Her Mistakes

w still, and the world resumed rhythm. Lisa tightened the straps on her travel bag and glanced at her quie

signments, and long hours at the library,

ings, motivational quotes, reminders to eat, even late-night calls just to hear her voice

he would ask

" Lisa would reply with a smi

utines. Yet, Lisa seemed to have followed Johnson home in spirit. His frien

nd groaned over lunch. "Lisa is perf

ery soon. She's something

ideo-chatted, he would pull

the famous Lisa!

come on. What ha

e a goddess

Johnson," another

ike part of his circle, even from afar. But still, there was a part of

ohnson in person. No more phone calls. No more virtual affection

he was ready to visit, the r

ce cracked with excitement. "B

t so generous, Lisa blinked at the screen in disbelief, money for tra

wondered. Could Johnson be the final stop

te lecturer, Dr. Adebayo. They joked about school politics and goss

weekend?" he asked. "That's where

idea how much that helps. It's my first

You'll be fine. Let's

in the passenger seat of Dr. Adebayo's sedan, her heart drumming in rhythm with

verton's city lights,

got

ng the driver now. Wait

ck Lamborghini pulled up outside the café where D

ed and smiling. "Miss Lisa?

t like royalty. The city blurred past her in streaks of neon

on tucked within a private estate she was greeted wi

riends shouted as the

. She was no longer just a name or a face o

er letting her glass empty, alway

ome," he s

nned and the music faded, Johnson

all the guest rooms are full. Wo

ted for jus

Cross my heart," he said, ra

"Okay. Jus

ories, playing music from each other's pla

smell of fresh pastries, br

d little pancakes stacked like art pieces. There were shopping ba

phone in hand, capturing

sunshine. Did y

caught in the dream.

Only the b

rming. Every hour with him deepened t

hile she was dre

e is not who

ooked around the room

e and told herself

d message cam

ething. Get out

tightened. Who was sending these? A

it b

, generous, and warm. But the timing was eerie. Her first time a

she t

only make him cleverer with his lies. But if it was a jealous gi

d stay silent. Ob

the rooftop of his mansion. There were fairy lights, a

ir. "To us," he toast

ind was spinning. Who

dreams, and her fears. He seemed genuine. Yet something i

been in love?

wistfully. "Once. But

head. "And how d

the first time, something flic

t. But I'm willi

ouldn't sleep. Her

ing something. Don't

nds trembled. She looked over

atching me? Wh

o breakfast in bed. Johnson was gone w

room and found one of hi

ng," she sa

mile was strai

nk so.

d in. "Just... be careful, L

heart d

do you

said too much. Jus

one on the inside was warning her. But were t

n and uncover the truth? Or was she already in too

longer just a romantic getaway; it had bec

ad a choic