Chapter 28

‎Five minutes after Edward settled into his office, a sharp knock echoed from the door. He didn't look up from the papers he was pretending to read, assuming it was his assistant.

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‎“Come in,” he said coolly, eyes fixed on the document in front of him.

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‎The door opened gently, then clicked shut. A familiar voice followed, teasing and affectionate.

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‎“Brother Eddy, you haven’t seen me for days, and you couldn’t even call?” Caroline’s tone was light, but laced with the subtle sting of disappointment as she walked into his expansive, meticulously arranged office.

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‎Edward finally looked up, his expression unreadable at first—then ever so slightly, a shadow of irritation passed through his eyes. He had been expecting Claire, his efficient assistant—not Caroline, the persistent storm that kept intruding into his carefully ordered world.

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‎“Oh. It’s you,” he said, his voice cold, guarded. A flicker of disappointment betrayed him before he quickly masked it behind his usual impassive demeanor.

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‎Caroline, undeterred as always, approached with a confident smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Did you miss me while I was away?” she asked, taking a seat across from him without waiting for an invitation. She placed a neatly packed lunch box on his desk.

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‎Edward’s eyes flickered to the container, but his expression remained unmoved. If anything, the look he gave her silently asked, Why would I think about you?

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‎Caroline noticed the chill in his gaze and hesitated for a moment. Her smile faltered. It had been a year since she started pursuing him, and yet his heart remained untouched, like stone. Sometimes she wondered if he felt anything at all.

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‎“What’s that?” he asked, voice still flat, though his eyes briefly lingered on the lunch box. He already knew what it was—but a strange thought passed through his mind, one he didn’t want to entertain.

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‎“It’s breakfast,” Caroline said, straightening her posture, trying to regain confidence. “I made it myself. It’s a new recipe I just learned. Trust me—you’ll like it.”

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‎Edward stood up and walked toward the desk slowly. His steps were measured, his face unreadable. He leaned forward slightly, examining the lunch box—then hesitated.

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‎Suddenly, his body tensed.

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‎He straightened, abruptly pulling back, suppressing a grimace. The wave of discomfort washed over him like a familiar, unwanted guest. His OCD, the one he thought he’d managed to keep under control, was still very much present. He hated the feeling of touching things he hadn’t sanitized himself. He hated the loss of control it brought.

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‎But strangely... there was one person who didn’t trigger that discomfort.

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‎Claire.

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‎The thought unsettled him more than he expected.

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‎He looked back at Caroline, who was watching him closely, hopeful.

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‎“I’m... not hungry,” he said quietly, almost absently. Then, with more firmness: “I’ll have Claire check it later.”

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‎Caroline’s smile stiffened.

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‎“Morning, sir,” Claire greeted, her voice hesitant as she stepped into the office. Her eyes landed on her boss, Edward, who stood beside a woman she didn't know, his expression cold and unreadable. She paused, suddenly unsure if she had interrupted something private. The atmosphere in the room felt oddly tense, and Claire couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d walked in at the wrong time.

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‎“Can’t you knock before entering?” Edward snapped, turning to face her fully. His icy glare made Claire’s heart skip a beat.

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‎“I—I did knock, sir. But you didn’t answer,” she replied, her tone apologetic. She glanced at the elegant woman beside him—a woman who looked so much like her, it made her stomach turn. The same build, similar features, even the way she held herself... The only noticeable differences were the woman’s brown eyes and the sleek gold hair that framed her face.

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‎Is that why he hired me? Claire thought bitterly. Because I resemble her?

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‎“Eddy, who is this?” Caroline finally asked, stepping closer to Edward. She had been silent for a moment, clearly dazed by the resemblance. Now, her curious gaze moved between Claire and Edward.

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‎“She’s my new assistant,” Edward replied curtly, barely glancing at Claire, who was still trying to compose herself.

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‎The woman’s demeanor shifted. A spark of interest lit up her face as she approached Claire with a sudden burst of friendliness.

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‎“Hey, good morning! I’m Caroline,” she said brightly, offering her hand with a genuine smile. Her warm energy contrasted sharply with Edward’s coldness.

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‎Claire forced a smile of her own, trying to hide her discomfort. “Morning, ma’am. I’m Claire,” she replied, taking the woman’s hand briefly. Her heart was still racing, but she masked her unease behind a polite façade.

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‎“Take this file and start working on it,” Edward interrupted suddenly, his voice sharp as he returned to his desk. He sat down, clearly irritated by the growing conversation.

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‎Caroline rolled her eyes slightly and looked at Claire again. “Ignore that look. Don’t mind him,” she said casually, her voice laced with mild annoyance. “And don’t call me ma’am, alright? No need to be so formal.”

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‎Claire nodded, unsure how else to respond. She simply walked over to Edward’s desk, took the file, and quietly left the room.

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‎As the door clicked shut behind her, Caroline turned back to Edward with a frown. “Why are you treating her like that?” she asked, her tone edged with irritation. Her eyes searched his face, looking for some trace of warmth. For a brief moment, his icy expression softened.

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‎She remembered the first time she had met him—years ago, on her fifteenth birthday. She had been carefree then, dancing with joy while he sat in a corner, distant and aloof. He had looked just as cold then as he did now, and back then, she hadn’t thought much of him. Nothing had sparked between them at the time.

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‎“You should leave now. I want to work,” Edward said, his words cutting through her thoughts. He was already typing on his keyboard, eyes glued to the screen, as though the entire exchange had never happened.

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