Chapter 71

Mirabelle’s POV

I had researched enough to know that this was where he liked to spend his afternoons these days.

Rumors of his drinking problem had been circulating for weeks, and if I was honest with myself, I would have chosen this bar precisely because I knew there was a chance of running into him.

A voice in my head whispered that maybe, deep down, I’d hoped to see him here. That I would come looking for a distraction. But I shoved the thought aside, choosing to believe that this was all just a coincidence.

I arched an eyebrow at him, trying to feign surprise. “Ken. What a... coincidence.”

His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes as he took the seat beside me. “What brings you here, Mirabelle?”

I shrugged, glancing back down at my phone. “I could ask you the same.”

Ken chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in the sound. “I guess you still haven’t sorted out your issue with Noah, have you?”

I shot him a sharp look. “We’re goo