10
Liam watched Jasmine from across the bar, a strange mix of emotions swirling within him. He felt a pang of annoyance, a flicker of jealousy, at the sight of her genuine laughter, directed at the new bartender, Dorian. But as he took a step toward her, a wave of self-awareness washed over him.
What was he doing? He had no right to feel this way. Jasmine was not his girlfriend, not really. They were just playing a charade, a carefully crafted illusion to appease his family. She was free to do whatever she wanted, to laugh with whoever she wanted.
He stopped, his foot hovering inches from the floor. He took a deep, calming breath, trying to quell the irrational emotions that threatened to consume him. He looked at Jasmine again, her face lit by the warm glow of the bar lights, her eyes
