Chapter Thirty Two

The sun bathed the small café patio in a warm, golden glow as I sat across from Matt, savoring the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. We were in our little world, lost in each other's company.

It had been a blissful few months since we started dating, and everything seemed perfect. But little did I know that a storm was brewing, waiting to shatter the tranquility.

As I took a sip of my latte, a shadow fell across our table, casting a dark cloud over our idyllic moment. I looked up, my eyes widening in surprise. It was Cecil, Matt's ex-girlfriend. She was a striking woman with raven hair and piercing blue eyes, but there was tension in the air that made me uneasy.

"Cecil?" I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Hello, Ashley," she said, her tone tinged with a hint of disdain. "Mind if I join you?"

Before I could respond, she pulled out a chair and sat down next to Matt, her eyes fixed on him. His expression turned guarded, and I felt a knot forming in the pit of my stomach.