Lahat ng Kabanata ng DEGREE OF FANCY: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

As we drove away from the coffee shop, Bridgette turned to me with a curious expression. "Hey, what did the barista say again?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. "Something about you coming in there with someone else?"I glanced at her, trying to gauge her tone. She was smiling, but it was a forced smile, and I could sense a hint of unease beneath the surface.I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I don't know what she was talking about," I said, focusing on the road ahead. "Maybe she just got me mixed up with someone else."Bridgette raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Maybe," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I'm sure it's just a coincidence that she knew your drink order by heart."I felt a twinge of guilt, knowing that Bridgette was onto something. But I didn't want to give her any reason to suspect that I was hiding something from her, so I just kept driving, my expression neutral.Bridgette sighed, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Never m

I woke up to the sound of silence, my eyes slowly adjusting to the bright light streaming through the window. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. As I sat up, I noticed a coffee cup on my desk, with a small note attached to it.I picked up the note and read the simple message: "Good morning, boss. - Sophia". I couldn't help but smile as I read the note. It was a small gesture, but it was a kind one, and it made me feel a little more human.I glanced out the window, and my eyes landed on Sophia, who was busy typing away on her computer. She was completely absorbed in her work, her brow furrowed in concentration. I watched her for a moment, feeling a sense of appreciation for her hard work and dedication.As I sat there, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. Sophia had no idea that I had spent the night in the office, and yet she had still taken the time to bring me a cup of coffee and leave a kind note. It was a small act of kindness, but it was one that I app

I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the stress and tension of the day. I stood there for a while, feeling the water cascade down my body, and trying to clear my mind.As I got out of the shower and dried myself off, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I walked into the bedroom, expecting to see Bridgette lying in bed, but she wasn't there.At first, I thought maybe she was just in the bathroom or getting a glass of water, but as I looked around the room, I realized she was nowhere to be found.I felt a pang of curiosity and concern. Where could she be? I walked out of the bedroom and started to search the house, but she was nowhere to be found.I checked the living room, the kitchen, and even the office, but there was no sign of her. I was starting to get worried, wondering if something had happened to her.Just as I was about to call out her name, I remembered that we had a backyard. I walked over to the sliding glass door and pushed it open, stepping out int

As I walked into the office, Sophia greeted me with a warm smile. "Good morning, sir," she said, her eyes sparkling with friendliness.But I wasn't paying attention to her. My mind was still preoccupied with Bridgette and her strange behavior that morning. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong, that she was hiding something from me.I sat down at my chair, and Sophia had already left a cup of coffee on my desk. I glanced up at her and gave her a short smile, but my eyes quickly drifted back to the window.I stared out the window, lost in thought, trying to make sense of Bridgette's behavior. Why was she being so quiet and distant? What was wrong?As I sat there, my mind racing with questions and doubts, I suddenly remembered that I needed to check the date. I turned to my computer and opened the calendar, and my eyes widened in shock as I saw the date staring back at me.It was our wedding anniversary.I felt a wave of guilt and regret wash over me as I realized th

As Sophia stood beside me, still shaking with fear, she turned to me with a worried expression. "I want to go home," she said, her voice trembling.I nodded understandingly, knowing that she needed to feel safe and secure. "Okay, I'll help you get a taxi," I said, quickly pulling out my phone to book a ride.As we waited for the taxi to arrive, I tried to reassure Sophia that everything would be okay. But I could see the fear still lingering in her eyes, and I knew that it would take time for her to feel safe again.Once the taxi arrived, I helped Sophia into the car and gave her a reassuring hug. "I'll be fine," I said. "The police are here, and they'll take care of everything."Sophia nodded, still looking worried, and the taxi drove off into the night.As I turned back to the house, I saw the police officers still investigating the scene. They were checking the CCTV cameras, but I knew that they wouldn't find anything. The cameras had been disabled, and I had no idea who could have