A New Bedfellow

Before boarding the plane, I told Florence everything. When she heard about my situation, she waved it off and organized a party for me.She invited all our old friends, saying it was to welcome me and chase away the bad luck. We were in high spirits, enjoying ourselves, when suddenly the door swung open.A sharp scream echoed through the room."Woah, it's Ambrose Steele!""Oh my god, it really is Ambrose!""Quick, pinch me—am I dreaming?"Ambrose chuckled and said, "I was just next door for a business meeting. Heard you were having a party, so I thought I'd drop by and join the fun."His face held a gentle and refined smile, but his gaze landed in a corner of the room. Coincidentally, Florence and I were sitting in that exact corner.Our eyes met briefly, and I quickly looked down, feeling somewhat flustered.Florence leaned in close to my ear, and she whispered in a teasing tone, "Mabes, do you think he's here because of you?"I must have been a little drunk because, for

I was completely exhausted from his relentless passion. My body was soft and weak, yet he didn't seem finished. Even my nails left red marks down his back."Ambrose...""Mabes, did it feel good this time?" he asked.His question instantly made my face flush with embarrassment, but it was clear he wouldn't let me go until I answered.In the end, I finally gave in, and replied through tears, "Y-Yes, it felt good..."…Time flew by, and Ayla's birthday arrived.She was the only person in Swelgan who had shown me genuine care. So, I bought her the best gift I could find and sent it to her.That evening, Ralph noticed the gift in Ayla's hands, and his expression turned stormy."Give it to me," he demanded.Startled by his sudden outburst, Ayla froze for a moment before quickly handing him the gift. Ralph stared at the couple's watches inside the box, lost in thought for a long while."Get rid of this eyesore," he finally muttered coldly.Just as everyone sighed in relief, Ralph

Since that night, it was as if Ambrose had vanished from my world. I didn't look for him, nor did I leave Suttonville.What I didn't know was that Ambrose hadn't gone far. He had booked a room in the hotel across from mine. He stared out the window at the lights, lost in thought.He didn't need much time to calm down. Just knowing that I was in the hotel across the street—close enough to see me if he wanted—eased the ache in his heart.The sadness quickly faded, replaced by a tender concern for me.It was only natural that I wouldn't want to jump into a new relationship right after a breakup. He had always known, from the time I was with Ralph, that his feelings for me were something he would have to bury.That was why he had tried going on blind dates. But none of them worked out. No matter how anxious his family became, he eventually stopped trying altogether.If it hadn't been for me coming to Suttonville, if he hadn't skipped that business meeting that night, or if I hadn't i

Without me by his side, Ralph probably felt like something was missing. No one was there to care for him when his stomach hurt. No one fussed over him when he got injured.He might've been surrounded by beautiful women, but I knew his mind was full of my image.Ralph must've thought that when I returned this time, he would give me a title, something to keep me tied to him forever.He was likely planning to propose, believing that I would stay with him by doing so, never leaving his side again.But his thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Seeing Ayla's name on the screen, he probably felt an odd tension."Ralph, you need to stay calm," Ayla likely started nervously."What's wrong? Did something happen to Mabel?""N-No, it's not that!" Ayla stammered."Then speak!""Mabes… She's with Ambrose Steele now," Ayla finally admitted, though it must've been difficult for her to say.Everyone in their circle knew that back when Ralph was pursuing me, he had fought Ambr