Without wasting a second, she tapped on the messaging app and went straight to Henry’s pinned chat at the top.
She tapped it, fully prepared to uncover whatever Elisha had been hiding, only for her breath to hitch.
The chat didn’t open. Instead, a security prompt appeared, demanding a separate passcode to access the conversation.
Jasmine stared at the screen in disbelief.
He had locked the chat.
Her fingers began to tremble as anger surged through her.
So he really is hiding something from me.
Desperate to find out what he was hiding, she punched in every combination she could think of, her birthday, his birthday, but none of them worked. She tried again and again, growing more frustrated with every failed attempt. She was too determined to uncover whatever Elisha was hiding to think about anything else.
Completely absorbed in what she was doing, Jasmine failed to notice the sound of the bathroom door opening behind her.
Elisha stepped out, a fresh towel slung low around his waist, water droplets clinging to his broad shoulders. He was halfway across the room toward the walk-in closet when his eyes landed on her.
Jasmine was leaning over the nightstand, her face inches from the screen as she frantically pressed digits.
Elisha crossed the distance in three long strides, his expression darkening instantly.
"Jasmine."
Startled, Jasmine gasped and dropped the phone back onto the mattress as if it had burned her.
Elisha stared down at her, his voice dropping into a dangerous, icy tone. "What the hell are you doing with my phone?"
Jasmine stammered, her eyes darting around. "I—I just... I wanted to..."
Without waiting for an excuse, Elisha snatched the phone off the bed. The screen was still lit, displaying the locked chat with Henry. The blood drained from his face, instantly replaced by white-hot fury.
"After I explicitly warned you, Jasmine?" Elisha’s voice echoed through the room, filled with disbelief and disgust.
"I’m sorry! It was a mistake, I swear—"
"A mistake?" Elisha cut her off, pointing a shaking finger at the screen. "You were actively trying to break into my private chat with my best friend! Why, Jasmine? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I just wanted to see—"
"See what?" Elisha’s voice rose as his anger grew. He stared at her, struggling to believe that she had ignored his warning and gone through his phone anyway. He had given her enough chances, but this was the final line she had crossed.
"That’s it. We’re done." His chest heaved as the final thread of his patience snapped. "I’m done. We’re breaking up, and you need to leave my house tonight."
Jasmine’s face crumpled in horror. She lunged forward and grabbed his arm. "No, Eli, please! Don’t do this! I won’t do it again, I promise—"
Elisha didn’t flinch, nor did he offer a single comforting word. His face was completely devoid of warmth.
"It’s over, Jasmine."
"Eli, please!" Jasmine burst into tears, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face. "Don’t do this to me!"
Elisha refused to look at her tears. He knew how many times those exact tears had made him give in before. He couldn’t let them work on him again.
"Before I come back out of this closet, take your things and leave my house," he said coldly. "I’ve had enough."
Jasmine pleaded even louder, her hands trembling as she grabbed at his clothes. "Eli, please, listen to me—"
Elisha pulled his arm away. He knew that if he stayed in the room for another second, guilt might make him give in again. Worse, keeping Jasmine around any longer risked her exposing him to his family before he was ready.
Without saying another word, he turned and walked straight into the walk-in closet, closing the door firmly behind him.
He refused to look back.
Left alone in the bedroom, Jasmine’s heartbreak quickly turned into bitter anger. She slammed her fists against the edge of the bed, sobbing through her teeth.
"What is so great about him?!" she screamed toward the closed closet door, her voice raw and cracking. "I just want my man to myself! How am I in the wrong? Henry is just a friend! Why are you breaking up with me because of him?!"
She continued pacing around the room, throwing vicious accusations at Henry and blaming him for ruining everything.
Inside the closet, Elisha stood with his back pressed against the wall, listening to her rant. Her bitter words only made him more certain that he had made the right decision. He knew he couldn’t come out, not until she was gone.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of shouting, slamming drawers, and frantic packing, the bedroom door opened.
A moment later, it slammed shut.
Elisha listened as Jasmine’s footsteps faded down the hallway.
Silence finally settled over the room.
He waited for a few more minutes, making sure he couldn’t hear her anymore. When the house remained completely quiet, Elisha slowly opened the closet door and stepped back into the bedroom. It was empty.
Still wanting to be certain she had actually left, he walked over to the intercom near the door and pressed the button to call downstairs.
"Is she gone?" Elisha asked when the head housekeeper answered.
"Yes, sir," the maid replied through the speaker. "Miss Jasmine just left."
A deep wave of relief washed over Elisha. He closed his eyes and slowly exhaled, realizing he had been holding his breath.
Then he remembered one more thing. He needed to make sure Jasmine couldn’t simply return whenever she wanted.
"And listen," he said firmly. "Whether I’m here or not, don’t let her into the house again. If she shows up, tell her I’ve forbidden her from entering."
"Understood, sir," the maid replied.
"Alright."
Elisha ended the call and stood there for a moment, listening to the silence that had finally returned to his room.
For the first time in a long while, he felt like he could breathe.
It was better this way.
Without the suffocating weight of the relationship holding him back, he could finally figure out how to approach Henry properly, not just as his lifelong best friend, but as someone he wanted to build a relationship with.
He knew it wouldn’t be easy. There were still his family, their expectations, and everything he had spent years trying to hide. But he couldn’t keep running from what he truly wanted.
I need to take the risk first, Elisha thought, a determined resolve settling in his chest. Whatever happens with my family after this, I’ll take full responsibility for it. I can’t keep lying to my own heart.
Back at Frank’s hotel room, the soft glow of the bedside lamp cast gentle shadows across the walls.
Raphael and Frank lay side by side on the wide bed. The pleasant, hazy tipsiness from earlier still lingered, but neither of them could seem to fall asleep.
They stared up at the ceiling, leaving a respectful distance between them, even though neither could ignore the quiet awareness of the other.
After a few minutes, Raphael shifted slightly and glanced at Frank.
"Can I hold you while we sleep?" he asked softly. "I’m having a little trouble falling asleep."
Frank turned his head on the pillow, a small smile touching his lips. "Same here."
Raphael hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can I come closer?"
"Yes," Frank whispered.
Raphael slowly moved closer, and Frank did the same, closing the remaining distance between them. Frank settled comfortably against Raphael’s broad chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath his ear.
After a moment, Frank lifted his head and looked up at him.
Their eyes met, and neither spoke. Raphael’s gaze slowly dropped to Frank’s lips before returning to his eyes. The quiet room suddenly felt much smaller, and both became more aware of how close they were.
Raphael swallowed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can I kiss you?"
Frank didn’t answer with words. He simply gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Raphael didn’t rush. He gently cupped the side of Frank’s face, his thumb brushing lightly across his cheek before his lips met Frank’s.
The kiss started soft and hesitant, but as the seconds passed, it slowly deepened. Frank parted his lips, wanting more, and pulled Raphael closer by the lapels of his shirt. Raphael groaned softly into the kiss, responding by holding him tighter, their kiss becoming warmer and more passionate.
But when the moment threatened to go further, Raphael forced himself to pull back. His chest rose and fell as he rested his forehead against Frank’s, his eyes dark with restrained desire. Then he pressed a soft kiss to Frank’s forehead.
"Let’s sleep for tonight," Raphael whispered, his voice slightly strained.
Frank blinked up at him, a flush spreading across his cheeks. His pulse was still racing from the kiss. His gaze dropped briefly to Raphael’s lips before returning to his eyes.
"What if I said I want more?" Frank asked honestly. "Your Highness... you’re a good kisser. I mean it. I want more, and I don’t think I can hold back right now."
Raphael gave him a fond, slightly breathless smile, keeping his hands gently on Frank’s waist. "You’re drunk, Frank."
"No, I’m not," Frank muttered...