Christina’s POV
Daniel and I had just walked out of the hotel ballroom when he suddenly stopped on the sidewalk, staring at his phone with wide eyes.
"Christina, look! Rowan got caught by paparazzi again. This ti they actually got a clear shot of the guy’s face. It’s the CEO of LGH!"
My stomach dropped. "What did you just say?"
He shoved the screen in front of . "This photo. Sa guy from before. I knew it. No way they’re just friends."
I stared at the image. There was Hudson in perfect focus, caught from the front like he’d been looking straight at the cara, his face unreadable, mid-step.
He wasn’t even standing close to Rowan.
Nothing about the photo looked scandalous.
But I couldn’t look away.
"When was this taken?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"About half an hour ago."
I recognized the restaurant right away—The Corner Table.
Last ti, I’d brushed it off because Rowan didn’t seem to get anything out of it.
But now...
Hudson went to hundreds of dinners with people way more famous than her.
He’d never been photographed like this before.
But with her, twice in one week?
Daniel was scrolling through comnts, eyes lit up with excitent, reading out loud.
"People are losing their minds. They’re saying they look perfect together. That they’re secretly engaged. That she only ca back to marry him."
I didn’t think Hudson was lying when he told there was nothing between him and Rowan.
But the longer I stared at that photo, the tighter the knot in my chest got.
"He wouldn’t lie to us, would he?" Akira whispered in my mind.
"No, he wouldn’t," I told her, though doubt was creeping in.
"Can I borrow your phone? I need to call soone," I asked Daniel.
Daniel looked up. "Sure. Who do you need to call?"
I tried to rember Hudson’s number but ca up blank.
"Shit," I muttered. Nobody morized phone numbers anymore.
"Never mind."
Daniel went back to his screen while I ntally cursed myself.
I didn’t have my laptop.
No tablet either.
And without my phone, I couldn’t even check the news.
I looked up at the night sky. The moon hung thin and bright above us, like it was mocking .
"What ti is it?" I asked.
"A little after ten," he said without looking up.
"It’s that late already?" I groaned.
The event organizers said they’d get a replacent phone tomorrow if I didn’t mind an older model, but that was hours away.
I couldn’t wait that long.
Hudson must have tried calling. Probably over and over.
He’d be going crazy by now.
"He’ll think sothing happened to us, "Akira whined.
"Can you check if there’s anywhere around here selling phones?" I asked Daniel.
He stopped walking and tapped his screen. "Everything’s closed."
"What about online? Maybe express delivery?"
"Let check."
He opened a shopping app, but his face told everything before he spoke.
He turned the screen toward . "Earliest is tomorrow morning. You’ll get one before noon for sure. Just wait for the organizers."
That should’ve been fine. Really.
But it wasn’t.
One night felt like forever.
I needed Hudson to know I was okay.
Even a quick text would work.
"Can you check the delivery apps? Maybe one of them sells phones."
Daniel hesitated, then opened another app.
I leaned in to see the screen.
"That one delivers!" I pointed. "Order it!"
The listing showed delivery tis—orders before eleven would arrive in thirty minutes.
It was already past ten-thirty.
Daniel let out a low whistle. "Now I see why they still have stock."
"Why?"
"You sure you want this one?"
"It’s the only option left."
"Yeah, but do you really want it right now?"
I tapped my foot. "What’s the problem?"
"It’s twelve hundred bucks."
"I saw the price. Just get it before the deadline."
He rubbed his neck, looking uncomfortable. "Thing is... I’m tapped out. Already blew my paycheck. I don’t have the cash."
"You don’t have twelve hundred dollars?"
He looked embarrassed. "Not right now. My cards are maxed."
"I can—" I reached for my wallet, then stopped. "Shit!"
I’d gone completely digital months ago.
I only carried cash for tips or snacks.
Everything else was on my lost phone.
All locked behind fingerprint or passcode.
Nobody could spend a di without breaking in.
But neither could I.
"Damn," I muttered, then perked up. "Call Priya. Ask her to lend you the money."
"Priya probably doesn’t have that much," he said quietly.
"Are you crazy? She does. She’s cheap as hell with herself, always bringing lunch and walking everywhere. She hoards money. Twelve hundred won’t break her. Just call."
"She’s probably sleeping."
"Then text and see. If she’s up, call her. I’ll talk to her."
It was ten-forty.
Eleven was the cutoff.
After that, no phone tonight.
My heart was racing, anxiety climbing.
Daniel typed: [You awake?]
We stood there staring at his screen.
The display went dark.
Nothing.
"She’s probably passed out," he said. "She told she’s in bed by ten every night."
I sighed, deflated. "Fine. We’ll try tomorrow."
We started walking back to the hotel. We’d barely gone ten steps when his phone buzzed.
"Your phone," I said. "Check if it’s her."
He unlocked it.
ssage from Priya.
I saw her profile picture pop up.
"Perfect." I poked his arm. "Call her. I’ll talk."
He hesitated but hit the call button.
It rang once before she answered.
"Priya? You got a minute?"
"Christina? Yeah, what’s going on?"
"I lost my phone," I said quickly. "No clue where. I’ve got nothing—no cards, no cash, can’t buy a new one right now—"
"I’ll send Daniel the money," she cut off. "Get one tonight."
"Yes, thank you. You’re amazing. I’ll pay you back as soon as I get ho."
"Don’t worry about it," she said.
I was about to hang up when I rembered sothing important. "Wait, do you have Ysolde’s number?" Since I was in Sunset City, I wasn’t sure if the distance was too far, but when I tried to mind-link Ysolde, she didn’t respond.
"I do."
"Tell her my phone’s missing. Ask her to text Hudson. Just let her know I’m fine, and I’ll call once I get a new phone."
"Got it. Leave it to ."
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