Kaia’s eyes flew open in disbelief.

Not just because the man who kissed her was Kaelan Vaughn, but because of that kiss, which had felt so achingly familiar.

Could two people be so alike that even the way they kissed was the same?

Her thoughts were a tangled mess.

Before she could sort them out, Kaelan’s icy gaze bore down on her. "What are you doing here?"

His indifferent voice was laced with a drunken rasp.

In that instant, Kaia understood. Kaelan Vaughn had been waiting for another woman.

Her heart clenched. She couldn't tell if it was bitterness or disappointment. She lowered her eyes and explained, "Someone called me and said Julian was drunk, and told me to pick him up from room 3602."

"He already went home."

Tossing that line out, Kaelan turned and walked toward the king-sized bed, as calm as if kissing the wrong person was no big deal at all.

Kaia couldn't stand to be there another second. She pulled the door open, ready to flee.

But in the moment she looked up, she clearly saw a bright red mole on his left shoulder blade—

In the exact same spot, her Ky had one too.

Time seemed to slow down, stretching a single second into an eternity.

Kaia’s breath caught. A chill spread from the soles of her feet through her entire body, leaving her frozen, unable to move.

"Kaelan Vaughn!" She called out his name on instinct.

Kaelan turned to look at her, his eyes holding a hint of casual flirtation. "What? Want to stay and continue?"

In an instant, all the words Kaia wanted to say were choked back down her throat.

She turned and fled in a panic.

She didn't know how she got home.

Kaia sat on the sofa in her rental, unable to stop thinking about the red mole on Kaelan's back.

If a man could hold his own in the treacherous, dog-eat-dog world of business, what was so difficult about pretending to be someone else?

Kaelan Vaughn and her Ky had to be the same person, right?

But if they were, why did he leave her five years ago? And why, after they met again, did he refuse to admit it?

Kaia couldn't figure it out.

Just then, her phone rang again.

When she answered, Julian's still slightly drunk voice came through. "Sorry, Kaia. Kaelan saw how wasted I was and had someone send me home first. I just found out you went to get me. Sorry you made the trip for nothing."

Kaia paused. "It was Kaelan who had you sent home?"

Julian, oblivious, replied, "Yeah, why? What's up?"

"Nothing…" Kaia lowered her eyelashes.

Kaelan had sent Julian home, but stayed in room 3602 himself. Was he really waiting for someone else, or… was he deliberately waiting for her?

She had no answer.

But she wanted one.

Kaia took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Julian, I’ve quit my job. I bought a ticket to leave New York tonight."

"It's just that I took on that case for Vaughn Corp a few days ago. Now that I’m suddenly resigning, could you apologize to Kaelan Vaughn for me? I hope he doesn't take it out on the firm because of me."

Hearing this, Julian realized what was happening. "You're not planning on coming back?"

Kaia didn't answer, but her silence was the answer.

After a moment of silence, Julian sighed. "I understand."

"I'll pass on your apology to Kaelan."

"Thanks." Kaia clutched her phone tightly. "You've helped me so much over the years in New York. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

Julian seemed to let out a bitter laugh. "Don't mention it. Just take care of yourself from now on. That's all the repayment I need."

"Get some rest. I have some other things to do, so I won't see you off."

"Okay," Kaia whispered before hanging up.

She stared at the heavy snow falling outside her window, a tangled web of thoughts pricking at her nerves.

Another sleepless night.

When morning came, Kaia went to the bathroom to wash up.

Then, she pulled a chair into the middle of the living room and stared, unblinking, at the front door, waiting for the answer she so desperately needed.

Based on what she'd told Julian yesterday, Kaia was taking a gamble, betting that *he* would show up.

As the sun climbed to its peak, a set of soft but steady footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Then came the sound of a key being inserted into the lock and turning.

Kaia's heart began to pound violently.

The next second, the door swung open—

The man who walked in wore a high-end, custom-made overcoat that was completely out of place here. In his hand was a simple key ring, from which hung a small, yellowed teddy bear.

Kaia recognized that bear. It was one of a matching pair of keychains she and Kaelan had. Hers was a little rabbit.

Kaia's hands clenched into fists. Her gaze slowly traveled up to the man's devastatingly familiar face, and tears instantly filled her eyes.

Fighting them back, she looked at the clearly shocked Kaelan Vaughn and said—

"Mr. Vaughn, we meet again."