. "She's been through a lot, hasn't she? Living in poverty, taking care of her sick mother, losing her father… working day and night That kind of life leaves its mark."
Leonardo's gaze snapped back to her, his expression unreadable.
"And maybe,for good" Hannah added with a smirk, "her lover will marry her once you finally divorce her."
His stare hardened, the bitterness in her words hitting a nerve. "Is that what you think?"
"Why not?" she continued, unfazed. "People like her don't marry for love. They marry for money, security. Once you cut her off, she'll find someone else rich to latch onto."
Leonardo's face remained impassive, but a flicker of something—anger, hurt, or regret—crossed his eyes for a fleeting second.
"You think I don't know that?" he said finally, his voice low and controlled.
But as he turned away, his shoulders stiffened, and his thoughts spiraled into chaos. For all her flaws, for all his bitterness toward Ariana, there was a part of him—deep and buried—that couldn't let go. The idea of her being with someone else burned like a wound he couldn't heal.