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My heart skips a beat, anxiety starting to claw its way up my throat.

He crawls back into bed, next to me, and gives me my phone. “Here, check yours.”

Leaning my head on his shoulder, I unlock the screen. My notifications are chaos—missed calls from Liam, Zayn, Kai, and a few messages from Thalia. I open my chat with her and see there’s a link attached to one of the messages.

Thalia: Ser, is he kissing you or are my eyes betraying me? *loosing my mind here*

Thalia: Oh, this is so good. These photos are insane.

Thalia: Is this real, or was it only to confirm your “fake” engagement?

Thalia: I want all the details. CALL ME!

I tap the link, and it opens to an article filled with at least fifteen photos—us at lunch, walking around his neighborhood, holding hands, laughing… kissing like two people who were never going to get enough of each other.

The headline screams—

London Scandal? Nick Hardy Caught Kissing Mystery Woman in Broad Daylight—Who Is She?

Nick Hardy—billionaire heartthrob, hockey star and the man who’s graced more than a few fantasies—has just shattered hearts across the globe.

Earlier today, the notorious playboy was spotted in London, looking very cozy with a gorgeous brunette. The two weren’t just grabbing coffee or strolling like old friends—they were laughing, whispering, and yes, kissing in plain sight. They even spent over half an hour in a quaint bookstore before leaving with a bag full of books, only to continue their PDA-filled walk through the city streets.

So, who is she?

Rumors are flying that the mystery woman might be none other than Sierra Thomas—heiress, business mogul and childhood friend of the Hardy family. Though neither party has confirmed her identity, social media is already on fire with side-by-side comparisons and theories.

What fuels the speculation even more is the fact that Nick Hardy and Sierra Thomas were attending The Hockey Excellence Gala together just last night. While the woman seen with him today wore sunglasses and a baseball cap, making it hard to confirm her identity, fans are convinced it’s the same person—Sierra—especially given the close timeline of events.

Are the rumors true? Is this the end of Nick Hardy’s bachelor era and the beginning of something much more serious? Until we know for sure, one thing remains certain—every woman who’s ever dreamed of being the one to tame Nick Hardy is currently nursing a broken heart.

#NickHardy and #SierraThomas were trending within the hour, with reactions pouring in.

| “Nick Hardy is kissing someone that isn’t me? Jail.”—@hockeywife

| “They’ve known each other for years. Of course they are secretly in love. I’m not shocked, I’m obsessed.”—@gossipinlondon

| “I had plans. Marriage plans. With Nick. This is unacceptable.”—@futuremrsHardy

Whether this is a whirlwind romance or the reveal of a long-hidden love story, one thing is sure—Nick Hardy might just be off the market.

But let’s see if they last.

Stay tuned—we’ll be watching.

“God,” Nick mutters. “We look so good together.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “That’s what you have to say?” I lightly punch his arm. “Nick, my brothers and parents have seen these photos. That’s why we’ve got a thousand missed calls and messages from them.”

I bury my face in my hands, sighing. I’m not mad. If anything, I’m really happy the world knows—or at least assumes—that Nick is taken. But the idea of Liam and Zayn seeing this before hearing it from me makes my stomach twist.

He pulls me closer, kissing my forehead gently.

“Ser, we don’t have missed calls or messages from our parents. It was their idea for us to get married. What could they say? What could they expect?”

Nick presses his back on the headboard, pulling me with him.

“I’m sorry this is how Liam’s finding out about us. I really did want to talk to him in person. But I guess it’s out of our hands now.”