Chapter 177

• Standing in the doorway was the same stranger who had intervened in the altercation with Jackson at the restaurant. He smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I've been trying to call you, but I guess you already left. You dropped your purse at the restaurant, so I thought I'd return it to you."
• Mia's eyes widened as she took in the familiar purse in his hand. "Oh, thank you so much!" she exclaimed, her voice a little breathless.
• Just then, her mother appeared behind her. "Mia, who's at the door?" she asked, and then her eyes landed on the stranger. "Oh, thank you so much for returning our daughter's purse. We really appreciate it."