Chapter 2 The Man Who Congratulate Me

Of course he was. I looked at him. Then at my mother.

“I need the restroom.”

I turned before she could respond. I didn't go to the restroom. I slipped away. I got into my car and drove home.

I ignored the entire future they had apparently planned for me. For once, I wanted something that belonged only to me. Silence.

Momo was waiting at the door when I arrived. The moment she saw me, her little tail started moving.

I picked her up. “Hi, baby.”

Her warm body pressed against my chest. And that was it. I broke.

I carried her to my bedroom, climbed onto the bed, and held her tightly against me. The tears came without warning.

I cried for my grandfather. For the empty space he left behind. For the future I didn't recognize anymore. And for reasons I didn't want to admit yet— for the man who wasn't there.

Thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I almost ignored it. Then I checked the camera. My heart stopped. Sam was finally here. I opened the door immediately.

“Caleste…” He looked exhausted.

His hair was messy from the drive. His jacket was still covered with traces of dust from the road.

His eyes found mine. The warmth disappeared from his face.

“I’m so sorry.” His voice cracked. “I was late.”

I shook my head. “You're here now.”

I tried to smile. “Thank you.”

He stared at me for a moment. Then he stepped closer.

“You don't have to be strong in front of me.” His hand settled gently on my shoulder.

The touch was warm. It was warm and familiar.

I looked down. “Did you eat?”

He blinked. “No.”

“As expected.”

A small smile appeared on his face. “Let me cook.”

He walked inside before I could argue. I followed him into the apartment, then settled onto the sofa with Momo.

Sam went straight to the kitchen. He didn't ask what I wanted. He already knew. He opened my refrigerator. Checked the cabinets. Rolled up his sleeves. And started cooking.

I watched him from the sofa. For a moment, everything felt normal. Then his eyes wandered around my apartment.

He noticed the photographs. The large wall filled with pictures of my grandfather and me. Photos of Momo. A few pictures from work. Then he saw one of us.

Sam and me. Taken last year at his family's house.

He smiled. “You finally put that one up.”

I looked at the photograph. “I like it.”

“Me too.”

He went back to cooking. I looked away.

Five years, and he still didn't know. Maybe that was my fault. Maybe I had never given him a reason to know. Or maybe I was simply too afraid to find out what would happen if I did.

The smell of food slowly filled the apartment. It was comforting. So comforting that I didn't realize when my eyes became heavy.

The last thing I remembered was hearing Sam move around the kitchen. When I opened my eyes again, I was still on the sofa.

Sam was standing over me. “You fell asleep.”

I rubbed my eyes. “How long?”

“Not long.” He smiled. “You should eat.”

Before I could answer, the doorbell rang.

Sam frowned. “Were you expecting someone?”

“No.”

He walked toward the door. I sat up. Then he opened it. Adrian stood outside. My stomach dropped.

“I was waiting for you to have dinner with me,” Adrian said.

His eyes moved past Sam and into my apartment. “Your mother didn't mention you lived with someone else.”

Sam immediately shook his head. “Oh, no. I don't live here.”

He smiled politely. “I live at the Aerie. I'm just helping her with dinner.”

Adrian studied him. “You are?”

“Samuel Hart.” Sam extended his hand.

“I work with Caleste at Horizon Global.”

Adrian didn't take it immediately. His eyes moved toward me. “Co-worker?”

The single word carried something I couldn't quite identify.

“Why are you here?” I asked Adrian coldly.

“It's natural that I know where my fiancée lives.”

Silence. Sam's hand slowly dropped. His eyes moved from Adrian to me. “Fiancée?”

I couldn't answer. Adrian did.“Yes.”

He looked at Sam. “I'm Adrian Beaumont.”

Then he looked at me. “We're engaged.”

Sam stared at him. Then at me. His expression changed. There was no anger not jealousy. Just confusion. A terrible, innocent confusion.

“We're not officially engaged,” I said quickly.

Adrian's expression remained calm. “We made it official today.”

He paused. “The ceremony will take place later.”

Sam looked at me again. For five years, I had imagined what it would be like if he ever found out how I felt about him.

I had imagined surprise. Shock. Maybe even jealousy. I had never imagined this.

Sam simply looked lost. “Oh.”

He forced a small smile. “Well…”

He glanced between us. “I think I'm not supposed to be here.”

My heart sank. “Sam—”

“Anyway.” His smile widened, but something about it felt wrong.

“Congratulations, Caleste.”

Then he turned around. And walked away.

I stood there watching him disappear down the hallway. I wanted to call him back. I wanted to tell him that this wasn't what it looked like. That I didn't want Adrian.

That the only person I had wanted to see today was him.But the words never came.

Because there was one question I was too afraid to ask. If Sam had cared about me the way I cared about him...

Would he have looked more hurt?