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Weeks had passed since Adaliya's last visit to Nathaniel's penthouse. Though neither of them had wanted to part ways that morning after breakfast, life had other plans. Adaliya had classes, projects, and work, while Nathaniel was still tied to his responsibilities at the family business, along with the lingering recovery from his broken ankle.

Despite the distance, they'd made it work. Their relationship had shifted into something resembling long-distance dating, but it was better than either of them expected. Facetime calls, late-night texting, and sending each other random updates throughout the day had become a routine—one that they both secretly cherished.

That morning, Adaliya was sitting in class, taking notes on her laptop, when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She quickly glanced around, making sure the professor's back was turned before pulling it out. A message from Nathaniel. She smiled instantly, unlocking the screen to see a picture of his ankle, free from its cast, taken at the hospital earlier that morning.

Nathaniel: Finally free! Look at this beauty.

The picture showed his bare ankle, still looking a bit stiff but no longer confined by the cast. Adaliya had been eagerly waiting for this day as much as he had. She stifled a giggle, typing a quick response.

Adaliya: Haha, wow. Look at those delicate little ankles. I'm impressed they survived.

Nathaniel: Delicate? You're kidding, right?

Her shoulders shook with silent laughter, and the girl next to her gave her a curious look. Adaliya bit her lip to keep from laughing aloud. Delicate definitely wasn't the word Nathaniel wanted associated with him.

Adaliya: Delicate in the best way. 😘

She could picture his face right now, the slight frown he always made when she teased him, and she quickly slid her phone back into her bag before the professor could catch her.

As the lecture continued, Adaliya focused on her notes, but it wasn't long before she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned her head to find Brian, one of her classmates, leaning over with a smirk.

"Hey, Adaliya," he whispered, his voice low so the professor wouldn't hear. "I was wondering if you're free later? There's this great café off campus—maybe we could grab a coffee."

Adaliya blinked, taken off guard. "Oh, um, I've got work after this, actually. Sorry."

Brian shrugged, though the smile didn't leave his face. "Another time, then?"

She smiled politely, nodding before turning back to her notes, completely unaware of the hopeful glance Brian shot her. She didn't see the way his friends elbowed him, exchanging knowing grins. Adaliya was oblivious, as usual. She had always been like that—unaware of the attention she got from men. Even at work, it wasn't uncommon for her to have a customer or a co-worker linger a bit too long or try to start up unnecessary conversations.

But to her, they were just being nice. In her mind, they were friendly interactions, nothing more.

Later that afternoon, as her shift at work came to an end, one of her co-workers—David—approached her with a wide grin. "So, Adaliya," he began, leaning casually against the counter, "any chance you're free this weekend? There's this new bar opening up, and I thought we could check it out."

Adaliya gave him a polite smile, shaking her head. "I've got a lot of studying to do this weekend. I'm trying to get ahead on my assignments."

David raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise. "You? Studying on the weekend? Come on, you've got to take a break sometime."

Adaliya laughed lightly, grabbing her bag. "Yeah, maybe another time. Have a good night, David."

As she walked away, she didn't notice the disappointed look on his face or the subtle glances from other guys at work. To her, it was just another day. She was more focused on finishing her shift and getting back home to Facetime Nathaniel before bed.

Meanwhile, across the city, Nathaniel sat in a sleek restaurant, enjoying a rare lunch break with his cousin Violet. She had invited herself, as usual, eager to catch up with him after weeks of teasing him about his "mysterious girlfriend." Nathaniel knew she was fishing for details about Adaliya, and though he tried to keep things private, Violet had a way of getting him to spill more than he intended.

"So," Violet began, stirring her iced tea with a smirk, "how's the long-distance thing going? You two still sending cute texts and staying up all night on the phone?"

Nathaniel rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face. "It's going well. We've been managing. Texting, Facetiming... the usual stuff."

"Oh, how romantic," Violet teased, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Next thing you know, you'll be writing love letters like some lovesick puppy."

The playful grin on Nathaniel's face faltered for a second, and his mind flashed back to a memory he thought he had buried. He could almost hear his father's voice, sharp and filled with disdain, calling him a "lovesick fool" years ago, ridiculing him for showing interest in someone who wasn't part of their circle, someone his father deemed unworthy.

His jaw tightened for a moment as the memory resurfaced. His father had always belittled him for being vulnerable, for allowing himself to feel something real. It was one of the many ways Edward Donovan had exerted control over his life. And now, as much as Nathaniel tried to shake it off, the sting of his words still lingered.

Violet's laughter pulled him back to the present, and he forced a chuckle, trying to brush it off. "Very funny," he replied, raising an eyebrow. "You're just jealous because I've actually found someone who can tolerate me."

Violet let out a laugh. "You're right about that. Someone's got to. I'm surprised she hasn't run for the hills yet."

Nathaniel frowned slightly, not liking the insinuation. "She's not like that. Adaliya's... different. She's not interested in my money or the family business."

"Uh-huh," Violet said, resting her chin on her hand, looking at him with a knowing gaze. "So, tell me, how long before you mess it up? You're pretty good at that."

Nathaniel sighed, shaking his head. "You know, I thought lunch would be a nice break from work. I didn't come here to get roasted by my cousin."

Violet grinned mischievously. "What else are cousins for? Besides, I'm just looking out for you, Nate. If she's as great as you say, I just hope you don't screw it up."

Nathaniel shifted in his seat, taking a bite of his salad to avoid responding immediately. He knew Violet was joking—mostly—but there was a part of him that couldn't help but worry. What if he did mess it up? What if the long-distance thing got harder? What if Adaliya realized she was better off without him?

"You're overthinking again, aren't you?" Violet asked, watching his face. "Relax, Nathaniel. If she's stuck around this long, I don't think you've got anything to worry about."

He looked up at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Maybe you're right."

"I usually am," Violet replied smugly. "Now, tell me more about how you two are making this long-distance thing work. Or are you going to make me guess?"

Nathaniel chuckled, shaking his head. "We text. We Facetime. It's not easy, but it works."

Violet leaned back in her chair, smirking. "You're so soft now. Who would have thought Nathaniel Donovan would turn into a lovesick fool?"

Nathaniel shot her a playful glare, but his face flushed slightly. "I'm not lovesick."

"Sure," she teased. "Keep telling yourself that."

As the waiter cleared their plates, Nathaniel couldn't help but think about how lucky he was to have Adaliya in his life, even from a distance. Despite the teasing, Violet was right about one thing—he didn't want to mess this up. Not with her.

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