MasukThat night, the Laurent family home was once again filled with people who had sat in the same room several times before, but this time, the atmosphere felt completely different.There were no light conversations like usual. No laughter that truly sounded sincere. Everyone had come knowing that there was one problem that had to be resolved tonight.Keith and Kate’s engagement.Nora arrived with Javier. Her hand was still in her husband’s grasp as they entered the family room. From the outside, Javier looked like a husband accompanying his wife to a family gathering. But Nora could sense something different in the way the man held her hand.Too tightly.Javier had even let out long breaths several times since they arrived.Nora said nothing. She simply allowed herself to remain calm, as though unaware of the uneasiness that was clearly evident in her husband’s manner. Her face remained directed forward, her eyes closed as usu
That night, Javier came home with a weariness that seemed to weigh down his entire body. Since leaving Kate, his mind had never truly been at ease. He knew the decision he had made would bring new problems, but at least for now, he wanted to put all of that out of his mind. He only wanted to go home and see Nora.As he was about to enter the bedroom, Javier stopped.Nora was sitting quietly near the sofa. Her head was slightly lowered, both hands resting on her lap. She looked as though she were waiting for someone.Javier immediately walked over to her.“Nora.”Nora raised her face. “You’re home?”“Yes.” Javier sat beside her. “Why are you still awake?”“I was waiting for you.”That simple answer made Javier’s heart feel a little lighter. He reached out and gently touched Nora’s hair.“I’m sorry for making you wait.”&
Javier nodded.“My wife is Nora.”His voice sounded firm.There was not the slightest hesitation when he mentioned his wife’s name. It was precisely that firmness that hurt Kate even more. After everything that had happened between them, Javier could still say Nora’s name with such certainty, as though their relationship had never been enough to shake his choice.Kate stared at him in silence.Meanwhile, Javier remained standing in front of her, with no intention of taking back his words.“I’ve made a mistake,” he continued. “But I won’t let that mistake destroy my marriage.”Kate truly could not say anything in response to everything Javier had said.“I’m done with you, Kate. Whatever happens after this, I don’t want our relationship to continue.”Kate looked at him with eyes that were growing redder. “You’re saying it’s over?”“Yes.”“After everything we’ve been through?”Javier did not answer.Kate stepped closer.“I’ve been there for you all this time. I waited for you. I accepted
Javier arrived at the agreed location not long afterward.As soon as he got out of the car, he immediately saw Kate standing near the entrance. The woman looked different from usual. There were still traces of tears on her face, but this time, there was much more obvious anger in her eyes.Javier walked closer without saying much.Kate immediately looked at him. “You finally came.”“I said I would come.”Javier did not show much emotion. He simply walked past Kate and entered the room. His cold attitude made Kate even more uncomfortable. Unlike usual, this time Javier did not try to calm her down, did not ask how she was doing, and did not show even the slightest bit of tenderness that had made Kate believe the man still had feelings for her.Kate followed behind him.As soon as the door closed, she immediately said, “What are you going to do now?”Javier turned around.His gaze fell directly on Kate’s face.There was no hesitation there. During the journey, he had already thought abo
Javier came home earlier that afternoon.As soon as she heard the door open, Nora, who was in the study, raised her face. She did not expect Javier to come home this early. Usually, the man only returned toward evening because of his busy schedule.A few moments later, Javier appeared in the doorway carrying a paper bag.“I brought something for you.”Nora turned toward him. “What is it?”“Take a look.”Javier placed the paper bag on the table, then took out a small box. Inside was a cake that Nora had often been craving over the past few days.Nora was silent for a moment. “Why did you suddenly buy this for me?”“No particular reason.” Javier pulled out a chair and sat beside her. “I just happened to see it on my way home.”Nora smiled faintly.Lately, Javier had indeed been doing more and more little things like that. Bringing her food she liked, asking if she had eaten, making sure she was not too tired, and even occasionally offering to take her somewhere.Things Javier had rarely
After breakfast was over, Nora got ready to go to the boutique. As she was about to leave the dining room, Keith, who had been watching her all this time, suddenly stood up.“I’ll take you to Virelle.”Nora turned toward him. “No need. I can go by myself.”“Let Keith take you,” Alistar said from his seat. “Besides, your condition is still like this.”Lilian, who was sitting beside Alistar, nodded as well. “That’s right. You’re also too stubborn, Nora. Your condition isn’t completely fine yet, but you’re already working? What are you even chasing?”Nora only smiled. “All right, I don’t mind if Keith takes me.” She could actually go by herself, but seeing that both her grandfather and aunt supported it, she finally nodded.Keith smiled faintly. “Then, let’s go.”A few minutes later, Keith’s car left Alistar’s residence and headed toward Virelle Maison.Nora sat calmly in the passenger seat while Keith drove at a moderate speed. For a while, they did not talk much. But after remembering







