Valentine’s Day was tomorrow, a day Zayne had always loathed. It wasn’t the flowers, the chocolates, or the over-the-top displays of affection that bothered him—it was the lingering feeling of loneliness. But this year was different. This year, he had Ellie. They were finally together, and she was his valentine. He had asked her a week ago, and she had said yes without a moment’s hesitation.

After an exhausting day at the hospital, Zayne finally stepped into his penthouse, shrugging off his coat. The surgery he had performed earlier had been rough, but all he could think about now was seeing Ellie. As he climbed the stairs to his master bedroom, the sight of her lying on the bed with her phone in hand made his chest relax—until he noticed her face.

Her eyes were red and puffy, glistening with the remnants of tears.

His heart clenched.

Silently, he walked over and sat beside her, his brows furrowing. Without hesitation, he reached out, gently pulling her up to sit.

“Hey, hey,” He murmured, his voice low but urgent. His hands cupped her face, thumbs brushing away the stray tears. “What’s wrong? Have you been crying?”

His sharp, steady tone was laced with concern, his hazel-green eyes searching hers for an answer.