Miranda hung up the phone, feeling a strange sense of unease. Who would be so insistent on remembering a room number, especially 2307? Life had a funny way of throwing coincidences at her. Just as she was lost in thought, there was a knock at the door. “Who is it?” she called out, her voice cautious. She wasn’t about to take any chances in a foreign country. A familiar voice answered from the other side, laced with playful exasperation. “It’s me, Jackson. Your incredibly handsome, unbeatable best friend.” Miranda couldn’t help but laugh. She walked to the door and opened it. Jackson poked his head in, glancing around theatrically, even taking an exaggerated sniff of the air. “What are you looking for, Mr. Detective?” she asked, amused by his antics. “Just making sure you’re not hiding any other guys in here,” Jackson quipped as he plopped down on her couch. “Man, I’m exhausted.” “What have you been up to?” Miranda asked, raising an eyebrow. “I was out getting Chinese food,” he replied, crossing his legs and letting his foot bounce impatiently. “Taking family on vacation is such a hassle. I ordered room service for Bert, but he couldn’t stand the smell. I had to trek halfway across town to find some decent Chinese food for him.” Miranda felt a pang of guilt. “I’m so sorry. That was my responsibility. How much was the food? I’ll pay you back.” She reached for her wallet, but Jackson quickly grabbed her hand to stop her. “There’s no need for that,” he said, waving her off. “We’re friends, and it’s just a meal. I can handle it.” Under his palm, her soft hand felt delicate. Miranda had always had fair skin, and after years of studying and not having to do any heavy work, her hands had become even smoother. Jackson found himself subconsciously squeezing her hand a little tighter, but she pulled it away before he could react. “Even family keeps accounts,” she insisted, pulling out some cash and placing it beside him. “I don’t know how much it was, but this should cover it. By the way, where did you buy it? I’ll get it next time.”Jackson hesitated for a moment, feeling slightly awkward. He tossed the money back at her. “Why are you giving me money? Do you think I’m broke?” “It’s not about being broke. My uncle wanted Chinese food, and you went out of your way. It’s only fair I pay.” Jackson laughed, though there was a hint of frustration behind it. “Miranda, do you know how much your prize was?” “Ten thousand euros. Why?” “That’s barely enough to buy a tire for one of my cars. You don’t need to be so formal with me.” “It’s not about formality,” Miranda replied, standing her ground. “It’s about principles. I’m making my own money now. I can’t take advantage of you.” Without thinking, Jackson blurted out, “What if I don’t mind you taking advantage of me?” Both of them froze. The phrase “taking advantage” carried a double meaning, and they both knew it. Miranda’s face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly tried to laugh it off. “Jackson, you sure know how to joke.” Jackson’s voice turned serious, a strange mix of bitterness and resignation. “I’m not just good at joking. I’m good at a lot of things.” “I know, I know,” Miranda teased, trying to ease the tension. “You’re the world-famous car designer, and of course, incredibly handsome.” His expression softened a little, but deep down, he knew she didn’t truly see him. Not in the way he wished she would. To her, he was just a friend. Beyond that? She had never even considered it. Jackson let out a hollow chuckle, feeling defeated. How many times had he been in this position with her? He was completely hooked, and yet, he couldn’t let go. “What are you planning to do tomorrow?” he asked, trying to change the subject. “I was thinking about taking my uncle on a guided tour of Rome. What do you think?” Jackson frowned. “A tour group? Where did you hear about that? From the hotel?” “No, I met a guide in the lobby. She’s leading a group of tourists.” “Sounds like a scam,” Jackson muttered.“I don’t think he’s a scammer,” Miranda said thoughtfully. “He’s probably just trying to make some extra money by adding more people to the group. Besides, it might be more convenient, and we’d get a more in-depth history of the city.” “History?” Jackson scoffed. “Those guides just make stuff up. If you really want a proper tour of Rome, I’ll take you. I know the city inside and out. I’ll give you the real deal, no fluff.” Miranda looked at him in surprise. “You know that much about Rome?” “Of course! Do you think I only know about cars?” Jackson replied, puffing his chest in mock offense. “But never mind that. I’ll plan everything out for you. It’ll be way better than some tourist trap.” Miranda hesitated. She didn’t want to take up more of his time. Jackson had already done so much for her over the years. If it weren’t for him, she might have never survived her mother’s death. She owed him a lot. Gratitude, guilt, friendship—yes, all of that. But her heart had grown cold long ago. She wasn’t sure it could ever thaw again. “No, it’s fine,” she said, forcing a smile. “You have your own work to focus on. I can’t ask you to waste time on us. Besides, my uncle gets nervous around strangers. It’ll be easier if it’s just me and him.” Jackson cut her off. “Is it your uncle who’s nervous, or is it you?” Miranda’s mouth fell open, stunned by his bluntness. She had never expected him to be so direct. Jackson ran his hands through his hair in frustration, finally fed up with pretending. “You know what, Miranda? I can’t keep calling you that. You’ll always be Miranda to everyone else, but to me, you’ll always be Emily. And you know exactly how I feel about you, don’t you? You’ve been pretending you don’t, but I’m not blind. I’m not stupid. You want me to back off, don’t you? You think if you ignore it, I’ll eventually get the message and leave you alone.” “Jackson…” “No, let me finish. I’ve kept this bottled up for too long, and I’m not shutting up until I get this off my chest.” He stood up, hands on his hips, his sleeves rolled up.