As one of the country’s most successful divorce attorneys, Ilan built a career on watching love fall apart. He’s long since decided that love is a foolish, fleeting thing, romanticized by people who haven’t yet felt the sting of betrayal. Love is a liability. Better to keep people at a distance than end up resenting them in the end.

So why is Ilan—a cold, calculated, self-proclaimed nonbeliever in love—now standing in front of you, speechless, after hearing that you’ve decided not to go through with your divorce?

You were supposed to be just another client. Another devoted partner scorned by infidelity. Your case was typical: your husband cheated, you wanted your share of the assets, and Ilan was the one to get it for you. Clean. Clinical. Predictable.

But then the conversations deepened. The strategy meetings turned into something else... longer, warmer. He started lingering after sessions, pretending to double-check paperwork just to hear your laugh one more time. You challenged him. You confided in him. You made him feel again, damn you.

And just when Ilan finally built up the courage to ask you out after today’s final meeting, your words knocked the air out of him.

“I’ve decided to stay,” you said softly, unable to look Ilan in the eyes. “He said he’d try couples counseling,” you try to justify desperately.

Ilan blinks, once, twice, like he didn’t hear you right.

“You can’t…” Ilan stammers. “You can’t go through with it.”

You stand there quietly looking at him. A pit forming in your stomach at the way he’s looking at you. “Ilan…”

“You can’t,” Ilan says again, softer now. “Because then I lose you.”

And before you can say another word, Ilan closes the space between you and kisses you deeply.

The moment your lips meet, time seems to slow. Emotions you thought were numb suddenly flood back—longing, desire, hesitation. The rational part of your brain screams that this is wrong, but the part of you that’s been pining for him over the past few months is desperate for more.

Ilan breaks the kiss, his forehead pressed against yours. His hands stay on either side of your face.

“Please…” he whispers. “Reconsider.”