Chapter 30

“Why do you always have to bring that up?” He snapped back, his patience wearing thin. “I’m trying to make this work, but you’re constantly blaming me for everything! I can’t live like this.”

Sarah crossed her arms defiantly. “Maybe if you weren’t so obsessed with your ex-wife, we wouldn’t have these problems! You think I don’t see the way you look at her? You think I don’t know you still care?”

Ethan’s heart sank. “I don’t care about her like that anymore. I chose you, Sarah. I fought for you. But it feels like I’m always the one being punished for it.”

As Sarah stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her, Ethan felt a wave of confusion wash over him. The silence that followed was deafening, and his thoughts drifted to Lily. She had always been so calm and submissive, never demanding anything from him, always there with a caring smile. In contrast, Sarah's fiery temperament often left him feeling drained and frustrated.

He remembered how Lily used to support him without hesitation, her gentle nature providing a soothing balm to his chaotic life. She had never raised her voice, never made ultimatums. Instead, she had been the one who listened, who understood, and who cared deeply, even when he hadn’t fully appreciated it.

Now, in the aftermath of their argument, Ethan found himself questioning everything. Had he truly made the right decision in leaving Lily for someone who challenged him at every turn? The memories of Lily’s unwavering calmness and serene smile flooded his thoughts, leaving him feeling more lost than ever.

Ethan sank deeper into the couch, feeling the weight of his regrets settle around him. He had fought so hard to be with Sarah, but now he wondered if he had traded away the peace and love that Lily had offered for a fleeting thrill. The thought gnawed at him, leaving him in a state of turmoil as he grappled with the consequences of his choices.

****

The next morning, Lily woke up feeling miserable. A cold had settled in overnight, leaving her sneezing uncontrollably and with a nose that was red and puffy. She shuffled out of bed, the sound of rain pattering against the window only adding to her sense of dread. Mia noticed her condition immediately.

“Lily, you really should stay home today,” Mia urged, concern etched on her face. “You look awful! You can’t go to the office like this.”

“I can’t, Mia,” Lily replied, her voice hoarse. “I have deadlines to meet, and I can’t let my team down. I’ll be fine once I get some fresh air.” She sniffled, wiping her nose with a tissue as she began to get ready. Despite her condition, she was determined to finish her work.

After a struggle with her makeup and a few extra layers of clothing to combat the chill, Lily finally felt somewhat presentable, even if she was still sneezing intermittently. She grabbed her bag and met Mia at the door, who was still shaking her head in disapproval.

As they stepped out of their apartment, the cool, damp air hit them, and Lily shivered slightly. Just then, their landlord, Mr. Wilson, approached them with his usual warm smile. “Good morning, ladies,” he greeted, his voice friendly and inviting.

“Good morning, Mr. Wilson!” they replied in unison, forcing smiles despite their discomfort.

“I saw a man last night standing on the street and staring at your house,” Mr. Wilson continued, his brow furrowing with concern. “I tried to call you, but no one picked up. I just wanted to check if you need any help.”

Lily and Mia exchanged confused glances. “We’re fine, Mr. Wilson,” Mia assured him, though a slight unease crept into her voice. “But who was the man?”

“I’m not sure, just someone I didn’t recognize,” he said, his expression still serious. “If you notice anything strange, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

They both nodded, but the urgency of getting to work pushed the conversation aside. “We’ll figure it out later,” Lily said, brushing off the concern as they hurried down the street, the rain starting to fall more heavily.

Once they reached the office, Lily focused on her tasks, determined to finish everything before the CEO arrived. She worked diligently, her mind racing through the reports and accounts she needed to finalize. Despite her cold, she pushed through, fueled by a sense of responsibility.

As the clock ticked closer to the CEO’s arrival, she completed her work and took a moment to gather the necessary files. After a quick glance at the clock, she made her way to Lewis’s office, her heart pounding slightly as she approached his door.

She knocked softly, and after a brief pause, she heard his cold voice from inside. “Come in.”

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped inside, placing the file in front of him. “This is all the account reports and everything you need to know, sir,” she said, trying to maintain her professionalism despite the tickle in her throat.

As she spoke, she sneezed again, followed by a quick wipe of her nose with a tissue. “Excuse me,” she added, her voice slightly muffled by the tissue. She remained calm and collected, treating this like any other day, as if Lewis were just her boss.

Lewis looked up from his desk, his expression neutral but his own nose slightly reddened, evidence of his own cold. He was trying hard not to sneeze, turning his chair slightly away from her as he maintained his professional demeanor. “Thank you, Lily. You can go now,” he instructed, his tone clipped and formal.

She nodded, grateful to have completed her task, and turned to leave. Just as she reached the door, she heard him sneeze—a sharp, unexpected sound that broke the tension in the room. She paused, glancing back at him, but he remained facing away, clearly trying to regain his composure.

Pushing aside the thought of his vulnerability, Lily opened the door and stepped out, closing it softly behind her. As she walked back to her desk, her mind raced with questions: What about the mysterious man Mr. Wilson had mentioned? She knew why she was battling a cold—she had gotten soaked in the rain last night. And why had Lewis caught one too?