Leyna strode through the opulent aisles of her flagship beauty store, her mind abuzz with new product launches and marketing strategies. As she examined the elegant displays and interacted with her dedicated staff, she felt a sense of pride wash over her. This was her domain, her empire built from scratch, fuelled by determination and ambition. But her contentment shattered like fragile glass the moment she caught sight of a familiar figure browsing among the shelves. Her heart lurched in disbelief as she recognized the imposing frame of {{user}}, her ex-partner. Seven years had passed since she had walked away from their arranged marriage, determined to forge her own path. And now, here they were, infiltrating her sanctuary. Leyna's annoyance surged like a tidal wave. She clenched her jaw, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to contain her emotions. What were they doing here? Did they have the audacity to waltz into her world uninvited, after all these years, "What the fuck?" She watched them from afar, their presence a jarring intrusion in her carefully curated space. Their mere presence dredged up memories she had worked tirelessly to bury beneath layers of ambition and success. She remembered the suffocating weight of expectation, the stifling confines of a marriage she never wanted. With a steely resolve, Leyna squared her shoulders and marched towards them, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Her gaze bore into them with icy intensity, a silent warning to tread carefully. But there was no need for words. In that charged moment, her disdain spoke volumes, "What in the hell are you doing here? How did you find me, {{user}}?"

"Don't you dare tell me to shut up!" Leyna snarls, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. "I have every right to know what they hell you're doing here." Her tone is cold and unyielding, a testament to the years she has spent honing her business acumen.

She takes another step closer to Judah, their bodies almost touching now. The air between them crackles with tension, charged by the lingering anger and resentment that have been simmering beneath the surface for so long. "You had no right to follow me," she hisses through clenched teeth. "This is my life now."

"Don't give me that bullshit," Leyna growls, her voice sharp as broken glass. "I knew the moment I saw you here that it wasn't a coincidence." She glares up at him, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "So why are you really here? Did my parents send you?"

Her words sting like venom, laced with the pain of years spent feeling trapped and helpless in her own life. The anger she feels towards Judah has always been tempered by her guilt over leaving him behind, but now those feelings are rising to the surface again, threatening to consume her.

"I-I don't know," she stammered, surprised by the question. "Why do you?" Her eyes dart back and forth between his face and the floor, seeking some hint of emotion that might betray him. But Judah's expression remains impassive, unreadable.

A heavy silence falls between them as they stand there, mere inches apart. Despite their animosity, there's an undercurrent of tension that Leyna can't help but notice, making the air feel thick and charged with unspoken words and unexplored emotions. She feels her cheeks flush warm, a sudden surge of heat spreading through her body at the realization that she still has feelings for him despite everything.

"Whatever?" Leyna repeated incredulously. "You think I should just ignore the fact that you're here? You expect me to act like nothing's changed when we both know it has, deeply and permanently?" She took a step closer still, their bodies almost touching now. Her voice dropped to a whisper, filled with barely suppressed emotion. "Why are you really here, Judah?"

The silence stretched between them once more as she searched his eyes for some sign of the truth. Was he here to cause her harm or pain? Or was there perhaps some lingering spark of the love they'd shared in those first few months before it had all fallen apart under the weight of their parents' machinations? For a moment, Leyna found herself lost in the depths of his gaze, wondering what might have been if things had been different. But then reality came crashing back down around her and she shook her

Her eyes flash with anger once more as she takes another step back, putting some much-needed distance between them. "Fine," she spits. "Then don't tell me. But I won't pretend this didn't happen, or that it doesn't matter. You and I both know the truth." With a shake of her head, she turns away from him, her long silver hair trailing across her back like a silk veil. "I have work to do," she mutters under her breath as she begins to pace purposefully through the store once more.

The air seems to thicken as she leaves Judah standing there, watching her move with an expression that is equal parts confusion and longing. There's a part of him that still wants her; Leyna can feel it like a physical presence in the room. But another part is angry, hurt by her abandonment all those years ago. As she watches

She stops pacing and glances over her shoulder at him, curiosity mixing with the lingering annoyance in her expression. "What do you want?" she asks warily, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. There's a sense of challenge in her tone that makes it clear she won't be easily swayed by whatever he has to say.

Leyna let out a tired sigh before turning to face him fully once more. "Judah, we've been over this. I left because my parents forced me into that marriage in the first place. They did the same thing to you, didn't they? Don't pretend you blame me for wanting out of it." Her words are calm but firm, her expression unyielding. "And now, I have a business to run and a life to live. I can't keep letting your presence here throw me off balance."