Chapter 5: The Woman Beside Him

I froze.

“Him?”

I immediately recognized the man sitting at the head of the table.

Xavier.

My mind went back to that night, and I quickly looked away.

Why does it have to be him again?

I turned and continued handing out the cups.

As I moved around the room, I accidentally stepped on Ella's foot.

“Can't you see?” Ella shouted.

I immediately turned around. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—”

“Sorry? Is that all you can say?”

“Clean my shoe.”

I stared at her in disbelief. I had accidentally stepped on her foot, and now she was treating me as if I had committed some terrible crime.

Ella had a crush on Xavier, and she had noticed the way he looked at me. That alone was enough to make her want to make things difficult for me.

Before I could respond, Xavier's cold voice cut through the meeting room.

“Ella, let it go. We're in the middle of a meeting.”

Ella bit her lip and glared at me before finally stepping back. I was surprised that he had intervened.

Maybe he isn't that bad after all.

Before I could finish that thought, Xavier spoke again.

“Don't bother yourself with lowly people like her. She isn't worth it.”

My eyes widened. Whatever good impression I had started forming disappeared immediately.

I take it back. He's still terrible.

I finished handing out the coffee, collected my payment, and left without saying another word.

Outside the building, I stood beside my bike and shook my head.

“Everyone in this building is rude.”

I paused, reconsidering my words.

“I take that back. Not everyone. Just him.”

I climbed onto my bike and rode away, still annoyed by the encounter.

I kept my eyes on the cups and tried to ignore the attention around me. I had come to deliver coffee, collect my payment, and leave. I didn't want another problem added to the ones waiting for me at home. But Xavier's words followed me even after I walked out, reminding me how quickly someone could make me feel small. I hated that his opinion had affected me, and I promised myself I would not let him ruin my day.

When I got home, I was completely exhausted. I fell onto the bed and was asleep within minutes.

I didn't know how many hours had passed when I finally woke up. As I sat up, I noticed Ethan standing on the balcony.

He was talking gently to someone on the phone.

I froze.

It was that same gentle voice I had heard before, the voice he never seemed to use when he was talking to me.

Ethan didn't notice me standing there. He smiled while listening to the person on the other end, and something about that smile bothered me.

I couldn't remember the last time he had spoken to me with that kind of warmth.

Maybe I'm imagining things. Maybe I'm simply tired and letting every little thing get into my head.

I lowered my eyes. I didn't want to become the kind of girlfriend who questioned everything Ethan did. I trusted him. At least, I had always believed I did.

Curiosity finally got the better of me, so I stood and walked towards the balcony. But Ethan noticed me and quickly ended the call.

He turned to me.

“I was talking to a client. When I came home, you were sleeping, and I didn't want to disturb you, so I came to the balcony to take the call.”

I looked at him quietly. I had never heard him speak so gently to a client before.

“Oh,” I said, trying to hide my suspicion.

Ethan smiled and walked past me. I remained on the balcony for a moment, wondering who he had really been talking to.

I walked over to Ethan.

“Can you tell me about the client you were talking to?”

His expression changed immediately.

“Can't you be reasonable, Amelia? I've been working all day, and I'm tired. Why are you asking me about my clients? Even if I tell you about them, do you know them?”

“I just want to—”

Ethan cut me off.

“I'm leaving.”

He grabbed his coat and walked out.

I stood there for a moment, thinking about what had just happened. Then I slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.

Was I really wrong to ask about his clients?

I sighed.

Is the man who hated seeing me sad still the same person?

I remembered when we had first gotten together. Once, when I had a high fever, Ethan had rushed back from his exam just to take care of me. He had carried me to the hospital, and on our way there, I had seen the fear and panic in his eyes.

He had been so worried about me.

When did everything change?

I chose not to dwell on it. I lay down on the bed and eventually fell asleep.

The next day, one of my coworkers invited me to dinner.

“Come with us. You need to relax a little,” she said.

I hesitated, but I eventually agreed and followed her. We arrived at a luxurious restaurant, and I looked around in surprise.

“Are you sure we're at the right place?” I asked.

My coworker laughed.

“Yes. The boss is treating us to dinner tonight.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

I was about to walk inside when something caught my attention.

I froze.

Ethan.

He was standing nearby with another woman.

My heart sank.

What is he doing here?

I couldn't take my eyes off them. The woman leaned closer to Ethan, and he smiled at her.

The gentle voice. The secret conversations. The way he had quickly ended the call when he noticed me.

Could this be the same woman?

Before I could think any further, I rushed after them. I followed them toward the entrance but stopped myself be

fore I could approach them.

I took a deep breath.

Who is that girl he's with?