Chapter 1

We hadn't been driving for long when Caleb suddenly pulled over in front of a coffee shop.

"Wait here."

With that, he got out of the car.

A few minutes later, he returned carrying two cups of hot chocolate.

Without hesitation, Caleb inserted a straw into one cup and handed it to Elise.

"Here. I asked them to add crushed nuts, just the way you like it. The temperature is perfect, too."

Elise took a sip and smiled with satisfaction.

"At least you remember my preferences."

Caleb shook his head, a hint of helpless affection in his voice.

"My little princess, when have I ever forgotten anything about you?"

Then he casually passed the other cup toward the back seat without even looking.

"Here. Yours."

When I didn't reach for it after a couple of seconds, he finally turned around.

"What's wrong?"

I looked at him calmly.

"I don't drink hot chocolate. And I'm allergic to nuts."

Caleb froze for a moment before quickly explaining himself.

"I forgot about your allergy... We can't park here for long. Buying two different drinks would've been too much trouble, so I just ordered the same one."

Before I could respond, Elise rolled her eyes.

"It's just a drink. Do you really have to be so petty?"

"Serena, wait here. I'll go get you something else."

She reached for the car door, but Caleb immediately stopped her with one hand.

"What's the point? She's just spoiled because I've indulged her too much. Now she's getting more and more difficult."

He placed the hot chocolate in the cup holder and started the car again.

I stared at the illuminated shop signs outside the window, suddenly remembering the first time Caleb had bought me a drink.

We had just started dating.

He remembered that I liked hot lattes and never drank hot chocolate.

He had even saved my preferences in his phone's notes.

"How could I ever forget what Serena likes?"

But now, he couldn't even remember what I could or couldn't drink.

Throughout the drive, Caleb and Elise chatted happily.

They talked about the new restaurants opening in the Pack, then moved on to our upcoming marking ceremony.

They laughed and joked as if I didn't exist in the back seat.

It was only then that I realized Caleb had plenty to say beyond Pack business.

He simply didn't want to say any of it to me.

When we finally arrived at our apartment building, I opened the door to get out, but Caleb didn't turn off the engine.

"Serena, Elise lives nearby, but she's not feeling well. I'll walk her upstairs and come right back."

I stood in the rain, watching him turn the car around and drive in the opposite direction.

The rain was getting heavier.

I turned and headed into the apartment building alone.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

A message from Elise appeared on the screen.

【Serena, Caleb just worries about me too much. Don't get the wrong idea, okay?】

I didn't reply. I put my phone away and went upstairs alone.

Back in the apartment, I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my clothes completely soaked.

Suddenly, I remembered how things used to be.

One evening, I got caught in a sudden downpour after work. He drove all the way to pick me up, bringing only one umbrella.

He tilted almost the entire umbrella toward me, leaving half his own shoulder soaked.

I laughed and asked, "Why are you so silly?"

He looked at me seriously.

"I'm afraid you'll get sick. As long as you stay dry, that's all that matters."

But now, he had tilted the umbrella toward another woman.

And told me that getting a little wet didn't matter.

I changed out of my soaked clothes and stepped into the shower.

The hot water washed over my body, finally easing the stiffness in my frozen limbs.

The rain continued outside.

I closed my eyes, but all I could think about was the confirmation message the Elders had sent after receiving my application.

【Your request to cancel the marking ceremony has entered the review process.】

This time, I wasn't going to wait for him to come around.