Chapter 7

Morning had not fully arrived when Calvin stood on the second-floor balcony of his house. Cold air seeped through the thin shirt he was wearing, but he didn’t care. Both of his hands rested on the balcony railing, his eyes fixed on the sky that was still dark.

The bedroom light behind him was still on.

Samantha had stayed the night in that house.

Soft footsteps were heard. Calvin didn’t turn around. He already knew who it was. The next second, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist from behind.

“You haven’t slept yet?” Samantha asked gently. “Or did you just wake up?”

Calvin remained silent. That touch should have felt familiar. Yet for some reason, his body stiffened instead. Not because he disliked it, but because his mind drifted elsewhere.

In the past, whenever he stood on the balcony like this, Camelia would always come. Without many words. Without waiting for permission. The woman would hug him from behind, rest her cheek against his back, then talk about small, unimportant things.

“What are you thinking about?” “I’ll make you a drink, okay?” “Or do you want me to just stay quiet like this while hugging you?”

Even though he often answered coldly, even though he often responded with indifference, even though he often scolded her, Camelia kept doing the same thing. As if her presence there was the most natural thing in the world.

Calvin closed his eyes.

“You again,” he murmured softly, more to himself.

Samantha frowned. “What did you say?”

“Nothing,” Calvin replied shortly. He slowly released Samantha’s hands, then turned around. “Go inside. It’s still cold.”

Samantha obeyed, though the displeasure was clear on her face. She sat on the edge of the bed, while Calvin stood not far from her.

“You’ve been zoning out a lot lately,” Samantha finally said. “May I know what you’re thinking about?”

Calvin let out a short breath. “Just work.”

“That’s the same excuse for the past two months,” Samantha replied. “Calvin, how long are you going to be like this?”

Calvin looked at her. “Like what?”

“Like you’re distancing yourself from me,” Samantha answered honestly. “I stay the night here, but you sleep alone. You drink, but your face is empty. I’m here, but we sleep separately. I feel like you’re not really with me.”

Calvin fell silent.

Samantha stood up and approached him. “When are you going to make our relationship official?”

Calvin raised an eyebrow. “Make it official?”

“Yes,” Samantha said firmly. “The engagement rumors have spread everywhere. People are asking me. The media has started writing about it. How long are you going to stay silent?”

Calvin turned sharply. “Those rumors didn’t come from me.”

Samantha gave a faint smile. “But you didn’t deny them.”

“Because I don’t care,” Calvin replied flatly.

Samantha’s face tightened. “So you think all of this isn’t important?”

Calvin rubbed his face. “I can’t get married yet.”

“Why?” Samantha asked quickly. “Wasn’t that what you wanted from the beginning?”

Calvin looked at the floor for a moment before answering, “Camelia and I aren’t divorced yet.”

The sentence slipped out just like that.

Samantha froze. “Not divorced yet?”

“She ran away,” Calvin continued, his tone sounding irritated. “How can I divorce her when I don’t even know where she is?”

That was a lie. He knew. He could have signed the divorce papers. But he simply chose not to. And Samantha didn’t know that.

“So everything is stalled because of her?” Samantha’s voice rose.

Calvin shrugged. “That’s the fact.”

Samantha bit her lip. “That woman is really too much.”

Calvin didn’t respond.

“I’ve waited for a long time, Calvin,” Samantha continued. “I left because of circumstances. I came back because I thought you still loved me. But now I’m being held back by that damned woman.”

Calvin remained silent.

Then Samantha stepped closer and, without warning, brushed a brief kiss against Calvin’s lips.

Calvin didn’t push her away. But he didn’t return it either.

Samantha pulled back, looking at his face with hope.

There was no change at all. No spark. No impulse that Calvin felt. It was still bland.

Calvin closed his eyes, his breathing slightly heavy. “Why does it always feel like this,” he murmured softly.

“Like what?” Samantha asked.

“It’s nothing,” Calvin replied quickly.

Samantha let out a frustrated sigh. “Hasn’t your body been only for me all this time?” she said. “Haven’t you restrained yourself for three years from your wife?”

Those words made Calvin’s chest feel tight.

“Yes,” he answered quietly. “For three years, I restrained myself.”

For three years, he rejected Camelia’s touch. For three years, he kept his distance, convincing himself that it was all for Samantha. But now, when Samantha was right in front of him, the woman who filled his mind was the one he had always pushed away.

That damned woman, Calvin cursed inwardly.

Without realizing it, he had already grown accustomed to Camelia’s presence. To the sound of her footsteps in the morning. To the sound of her breathing at night. To her embraces that came without being asked.

Samantha looked at him with teary eyes. “I don’t want to stay in this position forever.”

Calvin opened his eyes. “I never asked you to stay.”

The words were sharp. Samantha flinched. “So you want me to leave?”

Calvin fell silent. “That’s not what I meant.”

Silence hung between them.

Finally, Samantha turned around and grabbed her bag. “I will wait for you forever, because I only love you.”

Calvin didn’t stop her.

When the bedroom door closed, Calvin sat on the edge of the bed. His hand tangled in his own hair.

“Why has everything become such a mess,” he murmured.

He glanced toward the balcony once more. The morning wind had begun to blow. For a moment, he almost hoped to see Camelia standing there, hugging him from behind, as if nothing had changed.

“Camelia! If you come back, I’ll lock you in here and devour you until I’m screaming for mercy!” Calvin murmured.