Chapter 24

Since that day, Elena had tried to convince herself that what had happened was nothing more than a passing encounter.

Alexander had appeared out of nowhere, walked beside her for a while, then left without asking her for anything.

It was supposed to end there.

But she was wrong.

The following morning, Elena was sitting in a quiet café, turning the pages of a book in front of her and trying to concentrate on reading.

She placed her coffee cup beside her, then turned the page.

Suddenly, a hand reached out in front of her and placed a small piece of candy beside the book.

Elena slowly raised her eyes.

Alexander was standing in front of her, as though his appearance in this place were perfectly normal.

She looked at the candy, then at him.

"What is this?"

He sat in the chair opposite her without waiting for an invitation.

"A gift."

"Why?"

"Because I saw you looking at it when you came in."

She looked at the candy again.

"I only looked at it for two seconds."

"But you were looking at it admiringly."

Elena closed her book.

"Alexander, aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"I'll go."

"And you're here now because...?"

"Because I wanted to see you first."

She gave him a long look.

"You've become very straightforward."

He smiled.

"I'm trying to save time."

He called the waiter and ordered a coffee, then returned to his seat. A few minutes later, Elena was trying to get back to her reading while Alexander quietly sipped his coffee.

A minute passed, then another.

He said,

"You've been reading the same page for a long time."

She raised her eyes to him.

"Because there's someone sitting in front of me distracting me."

"I can be quiet."

"Please do."

Silence settled between them. But only moments later, he pushed the plate of candy toward her.

"You forgot about it."

She sighed, then took a small piece.

Alexander watched her without commenting.

She raised her eyes to him.

"Don't smile."

"I'm not smiling."

"Yes, you are."

"Maybe a little."

At that moment, Ryan entered the café.

The moment Elena saw him, her expression brightened, and she raised her hand to him.

"Ryan! Come here."

Alexander's expression changed slightly.

Ryan approached, then sat beside Elena after she welcomed him.

"Good morning."

"Good morning. How are you?"

"Better now."

She laughed.

"That's an exaggerated answer."

"It's an honest one."

Ryan glanced at the book in front of her.

"Are you still reading it?"

"Yes, and I'm almost finished."

"I wanted to ask you what you thought of the ending, but I'm afraid you'll spoil it for me."

"I won't."

"I know. You never do that."

They exchanged a small smile.

Alexander remained silent.

He listened to their conversation, but didn't take part in it.

Then Ryan said,

"Do you remember the day you told me you didn't want to read this kind of book?"

Elena smiled.

"Of course. You were the one who convinced me to read it."

"Because I knew you'd like it."

"And I really did."

Alexander's hand paused above his cup for a moment before he calmly lowered it.

Ryan said,

"By the way, I have another book that I think would suit your taste even better. I'll bring it to you next time."

"Really? That would be wonderful."

Alexander looked at them.

There was nothing in their conversation that should have made him angry. And yet, he felt something heavy settling in his chest.

He didn't like how easily she smiled at someone else.

And even more than that, he disliked that Ryan knew things about her that he no longer knew.

But he didn't let any of it show on his face.

A little later, Elena said,

"Do you have time?"

"Yes. I wanted to spend a little time with you before I leave."

"All right."

She stood up and picked up her bag.

Ryan stood with her.

As for Alexander, he remained seated for a moment before placing his cup on the table.

"I'll come with you."

Elena turned toward him.

"We don't need anyone to accompany us."

"I didn't say you needed me."

Then he stood up.

"I just want to take a walk."

Ryan and Elena exchanged a brief glance.

Then the three of them left the café.

Ryan walked beside Elena, while Alexander remained a few steps away from them.

He listened to their conversation.

Ryan said something that made Elena laugh, then added something else, and Elena playfully tapped his arm while laughing.

Alexander stopped walking for a moment.

He looked at them.

A few minutes later, Elena said,

"I'll stop by the store first."

"I'll come with you."

Ryan said it immediately.

She smiled.

"All right."

Alexander was about to say something, but he held back.

Elena entered the store with Ryan, while he remained outside.

When they came out, Elena was talking to him about something, then smiled as she looked at him.

Alexander stopped completely.

He watched them as they moved a little farther ahead of him.

He could have caught up with them.

He could have intervened.

He could have found any excuse to interrupt their conversation...

But he didn't.

He remained standing where he was, watching Elena's back as she walked beside Ryan.

Jealousy tightened in his chest until it became difficult to ignore.

He didn't like that feeling, and he had no right to object.

He was the one who had allowed the distance between them to grow.

And he was the one who had made it possible for another man to know how to bring her smile back, while he was merely trying to find his way to her again.

He took a deep breath, then turned away.

He didn't call out to her or ask her to wait.

He returned to his car, then headed to his company.

But his mood didn't improve.

He sat in his office with numerous files in front of him, none of which he had touched.

He read the same line three times without understanding a single word.

He picked up his phone, then put it back down.

He remembered her laughter with Ryan, and his expression changed.

Then he remembered her smile at him in the café when she took the candy.

He calmed down a little.

But moments later, the irritation returned to his face.

"This is ridiculous."

He said it to himself, then leaned back in his chair.

He wasn't used to feeling helpless over something as simple as this.

But the truth was clear.

He was jealous.

And intensely so.

Elsewhere in the city, Victoria was sitting alone in front of a wide window, turning her phone between her fingers.

A small smile appeared on her face when a short message arrived.

She opened it and read it once, then read it again.

Her eyes slowly lifted.

"So... Alexander has returned to her life."

She placed the phone on the table.

Then she smiled a calm smile that held no warmth.

"It seems the time has come for me to intervene."

To be continued...