Chonky Potato

Gilbert's tall figure towered over Tatiana's smaller frame, casting a cold shadow over her. His icy voice and threatening glare made Tatiana realize something she didn't want to believe.

Without backing down, she narrowed her eyes and asked just as coldly, "So, is it true?"

For what felt like an eternity, Gilbert remained silent. But his silence said enough. Tatiana felt as though his dark, burning eyes could set her on fire.

At last, he slowly parted his lips. He still seemed to be thinking about how to answer before finally saying in an almost whispering voice, "That is none of your business."

Tatiana wanted to smile but held it back. It wasn't a smile of victory. Although she knew she had touched a nerve, she was hurting just as much.

Avery's words echoed in her mind as she remembered the day her husband had returned from his business trip.

'Does this mean Gilbert has been visiting hostess bars all these years, too?'

The thought alone made her shiver with disgust.

Suddenly, the image of her husband, her childhood friend, and the person she had always trusted began to change. The man standing before her now seemed like a complete stranger.

Gilbert's next words brought her back to reality.

"I don't know how or what you managed to find out, but this is personal. Such matters should never go beyond the relationship because they can hurt more than just the people involved. I suggest you stop getting involved in gossip, Tatiana. I've always thought you were better than that. Unlike your idle friends."

Tatiana clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms. Gilbert had always known how to make her feel as though she was the one at fault.

But she had never let him get to her before. This time, however, he had gone too far.

"The news has already reached the public media, Gilbert. This isn't just some private gossip. Your pictures are already in the hands of reporters. You should be thanking me that my 'idle' friends managed to stop them from being plastered all over the internet."

She wanted to leave it at that, but she was too hurt to hold back.

"It wasn't me. Many men in our circle visit those places. Your friends do, too. Perhaps someone recognized her."

Gilbert's lips curled into an annoyed grin, but his nervousness was clear. Their conversation had turned into an exchange of words meant to hurt each other.

He sighed.

"No matter how jealous you are, you should know your limits."

His words made Tatiana finally realize something important—she wasn't jealous. But that didn't mean she wasn't hurt.

Imitating his grin, she replied, "I would have been jealous if I were in love with you, Gilbert. Fortunately, that's not the case."

Trying to compose herself, she adjusted her hair and clothes before adding, "I suggest you handle the rumors yourself. Don't drag me into this anymore. This time, it's your reputation that's on the line."

Tatiana could no longer bear to look at her husband's face. She was grateful that her remark left him speechless and took it as the perfect moment to leave.

She started walking without even knowing where she was going; the tears welling in her eyes blurred her vision. She hadn't cried in years—she simply had no reason to. But now, she couldn't control it.

Fearing that someone might witness her broken state, Tatiana rushed into her bedroom and locked the door.

Once inside her safe space, her legs gave way, and she slid down to the floor, covering her hot face with both hands.

She couldn't understand why she was so hurt. Perhaps she was jealous. Perhaps she loved Gilbert after all. Or maybe she was simply scared. Everything was changing so rapidly, and she couldn't keep up.

Suddenly, she felt a short vibration from inside the pocket of her jacket. Tatiana reached in and realized she had been carrying that old mobile phone with her all this time.

Wiping her eyes with her free hand, she noticed a little blue envelope icon on the small screen, indicating an unread text message.

At first, she wasn't sure what to do. She had agreed to keep the phone safe, but that didn't mean she had the right to go through its messages or calls.

However, her curiosity got the better of her, and she pressed the button to open the message.

To her surprise, the text was addressed to her.

"Thank you for agreeing to keep this phone. As I thought, you are the kindest woman in the world.

By the way, since you accepted the flowers, I assume you like them. I will try to send you flowers as often as I can, both as a token of my appreciation and because I feel they might cheer you up and make your day a little better.

Thank you again,

“Your clumsy neighbor who still insists he's not a drinker."

Tatiana couldn't stop herself from releasing a light chuckle. She still found the situation with the phone a bit strange. Even though the number that sent the message was private, the person behind it was a guest at her hotel, so she could easily discover his identity.

At the same time, she had to admit that letting him remain anonymous added a touch of thrill and mystery to the situation.

It was something new and fascinating. The clichéd romantic comedy was beginning to seem rather entertaining now.

Still smiling, Tatiana decided to reply and see where it would take her.

"I will keep the phone safe for now, but the flowers are not really necessary. If you want to express your gratitude, perhaps you could just tell me your name or the name you would like me to call you."

The response didn't take long. When Tatiana opened the message, she burst into uncontrollable laughter—something she hadn't done in years too.

"You can call me Chonky Potato."

Her laughter echoed in the room, filling the space with a joy she had almost forgotten.