AMANDA

The following day, Nikolai woke me up so that we could return to Hacienda Alejandro. I can't read his expression. He appears serious and as if he doesn't know how to smile.

As I examined Nikolai, I couldn't help but take a deep breath. He's total eye candy-the epitome of a hunk.

I can't help but be amazed at how he carried himself. He's dressed in a white fitted shirt that hugs his muscular frame and faded rugged pants. His hair has been brushed up. He appears to be in good health, and it comes as no surprise that he is a handsome man.

And I'm sure that if it hadn't been for my intense annoyance with him, I would have been one of those women who shamelessly sought his attention.

"Let's eat breakfast before we go back to Hacienda Alejandro," he said.

I gave him a nod. "There isn't any need. I want to go home," I replied.

Nikolai's brows drew together into a single line. "You despise being with me that much?"

What he said caught me off guard. That was not my intention when I said it. He misinterprets it.

"No, I mean... I don't eat breakfast. I only eat at lunch and dinner, and sometimes at midnight," I explained.

In response to what I said, his brow furrowed once more. "What? Don't you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? It's fine if you don't eat much at lunch, but you should eat something at breakfast."

I shook my head. "Perhaps that is true for other people, but not applicable for me,"

"And why not?"

"Come on, Nikolai. I make a living as a model. I need to maintain my figure, and I can't gain a lot of weight," I reasoned.

He shook his head, and his expression didn't seem to agree with what I said. "I'm also not sure why you have to starve yourself to keep your job. Does your modeling career more important than your health?"

My pupils dilated. "You're exaggerating, Nikolai. I'm in good health. I am concerned with my own well-being. I'm not going to starve myself,"

Nikolai examined me thoroughly from head to toe. "Do you consider yourself to be in good health? You're thin. You need to gain some weight," he advised.

I raised a brow at him. "I'm not thin. I'm slim. Petite. I also have a quick metabolism. I'm having trouble gaining weight. What are you now, Nikolai? A nutritionist?" I asked him sarcastically.

He stuffed two palms into his pant pocket. "I prefer a woman who isn't too thin and has a little weight," he said.

He's starting to grate on my nerves once more. I'm not sure why Nikolai always manages to irritate me! He gave me the impression that I'm malnourished. And what difference does it make if he prefers a curvier woman than me? I don't even need his advice!

In annoyance, I clenched my teeth. I had no idea, but when it came to Nikolai, I lost my cool quickly.

I'm not the type to lose patience easily, but when it comes to Nikolai, we haven't even talked for ten minutes, and we can't stop arguing. I had done nothing wrong, in his opinion. Everything about me has piqued his interest.

Nikolai hasn't changed since then. "Tsk! As if I gave a damn. Your taste in women is something I don't care about. What you want is something I respect. But that doesn't mean you want it; it just means you expect other women to become like that too. I have my beauty," I explained, my teeth clenched.

He raised a corner of his lip as if he'd gotten what he wanted from me. To irritate me. He didn't immediately respond. Instead, he is accompanying me out of the inn.

I looked around, embarrassed, scanning my surroundings unconsciously. Maybe someone will notice that I'm leaving the inn with a man. It's difficult to have to deal with a problem in the near future. Someone may recognize me, and I will undoubtedly become a social media topic once more.

Even when I'm hanging out with a friend, the media shows the public that I have relationships with them.

Nikolai had noticed how I was looking around. I saw his face darkening. "Are you worried that someone will notice you leaving the motel with me?" His expression is so dangerous to the point where I can no longer read his emotions.

He snagged me off guard. I couldn't understand what Nikolai was saying. "Huh?"

"You're embarrassed to be here with me," he said, his pupils constricted.

When it finally dawned on me what he was trying to imply, I gulped hard. But I'm sick of having to explain myself to him. We may argue with one another repeatedly and harshly again.

I walked past him and came to a halt in front of his car. I didn't even bother waiting for him to open the car door for me.

For what?

As he watched my actions, Nikolai's face darkened once more.

Why is Amanda so difficult to reach? In Nikolai's thought.

During the ride, we don't say anything to each other. We were surrounded by silence. Nikolai's gaze was fixed on the road, while my gaze was drawn to the window.

Our province is truly beautiful, in my opinion. This is a clean environment free of stress and pollution. However, this is not my home. I only needed a brief respite from the city's problems.

"You're space out. Do you miss your boyfriend already?" Nikolai asked.

I drew my lips apart. Boyfriend!

Gregory and I are no longer together! That liar! I stated in my mind.

I don't want Nikolai to know what's been going on in my life. He'll be happy when he sees me in pain. He might even tease me and say that I deserve this pain. I'm familiar with him from head to toe.

"Yeah, I really missed him," I said, intending to irritate him. I didn't bother to tell him that Gregory and I were no longer together.