That night Alexander drove Emily home again.
The city was quiet.
Streetlights reflected across the wet pavement.
Emily looked at him carefully.
"You always protect me."
Alexander kept his eyes on the road.
"I protect what belongs to my company."
Emily rolled her eyes.
"You're terrible at emotional conversations."
Alexander chuckled quietly.
"That's true."
The car stopped outside her apartment building.
Emily didn't get out immediately.
Instead she turned toward him.
"About last night…"
Alexander finally looked at her.
"Yes?"
Emily hesitated.
"Was that… a mistake?"
Alexander didn't answer right away.
Then he said calmly,
"Do you regret it?"
Emily thought for a moment.
Then she shook her head.
"No."
Alexander's expression softened.
"Then it wasn't a mistake."
Emily smiled slightly.
But both of them understood something now.
The contract relationship was no longer just acting.
Because somewhere between fake dates, scandals, and stolen kisses…
Something real had begun.
And that made everything much more complicated.