“Amy, from your response, you still want me. Do you still love me, darling? Or is there a new man in your heart?” he asked it, though he was worried to know the answer. Yet it was crucial for him to know. Amy took a deep breath. “No, we’re just divorce, and ….” She looked elsewhere as she didn’t want to cry. After calming herself, Amy let out a heavy sigh. “It was tough. I … I don’t think I can’t handle another divorce.” Samuel smiled a little. “It means you still love me.” He patted his fingers on the table. “Your fear is understandable. Who wants to have a divorce? For sure, none wants it. But it’s life, and sometimes we must handle everything it will throw us, even when we least expect it.” She said nothing. Spinning her wine glass slowly, Amy didn’t know what to say. He was right, and she couldn’t contradict him. But if she expressed it, he might ask her to return to him. Though it was her biggest and deepest yearning, Amy knew she couldn’t do it. So, she gulped the champagne
After arriving home, Amy stared at her reflection in the mirror. She touched her swollen lips with her fingers, recalling how Samuel kissed her. She couldn’t deny how she missed him and wanted to stay with him. Hugging herself, she wondered if it was possible. It had been three months since their divorce. Maybe it was safe now to tell Samuel everything. After thinking for a while, Amy picked up her phone and called Samuel. However, Samuel didn’t answer. She let out a long sigh. Maybe her rejection made him upset. Then Amy called Vivian. The older woman answered after the two rings. “Amy! Oh, you don’t know how surprised I was to see your name on the phone screen. How are you doing, my dear?” “Grandma, I miss you. I … well, everything is good, except I don’t have Samuel anymore in my life, and it’s hard ....” “My dear, do you still love him?” “I do, Grandma. I don’t think I can love anyone else ….” Amy took a deep breath. “We had an early dinner just now. Samuel wanted me to re
The detective called Samuel several times, but Samuel didn’t pick up his phone. So, the detective finally left a message. ‘Please call me whenever you can, sir. It’s urgent.’ Samuel was drunk and went to sleep, and Reese drove him back to his apartment. After having Samuel lie on the bed, Reese wrote a note and left. A few hours afterward, Samuel awoke. His head pounded hard, and he groaned, knowing what had happened. It was foolish as he was no longer a youngster who had the first broken heart, but then, it felt worse than that. He steadied himself and sat on the bed as everything still spun. After a few minutes, the room stayed still; only the pound in his head remained. Samuel walked to the kitchen and prepared a cup of black coffee. After drinking the coffee and mineral water, he was better. Taking his phone, Samuel checked the missed calls. It surprised him to see Amy’s name was on the list. Then he wondered why the detective he usually hired also called him. It was around
A month later, Samuel still couldn’t find more clues about who sent the box to Amy. He was getting more frustrated because Amy avoided him. He waited for her outside of the Jewelry Palace, but somehow she found out about it and went home through another way. There were countless times he tried to call and send text messages to her. Amy didn’t pick up the phone, nor did she reply to Samuel’s messages. Until one day, he kept sending text messages to Amy, and Amy replied with, ‘Please stop calling and sending me text messages. I need to work and continue my life. You should do the same. I’m sorry.’ It broke his heart until he went to Xhilirating and got drunk. Then Samuel called Miguel. “She didn’t want to see me anymore. She hates me.” “Mr. Hoffner?” “I called her so many times, but she didn’t pick up the phone.” Samuel let out a long sigh. “She may have found a new man.” “Sir, you are drunk. Where are you? I’ll pick you up.” “Why was she so cruel? I love her.” Then Samuel hiccupp
Amy waited in the living room. She clenched her hands together and then walked to the door, peeking through the peephole to check if Miguel already came because she was worried of Samuel. Then she walked back and forth again until the bell rang. She rushed to the door to see Miguel carrying Samuel. “Madam, where should I place Mr. Hoffner?” “On the couch, please.” Miguel brought Samuel to the couch and laid him there. Amy approached Samuel and caressed his cheek. His eyes closed, and he looked peaceful. Amy shook her head. “Thank you, Miguel. Does Samuel often get drunk?” “It’s the first time I saw him drunk, madam.” Miguel scratched his head. He was hesitant to tell Amy, but seeing how worried and sad Amy was, he said it at last, “Mr. Hoffner kept talking about you, madam. Can you let him sleep for a night here? I’ll pick him up at dawn. Maybe if he’s near you, he can feel better.” Amy gulped as she was torn between wanting to spend time with her ex-husband and asking Miguel
Samuel woke up with a severe headache. He groaned and covered his eyes with a hand, promising himself he wouldn’t get drunk anymore. It might help him forget Amy for a few hours, but the headache wasn’t worth it at all. He lay on the bed with closed eyes, then suddenly the scenes when he made love to Amy emerged in his mind. Samuel licked his lips because it made him miss Amy more. But then, he was in his bed, alone. So, his mind might remind him of what had happened months ago. “Amy … what is the reason you wanted a divorce?” It was important to know because it was the turning point of everything. If he knew it, he might get her back. Then Samuel called Sally. “Sally, I can’t go to work today. Please reschedule my meetings.” “Are you okay, boss?” Sally frowned because Samuel’s voice was low. “I got a severe headache. It’s okay. I only need a day’s rest.” “Get well soon.” Then he slept again for an hour. When he awoke, the headache was gone. Samuel took a shower and had lunc
Samuel called Miguel and asked him to come to his apartment. After Miguel arrived, Samuel asked him to sit. “Thanks for bringing me home. How could you know I was at the Xhilirating?” “You called me, sir. Then I asked you where you were. Since you didn’t answer, I guessed myself. Considering you usually drink at the Xhilirating, I called the bar, and the bartender confirmed you were there.” Samuel nodded and asked again, “I want to ask you something. When you found Amy at the hospital, did you see someone near her?” Miguel creased his forehead. It was already over four months, so his memory about the event wasn’t so clear anymore. After thinking for a while as he tried to remember the accident, he shook his head. “No, sir. I believe I only saw madam on the floor, and she was alone.” “Did you see someone pass by?” “I don’t remember since I was panicking to see madam on the floor, and there was blood on her skirt. Then I ran inside to find a doctor. That’s all I could remember.” Sa
Two weeks later, the detective still hadn’t found the culprit yet. Samuel contacted Amy several times, but she didn’t reply at all. He also sent flowers and meals through Vivian, but Amy said nothing. However, Vivian told Samuel Amy was fine. It helped ease his anxiety. Samuel believed eventually the detective would find the perpetrator. So, it was only about time until he could know why the person tried to harm Amy. Meanwhile, Amy worked more diligently than before because she wanted to forget her sadness. By working, she could distract her mind not to think of Samuel all the time. Since she didn’t think of him, Amy wasn’t sad anymore. However, after lunch, she got a headache and almost fell if a staff member didn’t hold her arms. Amy sat on the couch, waiting for the headache to lessen. After ten to fifteen minutes, she felt better, but she suddenly wanted to eat again while she just had lunch. When she was about to order salad, Vivian’s driver came with a meal box. It was from