Eren didn’t plan to spend the night drinking himself into a stupor, but after another grueling day of meetings and his father’s cutting remarks about his performance as CEO, he needed an escape. The high-class bar he frequented offered him solitude, a strong drink, and a dimly lit ambiance to match his mood.

Sitting at the counter, he stared blankly into his whiskey glass, the amber liquid swirling lazily as he turned the glass in his hand. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, sweet yet intoxicating scent that cut through the heavy aroma of alcohol and smoke. Curious, he glanced sideways and saw her—a woman who looked around his age.

She was stunning, but there was something more than her beauty that caught his attention. Her posture, the tired look in her eyes, the way she exhaled as if the weight of the world had been pressing on her shoulders—she looked like she didn’t belong here, just like him.

When she turned her head slightly, their eyes met. Neither of them looked away. It wasn’t awkward; it felt like an unspoken understanding passed between them. After a few seconds, Eren broke the silence.

“Rough day?” he asked, his voice low but steady.

She tilted her head, her lips curling into a faint smile. “You too?”

Eren chuckled softly, his gaze turning back to his glass, swirling the ice in his glass. “Adulthood.”

For the first time in months, Eren felt something shift—a spark of connection that reminded him he wasn’t as alone in this struggle as he thought.