Part 3The Balcony Next Door: Trading My Ex for the Billionaire Heir

Not only did the rain not stop, it started pouring harder.

My phone was completely dead.

Preston's mansion was in an exclusive, gated community in the suburbs.

In the middle of the night, it was impossible to get an Uber out here.

Preston had changed. Before, he would never treat me like this. Even if we were fighting, he would still make sure I got home safe.

I debated internally over and over: should I go ring his doorbell and swallow my pride to beg him to let me stay for one night?

To be honest, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I don't know how much time passed, but suddenly, a blinding light cut through the dark.

A sleek Ferrari pulled into the garage of the mansion where I was taking shelter.

I followed the car into the garage, hoping to borrow his phone to call an Uber.

The man who stepped out of the car looked to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven. He was incredibly handsome.

I had actually seen him a few times before. He was Preston's neighbor, Roman Sterling.

Sometimes, when I stayed the night at Preston's, I could see Roman's garden and balcony from ours.

In the mornings, he would water the plants in his garden and then sit on his balcony drinking coffee.

My impression of him was that he was noble and highly disciplined.

Roman saw me standing there, completely soaked, and paused in surprise. "Why aren't you going to your boyfriend's house to get out of the rain?"

"He changed the passcode on the lock," I said dejectedly. "We broke up."

Roman looked up at the balcony of Preston's bedroom and blurted out, "But weren't you two just last night..."

He seemed to realize something and quickly stopped himself.

My face flushed bright red.

He was right. Just last night, Preston and I were making out on that balcony.

In the heat of the moment, he had even said to me, "Should we try it out here on the balcony?"

I blushed. "No, the neighbors might see..."

"Mhm, then let's go inside." Preston had carried me into the house.

Had Roman seen us?

This was incredibly awkward.

I said bitterly, "He has a new girlfriend."

"That fast?" Roman looked thoughtful. "Do you want to come inside my house first? You can dry your clothes, and I'll drive you back in the morning."

I hesitated for a moment.

It was the middle of the night, and I lived forty minutes away. Having him drive me back in this weather was asking too much.

Besides, even if I borrowed his phone to call a cab, it wouldn't be safe.

I nodded. "Okay, thank you."