Luis' POV
Luis leaned back slightly in his chair, hiding the small smile threatening to spread across his face.
Kevin was trying so hard.
Too hard.
Luis watched the way Kevin kept reaching for Mia's glass whenever it was half empty, how he asked if she wanted more rice, more soup, more of the roasted vegetables Mrs. Alps had prepared. The attention was almost exaggerated.
It was like watching an actor overperform a role.
Luis almost laughed.
He's really trying to look like the perfect boyfriend.
Kevin even pulled Mia's chair slightly closer to the table earlier, his hand briefly brushing her shoulder as if claiming territory.
Luis caught the tight look Kevin gave him after that.
It only made Luis more amused.
If Mia's parents weren't here, Luis thought, Kevin might have already punched me.
The idea was ridiculous—and yet not entirely impossible.
Kevin clearly hated the way Mia talked to him so naturally. The easy familiarity between them wasn't something Kevin could fake or compete with.
Luis lifted his glass of water, hiding the grin behind it.
Across the table, Mia was laughing at something her mother said, unaware of the silent tension stretching between the two men.
Kevin glanced at Luis again.
Sharp.
Suspicious.
Luis simply raised an eyebrow.
Kevin looked away first.
Point for me.
Just as Luis was enjoying the moment, his phone vibrated inside his pocket.
He checked the screen.
Pablo.
Luis sighed quietly and stood up.
"Excuse me for a moment."
He stepped outside onto the porch before answering.
"Yeah?"
Pablo's voice came immediately. "Sir Luis, don't tell me you forgot tomorrow's schedule."
Luis rubbed his temple.
"I didn't forget."
"You canceled everything today," Pablo continued, sounding mildly irritated. "So all those meetings are stacked tomorrow morning."
Luis remembered.
Unfortunately.
"Right," Luis said. "Send me the updated schedule."
"Already did," Pablo replied. "You're starting at eight. Investors, contractors, and the land acquisition meeting."
Luis exhaled slowly.
"That's fine."
"Try not to disappear again tomorrow."
Luis chuckled quietly.
"No promises."
He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
As he stepped inside the house again, voices drifted from the dining room.
Mia's voice.
"I'm actually really tired," she was saying. "I think I'll sleep early tonight."
Kevin responded quickly.
"That makes sense. You must be exhausted."
Luis paused near the hallway, unseen.
Kevin continued, "The trip earlier wasn't exactly comfortable. The roads there are rough."
Luis frowned slightly.
But Mia laughed softly.
"It wasn't that bad," she said. "I actually enjoyed it."
Kevin sounded surprised.
"You did?"
"Yeah," Mia replied. "The area is good. Once we start planning the design, it'll look even better."
Luis felt a quiet spark of satisfaction in his chest.
So she liked the land.
Good.
Because the bunkers planned beneath it would change everything.
He stepped into the room again, leaning casually against the doorway.
"Well," Luis said lightly, "if Mia's going to sleep early, I should probably head out too."
Mrs. Alps immediately stood up.
"Oh wait, Luis!"
She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two small boxes.
"Take these with you."
Luis tilted his head. "What's this?"
"Pies," she said proudly. "I baked them this afternoon."
She handed one to Luis and another to Kevin.
Kevin forced a polite smile.
"Thank you, Mrs. Alps."
Luis accepted the box.
"Thank you for dinner," he said sincerely. "Everything was delicious."
Mrs. Alps beamed.
"You should come more often."
Luis glanced briefly at Kevin.
"Maybe I will."
Kevin's jaw tightened.
Luis walked toward the door, stopping in front of Mia.
"Good night," he said.
"Good night," Mia replied.
Then he nodded respectfully toward her parents.
"Mr. Alps. Mrs. Alps."
They waved him off warmly.
Luis stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against his face.
He walked to his car, still carrying the pie box.
As he drove away, one thought lingered in his mind.
Kevin was trying too hard.
And people who tried too hard were usually hiding something.
Luis smirked slightly.
Let's see how long you can keep pretending.
Mia's POV
Mia stood near the doorway, watching Luis's car disappear down the road.
In his hands was the pie her mother insisted he bring home.
She sighed quietly.
She was exhausted.
But the dinner had been… entertaining.
The tension between Kevin and Luis had been impossible to miss.
Luis had clearly enjoyed provoking Kevin.
And Kevin…
Kevin had been trying too hard to look like the perfect boyfriend.
Mia frowned slightly.
Why was Luis acting like that?
He had always been calm, teasing at times, but tonight felt different.
More deliberate.
More provoking.
But Mia shook the thought away.
She was too tired to think deeply about it.
Behind her, her parents stood up from the table.
"Well," her father said, stretching slightly, "we'll head to bed too."
Her mother smiled knowingly.
"You two should talk."
Kevin straightened immediately.
"Yes… actually."
Mia internally groaned.
Her parents walked upstairs, clearly giving them privacy.
The living room suddenly felt much quieter.
Kevin waited until the footsteps above disappeared before speaking.
"I didn't realize you and Luis were that close."
Mia blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Kevin leaned back slightly, folding his arms.
"I knew your families were friends," he said carefully. "But I didn't expect… that level of familiarity."
Mia stared at him.
Kevin's tone sounded casual.
But something beneath it was sharp.
Jealous.
"You're overthinking it," Mia said.
Kevin laughed softly.
"Am I?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"You two seem very comfortable with each other."
Mia's patience was running out.
She was tired.
And the conversation felt pointless.
"I'm really exhausted, Kevin," she said bluntly.
"We can talk tomorrow."
Kevin's expression darkened slightly.
"But.."
"Tomorrow," Mia repeated.
Kevin stood up slowly.
His jaw was tight.
"Alright."
The word came out stiff.
Without another word, he walked toward the door.
Mia didn't follow.
She didn't even move.
Kevin paused briefly, clearly expecting her to come after him.
But when she didn't, he left.
The door closed.
Mia leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes.
She was too tired to deal with Kevin's mood tonight.
Tomorrow was another day.
Kevin's POV
Kevin walked toward his car slowly.
His mind was racing.
He had expected Mia to follow him outside.
To stop him.
To apologize.
But she didn't.
She stayed inside.
Kevin clenched his jaw as he opened the car door.
She didn't even try.
That wasn't like Mia.
She used to chase after him whenever he looked upset.
Tonight she didn't even care.
Kevin sat inside the car, gripping the steering wheel.
Something had changed.
He could feel it.
Mia wasn't acting the same anymore.
And then another thought surfaced.
Chelsea's voice echoed in his mind.
"Are you sure Mia doesn't suspect anything?"
At the time, Kevin dismissed it.
But now…
Kevin frowned deeply.
Chelsea had always been observant.
Too observant.
And Mia…
Mia had been watching him differently these past few days.
Calmer.
Quieter.
Less emotional.
Kevin started the engine.
The headlights illuminated the empty road ahead.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Did she find out something?
His chest felt cold at the thought.
If Mia knew—
Kevin immediately shook his head.
No.
Impossible.
There was no way she could know.
Unless…
Kevin's mind flashed back to dinner.
Luis.
The way Luis watched him.
The way Luis kept provoking him.
Kevin's eyes narrowed.
And suddenly the unease in his chest deepened.
Because for the first time,
Kevin felt like he wasn't the one in control anymore.