Two weeks later...

Libia reflected on what had happened the night before. It had been like a date—Lison-style, of course, which meant twisted and strange. The young woman checked her phone, and just as she suspected, there was a message from Tiodor, saying he was heading back to São Paulo but wanted to see her before he left. Her chest tightened. The man had proven to be quite unstable, and maybe a week ago, she could have walked away and acted as if nothing had happened. But now, she felt like he had seeped into every pore of her body. It was no longer just about sex. Being with him was complicated, but staying away felt like real torture. They didn’t have a real relationship; the closest term would be "bedmates." For her foolish heart, that was enough. He wasn’t romantic, and after being together, he always reiterated his plans for revenge, yet despite it all, that fluttering in her stomach remained.

With trembling hands, she picked up her phone again, this time dialing his number.