Patrick looked at me like I was a stranger.
I didn't bother with him. I turned and walked away without looking back.
Effie nestled into Patrick's arms, eyes rimmed red.
"What could be so urgent that she had to leave like that? Does she just... hate me that much? Is that why she wouldn't stay?"
Patrick watched my car pull away, a slight frown creasing his brow.
"Don't take it to heart. A few years studying abroad, and she's gotten a little more sophisticated with her jealousy tactics, that's all."
Effie bit her lip. "You're right. She's learned how to play hard to get now. Sometimes I'm scared that one day you might actually..."
Patrick stroked her hair. "I told you. You're the only one I want."
The truth was, I really did have somewhere to be.
A classmate and I had co-founded a tech startup. There was always something that needed handling. Tonight, I had a dinner meeting with a client.
My business partner texted me:
Heard you're back in the country. Got a BIG surprise for you~
I fired off a quick reply and didn't think much of it.
If I'd known what that "surprise" was, I would have told her to cancel it immediately.
I hadn't planned on crossing paths with Patrick again.
But a family elder had a birthday coming up. Our families went way back, so naturally we'd end up at the same party.
When I arrived with a gift in hand, though, what I walked into was no birthday celebration.
It was a proposal.
Patrick was down on one knee.
He spotted me the moment I walked in. The corner of his mouth curled into something mocking.
Then, slowly and deliberately, he slid the diamond ring onto Effie's finger.
"Congratulations!"
My parents were the first to start clapping.
I stared at them, bewildered. "Isn't today Grandpa's birthday?"
"It is! But your grandfather said he wanted to double the celebration."
I frowned. "You were all in that much of a rush to get them engaged? I genuinely thought this was—"
"Ahem." My father cleared his throat. "The reason we kept it from you was precisely because we were afraid you'd ruin it."
"Did you know? Patrick's been appointed national director of Ascend Group."
Ascend?
I froze.
That was the company my partner and I had founded.
"A son-in-law like Patrick doesn't come along every day. Of course we wanted to lock down the engagement as soon as possible. We know you have feelings for him, sweetheart, but you can't force these things. He's never felt that way about you, not in all these years. It's time to let go."
I said nothing.
I lowered my head and texted my partner:
Please tell me the "surprise" isn't Patrick Stephens.
She sent back a sticker of a cartoon face with its tongue out.
We all know you're crazy about him! I personally handled the staffing for the national division. He reports directly to you as director. You two are going to be joined at the hip from now on~ Haha~
I pressed my palm against my forehead.
"Oh my God, isn't that Celeste Simmons? Patrick's little lovesick puppy?"
"No way. It IS her. She actually had the nerve to show up!"
"Look at her face. She looks miserable. I almost feel bad for her. Almost."
The gossip drilled into my skull like a migraine.
I gave up on the party and slipped away to a private room to sort this out with my partner over the phone.
After I'd finished explaining that I no longer had any feelings for Patrick, I opened the door.
A hand shot out and locked around my wrist.
I was yanked into the stairwell.
"Patrick!"
Pain flared through my wrist. He shoved me away from him.
"You saw what happened out there today."
His voice was ice.
I rubbed my aching wrist and stared at him.
"Effie and I are engaged now. It's time you found someone and settled down."
"Settled down?" I let out a cold laugh. "I have no plans to do that anytime soon."
