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Tears began to fall as she sniffled, whispering to herself, "Just go to him, tell him how much I love him, and he’ll throw money at me to make me shut up. But now, where am I going to get that kind of money? Is this really the end of this... whatever we have?"
Her lips curled into a pout as she whispered in absolute devastation, "My money... my ATM machine. Oh no."
Ellie was so consumed by her spiraling thoughts that she didn’t notice when Sawyer stepped out of the bathroom. His hair still damp, the towel slung loosely over his shoulder. Ellie, lost in her thoughts, was startled when she turned and saw him.
“I’m leaving for the office,” he announced, grabbing his phone from the side table without a second glance.
Ellie quickly wiped her face with her palms, pulling herself together. Without a word, she hurried to the closet, her hands trembling slightly as she pulled out a neatly pressed shirt and trousers. She walked over and handed the clothes to him like she did every morning.
"Here," she said softly.
Sawyer took the clothes absentmindedly, his gaze wandering to her face. He paused when he saw reddened eyes and tear-streaked cheeks.
He frowned, his hand reaching up to brush away a stray tear.
“Tonight, don’t drink too much,” Ellie blurted out, grabbing his hand. Her voice wavered with concern. “Otherwise, you’ll get a stomachache again, and I’ll end up worrying about you."
Sawyer froze at her words, his brow furrowing in confusion. His thumb gently brushed against her cheek, wiping away the lingering wetness. He stared at her, both puzzled and oddly touched. ‘She's crying because she can't stand the thought of me in pain? This stupid girl,’ he thought with a mix of exasperation and something else he couldn’t quite name.
He let out a soft sigh. "I got it. Don’t worry so much. I won’t drink tonight, okay? Stop crying," he said gently, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it.
His words, paired with the tender way he stroked her face, left Ellie speechless. Her chest tightened as she stared up at him, caught off guard by the sudden softness in his eyes. There was genuine concern in his eyes, and the warmth in his voice sent an ache through her heart.
‘Narcissist Stark looks so damn attractive when he’s gentle,’ Ellie thought, her heart skipping a beat.
"I’m leaving now," he said, his hand lingering on her face for a moment longer before stepping back. "You should go take a bath too."
He turned to leave but stopped at the door, glancing back at her one last time. She was furiously wiping her face with her palms, as if trying to erase any trace of her tears. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“This mad girl loves me way too fucking much,” he muttered under his breath with a slight shake of head before stepping out.
Meanwhile, as the door was shutting behind him, Ellie was groaning, her hands rubbing to her cheeks. "God damn it! My face is all wet!" she grumbled, grabbing a tissue and dabbing at her cheeks.
"Why the hell did I cry like that just because I’m going to lose money after we break up? It’s not like I hadn’t expected it. It was going to happen one day or another," she mumbled, patting her chest and pacing around the room. “We were bound to break it off sooner or later. It just... happened earlier than I expected. No big deal.”
She paused in front of the mirror, fluffing up her hair and patting her cheeks. Her pout deepened as she thought of Sawyer with Olivia. And then her chest tightened.
She spun around, her expression lightening. "Now that Narcissist Stark is out of the house, what am I going to do all day? Since his lover’s back, he’s definitely not coming home tonight."
Suddenly, with the thought, her eyes lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
Just then, Ada popped her head into the room. "Ms. Ellie, SNS has left for the office."
"Thanks, Ada!" Ellie chirped, smiling sweetly.
As soon as Ada left, Ellie threw her arms up in the air and let out a squeal. "What else is there to do?!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her feet. "SNS is out all night, so I’m staying out all night too! It’s gonna be a party!"
***
"Welcome to the Machoman Inn, my princess," a ridiculously attractive, shirtless man greeted Ellie at the entrance of the restaurant. His abs gleamed under the soft lights, and his smile was as dazzling as a toothpaste commercial.
Ellie beamed at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Thank you very much!” she chirped, strutting inside like she’d entered paradise.
The moment she stepped in, her eyes widened, and her jaw practically dropped.
The restaurant was like a fantasy come to life—a dreamland crafted exclusively for women. Shirtless, chiseled men were everywhere: serving drinks at the bar, carrying trays, even cooking food at a live cooking station. The chef, who looked like he’d stepped straight out of a romance novel cover, was skillfully flipping a steak, his muscular arms flexing with every movement.
Ellie gasped, her hands flying to her face as she gazed around with starry, dreamy eyes. “So this is what heaven looks like,” she breathed in awe.