Steam curled and drifted lazily around Sophia’s fingertips as she traced patterns in the humid air, watching the translucent wisps twist and fade before her eyes. The hot water lapped gently against her skin, but no amount of heat could chase away the churning flood of emotions that hammered relentlessly in her chest.
Last night’s reckless choice sat heavy on her mind, refusing to be diluted by rationalizations or excuses. How had she let herself be so vulnerable, so reckless? Who in their right mind chooses to sleep with a stranger—a man she had only just met?
And yet, here she was, the ridiculous, heartbroken woman who had done just that.
The word echoed in her mind with stinging clarity: hussy. A label she despised but couldn’t deny. Had she really made it that easy for Cade? Had she really let her guard down so completely?
Yes. Yes, she had.
Her shame was suffocating—an oppressive weight pressing down even as the warm water enveloped her. No bath, no matter how long, could cleanse the tangled mixture of embarrassment, regret, and self-disgust that clung to her.
She wanted to blame the wine, the sparkling bubbles of champagne that had loosened her inhibitions. But the truth was sharper, more painful: Cade’s charm had flattered her wounded pride, stroked her insecurities, and made her feel seen in a way Paul never had.
And that was the cruelest cut of all.
Anger flared, sudden and fierce. Anger at Paul for the cold, brutal way he had ended things; anger at Cade for the fleeting warmth that had left her feeling emptier than before; and a deep, gnawing anger at herself for surrendering so easily.
Paul had shattered her world overnight. One moment, she had been his girlfriend, the next, a stranger discarded without warning. His dismissive words still echoed painfully in her mind—accusations of neediness and predictability, harsh judgments hurled like stones when she had only dared to imagine a shared future.
There was no conversation, no attempt to understand or salvage what they had. He simply appeared at her shop, delivering the verdict with cold finality, and walked away from the life they’d built together.
It was cruel, unnecessary, and utterly devastating.
Looking back, she realized she had missed the warning signs—the hesitation in his voice when she mentioned living together, the guarded distance creeping between them. She had dismissed these as quirks of his adventurous spirit, the wildness that once drew her in—his parachuting stunts, his rock climbing escapades, the adrenaline-fueled highs that always seemed to outrun the steady pace she needed.
But she wasn’t enough for him. Never had been, perhaps.
In the depths of her hurt, a dark thought had tempted her: to wound Paul as he had wounded her. Sleeping with Cade, a man whose attention and desire made her feel alive again, seemed like a way to reclaim some power.
Instead, it only left her feeling more broken.
She had chosen this path, and the burden of that choice weighed heavily. No one had forced her to cross the threshold, to let Cade’s hands unravel the tension coiled tightly within her. She had been hungry for connection, for validation, for a reminder that she was still worthy.
In the light of day, however, the intoxicating allure of the night before dissolved into a bitter aftertaste.
She could have said no. She could have walked away.
But she didn’t.
For one fleeting evening, she had wanted to escape herself, to wear someone else’s skin and forget the ache of loss. Cade, with his sophisticated charm and the unmistakable aura of privilege, had offered her that escape. From the moment their eyes met, she knew he was used to getting what he wanted—a man whose confidence was as sharp as his tailored suits.
And she had been drawn to the challenge.
The more she played along, the more magnetic Cade became in her eyes. His dark brown hair, subtly textured with gentle waves, seemed almost incongruous on such a distinguished man. She had found herself studying his profile in the soft glow of the bar—his lips full and inviting, his strong nose sculpted and proud, his jawline that could have graced glossy magazine covers.
But it was his green eyes that held her captive—the kind of gaze that could ignite fires and unravel defenses. In all the time she had been with Paul, she had never felt that electric pull, that searing intensity that Cade’s stare carried effortlessly.
That was the true seduction.
Cade didn’t just want her; he made her feel coveted in ways she had forgotten were possible. After they had shared that fragile night, he remained close, wrapping her in warmth and tenderness that felt both thrilling and terrifying.
Yet, as soon as he drifted into sleep, the clarity she had been avoiding surged forth. Doubts, fears, insecurities—they all crowded her mind until rest was impossible.
Convinced that Cade would wake to judge her harshly, brand her as the reckless woman she feared she was, she slipped away quietly, retreating from his life before he could truly see her.
The taxi ride home was a blur of shame and exhaustion. Each familiar street felt like a mirror reflecting her fractured self. The hours that followed offered little respite, her restless sleep a thin veil over the turmoil beneath.
Now, submerged in the steaming bath, Sophia sought some semblance of peace. The heat soothed her aching muscles, the water’s embrace a small comfort against the cold judgment she felt from within.
She clung to the thought that Saturday’s bustle would distract her, fill her hours with purpose. Occupying her mind was a shield against the relentless tide of regret.
Because today, she vowed, she would not let herself spiral into the endless loop of 'what ifs' and 'should haves.'
She would not dwell on last night’s mistakes, nor on Paul’s careless betrayal, nor on Cade’s intoxicating but fleeting presence.
For now, his name was nothing more than a bitter whisper on her lips—a reminder of a night that changed everything, but left her unsure of where she stood.