As soon as he shed his black coat, he crossed the room and pulled me into his arms, the cake box in his other hand.
I instinctively pushed him away, the sharp scent of expensive perfume hitting me like a slap.
Confusion flickering across his face, his eyes fell on the empty dining table.
“The food’s cold. I thought you’d already eaten out, so I tossed it.”
It took him a moment to process before he placed the cake on the table and nuzzled my cheek.
“Sorry, Eliana, I couldn’t return for your birthday.”
Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gift box. Inside, nestled in velvet, was a dazzling necklace that shimmered like stardust.
He smiled at me, that familiar glint in his eyes. “Do you like it? I saw it on a business trip to England. I thought of you the moment I saw it; it seemed made for you.”
At that moment, I had no strength left to argue, to question, or even to care. I had no right to do any of it anymore.
Let him do whatever he pleased. It didn’t matter.
So, with a flat tone, I simply said, “I like it.”
He seemed oblivious to the coldness in my voice. Gently, he brushed my hair aside, his fingers warm as he began fastening the necklace around my neck.
As he fastened the necklace, a sudden thought struck him, and he spoke, “Don’t let the trending searches get to you. Delilah and I grew up together. After all these years, she’s like a little sister to me.”
His flimsy excuse hit me like a cold breeze, filling me with nothing but disdain and disappointment. I was left momentarily speechless.
Like a sister? The way they had embraced in those photos, intimate, even tender, didn’t look like anything siblings would share.
Even now, he still thought I was naïve. Did he really think he could have it both ways?
But I couldn’t bring myself to challenge him. I simply nodded, the movement stiff and automatic, and muttered, “Hmm.”
His gaze then landed on my suitcase, and a flicker of confusion crossed his face.
“Why’s your suitcase out? Are you leaving?”
I hesitated, almost instinctively wanting to lie, “It’s just nothing, I just…”
But before I could say anything, his phone rang urgently.
He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting in an instant. Without a moment’s hesitation, he answered the call.
A few seconds later, he tossed a quick, “I have something to take care of. Go to bed first,” grabbed his coat, and rushed out the door, not sparing a second glance.
Watching his figure disappear down the hallway, an unexpected wave of relief washed over me.
Good. He was gone. Now I could finish packing in peace.
With quiet determination, I packed my clothes into the suitcase, each item slipping into place like pieces of a puzzle. As I folded them, memories of our time together flickered in my mind, playing out like a silent movie.
Before long, exhaustion crept in. My body, tired from the physical strain, felt heavier with every movement. The weight of my broken heart threatened to pull me under, leaving me hollow, as though my very soul had been drained.
Dragging my feet, I stumbled toward the bathroom to wash away the remnants of the day.
Just as I was about to lie down, the buzz of my phone on the bedside table jolted me awake.
My heart skipped a beat.
Fearing it was something work-related, I summoned every ounce of energy to move. With effort, I pried my eyes open and reached for my phone.
A friend request notification flashed on the screen.
When I saw “Delilah” appear, my hand stilled.
By all logic, she was my rival; I should’ve declined immediately.
But something pulled at me, some unseen force that had me clicking “Accept” before I even realized it.
Almost instantly, a video appeared in the chat window.
