Dune Walton stared at the reflection in the bathroom mirror, wondering how the vibrant woman she once was had faded into a ghost t of her former self. At twenty-three, she should have been bursting with life and excitement, yet here she was, staring at a face she barely recognized. Her marriage to Dylan Amane had started off like a fairy tale, complete with candlelit dinners and whispered sweet nothings, but three years later, it felt more like a routine a series of obligatory exchanges rather than the passionate romance it had promised to be.

"Are you ready, love?" Dylan's voice pulled her from her reverie. He stood in the doorway, his handsome face framed by tousled hair, but the spark in his eyes had long since dimmed. Today, he was heading to Russia for a business trip, one of those big corporate deals that made him CEO of his own thriving marketing agency. It was an exciting opportunity, but for Dune, it felt like just another excuse for him to be away. "Yeah, just finishing up," she replied, plastering a smile on her face. As he rushed out, Dune couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that settled in her stomach. What was supposed to be a break from their dull routine had turned into yet another departure, a reminder of the distance that had grown between them.

With Dylan gone, Dune found herself alone in their sprawling home. The silence was deafening, and for a moment, she considered calling Echo Hermes, her best friend and confidante. Echo, a vibrant spirit married to the notorious mafia leader Axton Wertheimer, always had a way of bringing color back into her gray world. But Echo was busy; she had a high-stakes life filled with drama, and Dune didn't want to burden her with the weight of her mundane existence.

Instead, she decided to distract herself by focusing on her upcoming trip to Thailand, where she had landed a position at one of the country's most prestigious hospitals. It was an exciting opportunity for a gynecologist, a chance to broaden her horizons and shake things up. Perhaps this was the change she needed to reignite the spark in her life.

When she finally arrived in Thailand, Dune was overwhelmed by the vibrant culture and. the warmth of the people. The hospital was buzzing with energy, and for the first time. in years, she felt a flicker of excitement. On her first day, she met Jordan Al-Nahyan, a charming surgeon with an easy smile and a knack for making her laugh. They hit it off immediately, bonding over their shared love of medicine and humor. Jordan was a breath of fresh air, a stark contrast to the stifling routine she had been living in. As the days turned into weeks, Dune found herself immersed in her work, laughing more, and slowly forgetting the loneliness that had haunted her. She also grew close to Briar Mars, an oncologist whose intelligence and wit drew Dune in like a moth to a flame. Their friendship blossomed, and soon they were inseparable, sharing stories and late-night talks over ice cream

"Have you ever thought about what you really want?" Briar asked one night as they lounged on the hospital roof, overlooking the glittering city below. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over everything. Dune contemplated the question, feeling the weight of her reality pressing down on her.

"I want to be happy," she finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't even know what that looks like any more."

Briar nudged her playfully. "You need to get out more. Have some fun! You're in Thailand, for heaven's sake. Go find some adventure!" The idea sounded tempting, yet

daunting. How could she go on an adventure when her heart was still tethered to Dylan? But adventure was exactly what she got when Briar convinced her to hit the local bar. "You need to let loose, Dune. Just one night of fun. You owe it to yourself!" With some hesitation, Dune agreed. After all, what could it hurt?

As the night wore on, fueled by laughter and cocktails, Dune felt a sense of liberation. wash over her. She danced, laughed, and forgot the world outside those walls. And then, in a moment of reckless abandon, she found herself sharing a drink with Rhett Arnault, the enigmatic CEO of the Arnault music industry. His charm was intoxicating, and as they chatted, she felt something she hadn't in years-a spark.

The night spiraled into a blur of laughter, music, and whispered secrets. Dune found herself leaning closer to Rhett, their chemistry electric. And just like that, the walls she had built around her heart began to crumble. When the clock struck midnight, Dune had crossed a line she never intended to.

The next morning, regret washed over her like a cold wave. What had she done? As she replayed the events of the night, she felt a pang of guilt thinking about Dylan. He was still her husband, wasn't he? But deep down, she knew their marriage was more of a mirage than a reality. And yet, as Rhett reached out to her with a playful grin, she couldn't help but wonder if this was the adventure Briar had promised.