FIVE

Julia and Jeremy sat across from each other at one of the city’s most elegant restaurants. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the dining hall, while the soft melody of a piano drifted through the air. Couples around them laughed quietly and enjoyed their meals, but their table was wrapped in an uncomfortable silence.

Julia barely noticed any of it.

Her food remained untouched as she absentmindedly pushed it around her plate with her fork, her thoughts wandering somewhere far away. No matter how hard she tried to focus on Jeremy’s voice, her mind kept drifting back to bright blue eyes, a charming smile, and an English accent she hadn’t been able to forget since that rainy night.

Jeremy finally set down his fork.

“Babe, why aren’t you eating?” he asked, noticing that she had barely touched her meal.

Julia let out a quiet sigh before looking at him.

“I told you I was in no mood for a date. I’m exhausted,” she complained.

Her answer immediately darkened Jeremy’s expression.

“Why do you always do this?” he asked, unable to hide the irritation creeping into his voice.

Julia frowned.

“Well, for starters, I work every day, so you can’t blame me. It’s not like I’m one of those fake Barbie dolls who have nothing better to do than hang out with you.”

Jeremy scoffed.

“Oh, please, babe. Come up with a better excuse. You make it sound like I’m some kind of jobless asshole who has nothing to do with his time.”

“You said it yourself,” she murmured under her breath.

The comment was quiet, but Jeremy heard every word.

He leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice so the nearby diners wouldn’t overhear them.

“Look here, Julia. I’m your fiancé, and as such, I deserve your time and attention. So if you’re going to use your job as an excuse, then you’d better start rearranging your priorities.”

Julia’s patience snapped.

She slowly placed her fork on the table before meeting his eyes without the slightest hint of fear.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Jeremy.” Her voice was calm, but every word carried weight. “Being my fiancé doesn’t mean you own me. I’ll give you my time when I want to.” She leaned in slightly, making sure he understood every syllable. “Read my lips… When. I. Want. To.”

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Jeremy’s jaw tightened as anger flashed across his face.

Julia refused to sit there any longer.

Pushing her chair back, she rose from her seat, picked up her handbag, and walked out of the restaurant without another glance in his direction.

Jeremy stared after her, his face burning with humiliation and rage.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath.

He threw his napkin onto the table in frustration, quickly paid the bill, and stormed out after her, determined not to let the argument end there.

___

The drive back to Julia’s house was painfully quiet.

Neither of them spoke.

The silence inside the car was thick with unresolved anger, broken only by the soft hum of the engine as Jeremy drove through the streets. Julia kept her eyes fixed on the window, eager for the journey to end.

A few minutes later, Jeremy pulled up in front of her family’s mansion and parked the car.

Without saying a word, Julia reached for the door handle, ready to leave.

Before she could open it, Jeremy gently caught hold of her wrist.

She paused but didn’t look at him.

“I’m sorry, okay?” he said, his voice noticeably softer than before. “I don’t want us saying goodbye like this.”

He gestured awkwardly between them, referring to the tension that still lingered after their argument.

Julia remained silent.

She wasn’t ready to forgive him, nor did she have the energy to start another argument. All she wanted was to go inside, shut her bedroom door, and forget the evening had ever happened.

Mistaking her silence for an opportunity, Jeremy slowly leaned closer until his lips met hers in a gentle kiss.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered against her lips.

For a brief moment, the kiss remained soft, almost tender.

Then it gradually deepened.

Jeremy parted his lips, trying to coax her into responding as he sought more intimacy between them. He had always wanted their relationship to reach that stage, but Julia had consistently kept him at arm’s length.

She didn’t return the kiss with the same enthusiasm.

She simply let it happen because she was exhausted—too emotionally drained to argue anymore. But she had already made up her mind long ago. No matter how persistent Jeremy became, she wasn’t willing to give him anything beyond a simple kiss before marriage. She knew the type of man he was. Whenever an opportunity presented itself, he always tried to push for more.

As if determined to test her resolve once again, Jeremy slowly let his free hand slide up her leg, his fingers brushing against her thigh beneath the hem of her dress.

Julia’s eyes immediately flew open.

Without hesitation, she broke the kiss and pulled herself away from him before things could go any further.

“Goodnight,” she said shortly.

She opened the car door and hurried out without waiting for a reply, grateful to finally put some distance between them.

Jeremy remained behind the wheel, staring after her as she disappeared into the house.

His grip tightened around the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

With a loud thud, he slammed his palm against it.

He was furious.

No matter how many times he tried, Julia always found a way to reject him. This wasn’t the first time she had pulled away, and each rejection bruised his pride a little more.

His expression darkened.

“You’ll pay for this, Julia,” he muttered under his breath, his voice cold with resentment. “When we get married… that’s a promise.”

Still seething with frustration, he started the engine and sped away into the night.

___

Julia quietly walked into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

She had lied to Jeremy earlier.

She wasn’t tired.

Far from it.

The real reason she had been so distracted throughout their date was because her thoughts had been occupied by someone else entirely.

Craig.

It had been an entire week since that rainy night, yet she still couldn’t get him out of her mind. No matter how much she tried to focus on work or convince herself that she was simply intrigued by him, he always found his way back into her thoughts.

Every single night, he appeared in her dreams.

Sometimes they were simply talking, laughing together the way they had in his living room. Other times, she imagined him gently holding her in his arms, his strong hands exploring every curve of her body while his lips captured hers in a kiss so tender it stole her breath away.

Each morning she woke with the same ache in her heart.

She missed him.

She missed hearing his soothing English accent, watching the warm smile that always seemed to soften his handsome face, and most of all, losing herself in those brilliant blue eyes that she could stare into forever.

Compared to them, Jeremy’s dull brown eyes stirred nothing inside her.

The realization made her sigh.

When had Craig become someone she couldn’t stop thinking about?

As she sat on the edge of her bed, another thought suddenly crossed her mind.

Her eyes widened.

“I never called him…”

She had promised she would, yet an entire week had passed without so much as a single phone call.

Feeling guilty, Julia reached for the cellphone lying on her bed and quickly dialed Craig’s number.

Her thumb hovered over the screen while the call attempted to connect.

Then, just before it began ringing, she pressed the end-call button.

She smiled to herself.

“No…”

She didn’t just want to hear his voice.

She wanted to see her prince charming again.

***

Craig was relaxing in the living room when the doorbell suddenly rang.

A slight frown crossed his face.

He wasn’t expecting anyone.

Tyler had already told him he wouldn’t be stopping by until tomorrow since it was only Friday. As far as Craig knew, no one else had any reason to visit him.

For a brief moment, he wondered who it could be.

Deciding not to dwell on it, he carefully got to his feet and made his way toward the front door, his familiar steps carrying him confidently through the house. His hand eventually found the doorknob, and he pulled the door open.

Before a single word was spoken, a familiar fragrance drifted toward him.

A soft smile immediately tugged at his lips.

He would recognize that scent anywhere.

“Julia?”

A surprised laugh escaped her lips.

“Wow! Am I really that terrible at making surprises?” she asked playfully. “How did you know it was me?”

Craig couldn’t help smiling a little wider.

Just hearing her voice again filled him with a warmth he hadn’t expected.

She had come back.

She had actually kept her promise.

“I recognized your perfume,” he replied. “It’s hard to forget.”

Julia felt warmth spread across her cheeks.

Out of all the things he could have remembered about her, he remembered the scent of her perfume.

For some reason, that tiny detail made her heart flutter.

“I… wasn’t expecting that,” she admitted with a shy smile.

Craig chuckled softly.

“Please, come in.”

Stepping aside, he gestured for her to enter.

Julia walked inside, closing the door behind her before making herself comfortable on the couch she had occupied the first time she visited.

Being back inside the house brought back memories of that stormy night.

Only this time, she wasn’t here because she had nowhere else to go.

She had come because she wanted to see him.

Craig followed the sound of her footsteps into the living room.

“What can I offer you?” he asked politely.

Julia shook her head before remembering he couldn’t see the gesture.

“I’m fine, thanks.”

There was a brief pause before a smile spread across her face.

“What I’d really like…” she said cheerfully, “…is for us to sit and chat for a while.”

A small smile found its way onto Craig’s face.

“Okay.”

He followed the sound of her voice and sat beside her on the couch, leaving a respectful distance between them.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Craig found himself wondering why she sounded so unusually happy.

Was she genuinely happy to be here?

Or was she simply trying to repay his kindness for helping her that rainy night?

Deep down, he hoped it wasn’t the latter.

Because if he was being honest with himself, he had missed her.

Ever since Julia left his house a week ago, her voice had lingered in his thoughts. He could still hear her cheerful laughter and the excitement that always colored her words. Listening to her speak felt effortless, almost comforting, like listening to a favorite melody that never grew old.

He had never met anyone whose voice affected him the way hers did.

It made him smile without even realizing it.

Craig was certain that a woman with such a beautiful voice had to be just as beautiful herself.

If only…

If only he could see her.

“You didn’t call to let me know you were coming,” Craig said with a faint smile.

Julia rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

“I actually wanted to surprise you,” she admitted. “I’m sorry I never called like I promised. Work kept me really busy this past week.”

Craig gave a small shake of his head.

“You don’t have to apologize. It’s fine.”

“Oh no, I do,” Julia insisted almost immediately. “I made you a promise, and I broke it. I hate breaking promises.”

There was genuine guilt in her voice.

Craig couldn’t help smiling.

“It’s alright,” he assured her warmly. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters.”

Julia felt the knot in her chest loosen.

Seeing his smile—and knowing he wasn’t upset with her—filled her with relief.

The conversation flowed naturally after that.

One topic led to another until neither of them noticed how much time had passed. They laughed over little things, shared stories about work and everyday life, and before long, more than an hour had slipped by.

For the first time in days, Julia felt completely at ease.

Then her cellphone suddenly rang.

The cheerful atmosphere was interrupted by the ringtone echoing through the living room.

“Oh… excuse me,” she said apologetically before answering the call.

“Hello, Papa.”

“Princess, where are you?” her father asked gently. “Jeremy is here. He wants the two of you to spend some time together.”

Julia sighed inwardly.

She knew that question hadn’t really come from her father.

It had Jeremy written all over it.

Her dad had never been the type to monitor her every movement. If anything, he respected her independence. Jeremy, on the other hand, always wanted to know where she was and who she was with.

That was exactly why she hadn’t told her parents she was coming to visit Craig.

Had they known she intended to spend time with another man, they would have tried to stop her—not because they distrusted her, but because they wouldn’t want Jeremy getting upset.

“I’m sorry, Papa,” she replied softly. “I should’ve told you I was going out. I’m with a friend right now.”

There was a brief pause on the other end.

“Okay, Princess. But Jeremy is still here. Should he wait a little longer?”

Julia glanced at Craig.

He sat quietly beside her, patiently waiting for her conversation to end, completely unaware that he had become the subject of her next decision.

She hesitated for only a second.

“No, Papa… please tell him not to.”

Another quick glance at Craig.

Then, before she could lose her courage, she added,

“I’ll be spending the weekend with my friend.”

The words left her mouth so naturally that even she surprised herself.

Beside her, Craig’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

He hadn’t been expecting to hear that.

“Alright, Princess,” her father replied after a brief pause. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will, Papa. Bye.”

“Bye, Princess.”

After the call ended, Julia slowly lowered her phone onto her lap.

An uncomfortable silence settled between them.

She suddenly had no idea how to continue the conversation.

Her heart began to pound.

What have I done?

Without even thinking, she had told her father she would be spending the entire weekend at Craig’s house… before asking Craig if he was even comfortable with the idea.

This wasn’t like the first time she had stayed over.

Back then, she had been stranded by the rain with nowhere else to go.

Now, she had come here by choice.

She nervously ran her fingers through her hair before stealing a hesitant glance at Craig.

He remained quiet, patiently waiting for her to speak.

Taking a deep breath, Julia gathered what little courage she had.

“Um… about the conversation with my dad…”

She paused, feeling even more embarrassed now that she had to explain herself.

“I’m really sorry you had to find out that way.” She gave an awkward laugh. “I actually planned to tell you as soon as I arrived, but…” She looked down at her hands. “…I was too scared to find out how you’d react.”

Another brief silence followed.

Then, in a much smaller voice, she finally asked,

“Would you… mind if I spent the weekend here with you?”

The question hung between them.

Craig sat quietly for a moment.

The truth was, he had every reason to refuse.

Inviting a woman he had only known for a week to stay in his home for an entire weekend wasn’t exactly an ordinary request.

Yet, as he listened to the nervous uncertainty in her voice, he found himself unable to say no.

Somewhere deep inside him, something had begun to change ever since Julia unexpectedly walked into his life that rainy evening.

For so long, all he had felt was regret.

Regret over his past.

Regret over his blindness.

Pity for the man he had become.

But whenever Julia was around, those feelings seemed to loosen their grip on him.

She made the house feel less empty.

She made conversations enjoyable again.

She made him smile without trying.

It was an unfamiliar feeling…

A hopeful one.

And for the first time in a long while, Craig found himself wanting to embrace that feeling instead of pushing it away.

A gentle smile spread across his face.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” he admitted with a soft chuckle.

Julia’s stomach tightened as she waited for the rest of his answer.

“But…” he continued warmly, “if you’re comfortable staying here, then I don’t have a problem with it.”

Craig smiled a little wider.

“Besides,” he added, “it’ll give me the chance to teach you those recipes I promised.”

 Julia’s face immediately brightened with excitement.

She hadn’t realized how nervous she had been waiting for his answer until relief flooded through her.

Not only would she get to spend the entire weekend with Craig, but she also wouldn’t have to endure Jeremy’s controlling attitude for the next two days.

The thought alone filled her heart with happiness.

“Thank you so much!” she said cheerfully.

Without thinking, she leaned closer and wrapped her arms around Craig in a warm hug.

Craig froze for a brief moment, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected gesture.

He had never imagined that Julia would hug him so naturally.

A smile slowly found its way onto his lips as he relaxed and gently returned the embrace.

She felt just as he had imagined she would.

Her skin was unbelievably soft beneath his hands, and the warmth of her body against his made something inside him stir. It was comforting… almost addictive.

Without realizing it, he breathed in deeply.

The floral fragrance of her hair and the delicate scent of her perfume filled his senses once more, wrapping around him like a familiar memory. It was the same alluring perfume that had greeted him the moment he opened the front door for her earlier that afternoon.

For a few quiet moments, neither of them spoke.

Craig found himself wishing time would slow down.

He didn’t want the hug to end.

He wanted to remain there just a little longer, memorizing everything he could—the softness of her embrace, the warmth she radiated, the sweet scent of her perfume, and the steady rhythm of her breathing.

Reluctantly, they pulled away from each other.

Julia smiled, her heart still fluttering with excitement, completely unaware of the emotions she had stirred within him.

Craig remained silent.

His smile gradually faded.

A painful thought crept back into his mind.

No matter how much he tried to memorize her through touch, scent, and sound, it would never be enough.

He still couldn’t see her.

He would never know whether her smile was as beautiful as he imagined it to be.

He would never know if those eyes that looked at him with such kindness matched the beautiful voice he had fallen so deeply in love with listening to.

The realization tightened around his chest.

Just moments ago, he had allowed himself to believe that Julia’s presence might finally pull him out of the darkness he had been living in.

Now, that hope began to fade once again.

His blindness was a reality he could never escape.

No matter how much happiness Julia brought into his life, it couldn’t change the fact that he was blind.

And in that moment, the familiar feelings of self-pity returned, whispering the same cruel thoughts they always had.

That he was useless.

That he could never be enough.

That all he would ever become was a burden to himself… and to everyone who cared about him.